THE WORD AND FORM IN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF HIGHLANDS OF TIRANA

Abstract

This is a research work on the old terms of traditional Albanian architecture. Together with the illustrations, they translate architecture into a language understandable to all people. The lack of a dictionary in the Albanian language of traditional local architecture has been identified. Thus, in the field of architecture are used mostly words borrowed or adapted from other languages such as English. Words in architecture are an important tool to create a bridge between the architect and the client. They serve to explain well the images (such as plans, functions, techniques, details, etc...) in the present but also to inherit a cultural wealth for tomorrow. In order to make possible the creation of this dictionary, we must identify the old terms of architecture. To identify this terms, I first started from the knowledge that I already had. The highlands of Tirana have always made me curious as an area. I have been given the opportunity to know this area closely as its resident. For this reason, several cases in the highlands of Tirana have been closely studied for the very fact that they preserve pure qualities of Albanian folk architecture. In these case studies, the old words of traditional architecture have been identified through interviews. These will be explained and illustrated with concrete existing examples.