The Albanian Files: Freedom and Architecture (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9783037788004)

A pathbreaking overview of contemporary Albanian architecture and the international firms contributing to the country's new landscape

Albania has been shaped by past eras and absorbed a rich mix of religious, cultural and architectural influences--Islamic, Christian Orthodox, Catholic and secular. Following the collapse of the dictatorial regime in 1992, a rupture with the past emerged as people rebelled against regime-era buildings, reappropriating public space for self-expression. Three decades later, Albania remains in transition--culturally, socially and architecturally. This ongoing renewal has placed architecture at the center of national discourse. The Albanian Files focuses on this transformation and brings together 60 international offices currently working in Albania, some of which have been active in the country since the early 2000s. Each office submitted a contribution with reflections on their experiences in Albania and on architecture built and proposed.