Colour and Participative Process in Urban Requalification of Tirana

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the urban requalification and the impact of facade colour in Tirana, Albania through analyses and comparisons. Generally speaking, colour is considered as appearance; therefore it may identify an object or a city. Based on an in-depth literature review of the colour impact on urban patterns and social changes, Tirana is one of the most impressive examples. Tirana is known as the city of colour since 2000, when its mayor Edi Rama decided to "...revive the hope that had been lost in the city" by painting the facades in different intensive colours. For thirteen years till know Tirana citizens has experienced the feeling of living in a city full of colours. The approach consists of the followings steps: i) data collection ii) an in-depth literature and media review concerning the colour impact in urban requalification iii) a questionnaire of 150 participants including different ages, gender, professional categories as well as Tirana residents and non-residents inhabitants, iv) a comparison of the requalification techniques of Tirana with other cities. The results concluded that, despite many factors such as geographical position, urban and social characteristics, the colour encourages people for a more productive, sensitive and healthier environment. In addition, the results showed that the colour is more than decoration.