In January 2023, Copenhagen Architecture Festival carried out a film and architecture workshop in collaboration with Barleti University and Tirana Architecture Triennale, exploring inclusivity in Albania’s capital city. In this interview, professor Saimir Kristo shares his thoughts about his booming city and the potential of film to narrate its true character.
Pauline Panetta: Tirana is a city undergoing great transformations. Can you tell us a bit about the city of Tirana and why it is an interesting place to explore issues of inclusivity in architecture and urban planning?
Saimir Kristo: Tirana is a dynamic city, characterized by a particular energy of its citizens. During the last century as the capital of Albania, it has faced a series of moments where its image has been transformed. As a city of oriental morphology initially, to the development of the main boulevard and rationalist architecture in the fascist period, its closure during the Hoxha dictatorship, and its continuous transformations after the 90s, until today. During the last three decades, the private initiative has been the main driving force for the development of the city. Chaotic, spontaneous, creatively, or even intuitively, the city is welcoming and hospitable, not only towards Albanians from all parts of the country due to massive urbanization, but also towards foreign visitors.
