STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF THE FORMER TEXTILE COMBINE ‘STALIN’ STRATEGIES FOR URBAN REGENERATION

Abstract

The physical testimony of Industrial Revolution left an everlasting mark on the interpretation of cities. Dereliction of the industrial places was followed by the deindustrialisation that contributed to an antagonism, turning the abandon industrial spaces and the declined factories into a ballast to bring them into existence again. Nowadays, industrial heritage administration applies flexibility and inventiveness, somehow letting behind the crucial traditional prototype of heritage preservation. Nationally, being part of the European cultural merchandise, industrial heritage is an existing and unique milieu taken from variety of perspectives. Reused industrial buildings and factories are offering a field of activities that interface between the industrial history and contemporary socio-cultural milieu. In Albania, the historical evolution of the industrial heritage is an unambiguous demonstration of political and social condition in the entire country. Industrialization of the region dates in between WW II, impacted by Russians on the agricultural investments and followed by Albanian-Chinese partnership on the heavy industry. The auto-isolation of the state dated in 1978 and the end of Communism in 1990, which brought the phenomenon of the industrial site abandonment, where the public propriety including the agricultural cooperatives were taken over by the economical private sector. This thesis examines the characteristics of Former Textile Combine ‘Stalin’ in Tirana, Albania and strategies to regenerate this place. The certain site played a major role during the communism period. It was able to provide enough textile goods for the country but even for exportation. The whole buildings of the site had their own function which v worked all together as one, many functions combined having the same purpose. But in contrast with the communism period, this significant place would lose its importance in regarding to functionality, economical, aesthetical and historical point of view. Considering that we live in a generation of global space where the economic models change rapidly, giving its identity can be redundant. Therefore the loss of the places and function of this combine has given to the neighbourhood a total destruction by making it live on the shadow of the past without considering the future. The evidential values, the interviews with the co-workers, reflect activities that had and continue to have profound historical consequences. The values, memories and need, motivate for considering this industrial heritage site, by providing a regenerate plan for all that place. Knowing the potential of it, can lead to a better decision in terms of bringing it to life. The thesis concludes by proposing a new approach to dealing with industrial heritage. It suggests that the site should be considered as a whole. The existing buildings should be put to good use for the purpose of sustainable development in terms of functionality and it could be re-establish in the cause of social transformation.