Design Ambitions and European Visions
Design Ambitions and European Visions
Design and the Destruction of Roma Settlements in Tirana, Albania
2018
“When looking at Tirana, Albania from above Roma settlements are hard to spot. The city lacks planning and few obvious organizational structures dictate the majority of residential neighbourhoods. There is also a lot of vacant land: desire paths and garbage trick you into thinking maybe something is there. Sometimes the settlements look fragmented; usually boxes about a quarter the size of the average building are clustered on a site. From above, you can’t tell whether it’s rubble or garbage or housing. At other times they are easier to spot; masses of corrugated metal organically placed into the pockets of the city. They negotiate the existing built environment. Most times it’s easier to find the settlements once they’re gone.
“When looking at satellite images of destroyed settlements, you don’t see destruction: rubble and debris scattered, rather you get the view of a wiped landscape: of bright fresh soil— as if the Roma had been buffed out of the image.
“The tin roofs, the fresh soil, the garbage and the paths through fields are the images of a people who are not a supposed to be a part of the city. The act of erasure that can be seen from above is also the attempt to forget. When a settlement is destroyed the inhabitants disappear.
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Albania’s Path to EU Membership
Year
2009
2010
2014
2018
2009
2010
2014
2018
Event
Albania Applies for EU Membership
Visa Liberalisation
EU Candidate Country Status
Commision Recommends the Opening of Accession Negotiations
Albania Applies for EU Membership
Visa Liberalisation
EU Candidate Country Status
Commision Recommends the Opening of Accession Negotiations
Prime Minister
Sali Bersha
Sali Bersha
Edi Rama
Edi Rama
Sali Bersha
Sali Bersha
Edi Rama
Edi Rama
Political Party
Democratic
Democratic
Socialist
Socialist
Source: EC Albania on its European Path
Democratic
Democratic
Socialist
Socialist
Source: EC Albania on its European Path
Major Projects and Competitions Located in Tirana
Project
TID Tower
Toptani Shopping
Skanderbeg Square
Tirana Rocks
Open Parliament
The Mosque and Museum of Religious Harmony
Tirana Master Plan
Faith Park
Tirana 2030
Tirana National Theater
Tirana Pyramid
TID Tower
Toptani Shopping
Skanderbeg Square
Tirana Rocks
Open Parliament
The Mosque and Museum of Religious Harmony
Tirana Master Plan
Faith Park
Tirana 2030
Tirana National Theater
Tirana Pyramid
Architect
51N4E
MVRDV
51N4E
MVRDV
Coop Himmelb(l)lau
BIG
Grimshaw
UNLAB
Stefano Boeri Architetti
BIG
MVRDV
51N4E
MVRDV
51N4E
MVRDV
Coop Himmelb(l)lau
BIG
Grimshaw
UNLAB
Stefano Boeri Architetti
BIG
MVRDV
Year
2004
2005
2008
2008
2011
2012
2012
2012
2015
2018
2018
2004
2005
2008
2008
2011
2012
2012
2012
2015
2018
2018
Status
Completed
Idea
Idea
Completed
Idea
Idea
Idea
Idea
In Progress
In Progress
Idea
Completed
Idea
Idea
Completed
Idea
Idea
Idea
Idea
In Progress
In Progress
Idea
Correlation Between Master Plans and Tirana Governments
Year
2008
2012
2015
2008
2012
2015
Architect
51N4E
Grimshaw
Stefano Boeri Architetti w/ UNLAB
51N4E
Grimshaw
Stefano Boeri Architetti w/ UNLAB
Mayor
Edi Rama
Lulzim Basha
Erion Veliaj
Edi Rama
Lulzim Basha
Erion Veliaj
Political Party
Socialist
Democratic
Socialist
Socialist
Democratic
Socialist
Destruction of Roma Settlements at Location of Developments in Tirana
