Kuçova, the Existence of an Industrial Heritage

Abstract

As we know, in the recent decades in Albania, lots of industrial establishment have been abandoned or transformed from different reasons. We can mention cities like Kuçova, Ballsh, Polican, Memaliaj, ect…which have been created due to the constructions of a factory or industrial complex. In this paper i choose Kuçova city as one of the most significant industrial city of Albania. This city is known as well with the name of “Qyteti Stalin” (1953-1991) from the relations that Albania had in that period with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Nowadays the industrial heritage of Kuçova is forgotten and risks extinction, even though this heritage is a worthy testifier of the history of our country. The aim of this paper is to understand and to evaluate the past industry of this city, which from a common village, after the year 1927, due to the existence of oil fields layers became an industrial town. Another discussion of my paper is that by understanding the nature of the past industry of this city we can present it to the present and make the right intervention for the future, which means reuse of these zones and regeneration of the city.