The Italians who designed modern Tirana

By: Zylyftar Hoxha

The years 1930-40, in terms of constructions, constitute the brightest period of Tirana, as not only that a modern capital began there, but also because it really became a construction site. This construction boom was preceded by Italian entrepreneurs, first of all, due to the policies, connections and mutual interests of the Albanian state headed by King Zog with the Italian government and later, in the years 1939-43, of the annexationist policies of the Italian fascist state with led by Benito Mussolini towards Albania.

Emerging from a medieval feudal backwardness, Tirana, like all of Albania, was eager for prosperity in all directions, even more so in the most obvious one, the field of construction. In the same way, the zeal of Italian entrepreneurs and capital, stimulated by the expansion, was irresistible to penetrate the whole life of our country.

The object of this article is not to analyze this issue, but to testify to the extraordinary intellectual, creative and design work of architects, engineers, decorators, painters, sculptors and Italian specialists who worked in Tirana and for Tirana.

The truth is that most of them, such as Gerardio Bosio, Florestano Di Fausto, Giulio Berté, Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, Antonio Maraini, Pietro Porcinai etc. have been great names of the intellectual, engineering and artistic elite of the time in Italy and beyond, who have left behind immortal works.

We are only taking those that are built in Albania. Although in different systems and times, Zogist, fascist, communist and now recently, democratic; even though they changed destinations and functions from the strangest, for example, from the Fashio military headquarters to the University Center; from the center of the Albanian Fascist Youth, at the Rectorate of the University of Tirana; from Opera Dopolavoro, at the University of Arts; from the Palace of the Central Command, to the Prime Minister of the country; from "Piazza del Littorio", in "Mother Teresa" square; from Hotel "Dajti", to the bank or something else, let's see what will be done(!), again they remained works with unique monumental values ​​that radiate the West, culture, civilization, Modern Tirana.

Tirana, because of its position, in a beautiful plain (don't see it now in this real urban mask!), surrounded by hills that in the twilight of the evening or early in the morning looked like naive ink drawings; of the earlier medieval orientalist constructions and the beauty of its gardens, it was left to the Italian specialists to make those magnificent projects that are still standing and give beauty to the great boulevard of Tirana. With mixed styles, but also introducing national elements, all the projects and constructions of the Regulatory Plan of Tirana of that time were handled and conceived by Bosoio and by his predecessor colleagues, but especially by Bosio.

Gerardio Bosio, the building of the central body of the University of Tirana, due to its position, stood out from the "Skënderbej" square and the entire length of the boulevard, as an endpoint and reference point, gave it the shape of a northern tower. The same was done for previous constructions near "Skënderbej" square, but also for constructions in other cities of Albania such as Shkodër, Milot, Durrës, Elbasan, Korçë, Berat, Vlorë and Sarandë.

Less "Italy in Albania"

In the framework of the "reconstruction" of "Skënderbej" square to make room for the National Historical Museum and the statue of the communist leader, Enver Hoxha (which did not last long and was demolished on February 20, 1991), in 1980 the building was demolished the old town hall built in the 30s of the last century, an architectural work similar to the ministries. This was the first blow against the Italian project of the center of Tirana. The next blow was Olympic Stadium(then the "Qemal Stafa" National Stadium), whose works were inaugurated by the Duke's son-in-law, Count Ciano, on September 7, 1939 and were completed with voluntary contributions immediately after the Liberation. The stadium was demolished two years ago, to build another bigger stadium (unfortunately, a project rumored for corruption). The building is suffering the same fate as the stadium Circolo Skanderbeg (National Theatre), built in 1938 by Giulio Berte, which is thought to be demolished and a new theater built with a different project. also the flower garden behind the Skanderbeg monument, as part of the architectural complex of the square, designed and built by the Italians, is already losing its former shape. Hotel "Dajti", that after an ugly corruption affair, denatured and stunted in the most unfortunate way, it is not known how it will end. So, less and less "Italy is staying in Albania".

Hands of famous artists...

In the Center of Tirana, which includes the Square and the Ministries, it started earlier. Architects Armando Brasini, Florestano Di Fausto, Giulio Berté, Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, etc. have left their mark there.

Gerardio Bosio, the first, the only and the largest of the constructions of the years 1935-1940 in Albania

He was the first, the only and the most important architect who lived longer and dedicated himself more to the construction projects of modern Tirana. Bosio's work in Tirana is a heroic act, as modern Tirana begins with his name and, according to the number and quality of the works, it can be called "Bosio's capital". The central body of the University of Tirana, which marks the end of the "Martyrs of the Nation" boulevard, the Academy of Arts, the Colonnade with the Archaeological Institute, the Stadium (today Qemal Stafa), the Prime Minister's Office, the "Dajti" Hotel, the Palace of the Brigades with the entire park and unique furniture his, as well as the plani-volumetric forms of the Palace of Culture, the National Museum, etc., are creative works, cultural monuments and achievements of the famous Italian architect, Gherardo Bosio at the end of the Zogist period and especially during the period of the fascist occupation of Albania. It is hard to find in the entire history of world architecture a more intense activity and greater achievements than those that Gerardo Bosio developed in Albania. Bosio died of cancer at the age of 38 on April 16, 1941, at his Montefonte villa in Florence. Although a genius, he is little known by Albanians, since during the period of communism he was considered a "fascist architect", only because he worked in the unfortunate wrong period. Now it has begun to be studied, but it should not be forgotten that in only two years Bosio left behind works that are worth, if not more, at least having a memorial or a name in one of his works in the center of Tirana.

Armando Brasini

Armando Brasini (1879-1965) was an Italian architect among the most popular of the 20th century. He devoted himself especially to restoration and decoration, winning the sympathy of Mussolini. In 1929 he was appointed academician of Italy. He left many beautiful works behind, of course, conceived in the style of his time. Brasiani has a hand in Albania with the square and the big boulevard in their beginnings. "This "king" of the architecture of that time had designed another square and boulevard, in Mannerist and European Renaissance style, but it was opposed and strongly corrected by Gerardio Bosio until it took the form it has.

Florestano Di Fausto

Florestano Di Fausto (1890-1965), Italian architect, engineer and politician. He is considered the most important colonial architect of the Fascist era in Italy and has been described as the "Mediterranean architect", as many of his works are outside Italy, in the Italian islands of the Aegean, in Libya, Abyssinia, Albania, etc. With an extraordinary preparation combined with perfect skill, he is known for his building designs, for different architectural styles, especially between eclecticism and rationalism.

In Albania in 1932, he replaced Armando Brasini, continuing to work with the center of the capital, Tirana, and the monumental department buildings around "Skënderbej" Square. At this time, he designed the royal palace of Durrës, the royal villa in Shirokë, Shkodër, commissioned by King Zog I.

Giulio Berté

After Brasini and Di Fausto, Giulio Berta is credited with the definitive structure of "Skënderbej" square, but also the streets Zogu i Parë Boulevard, the beginning of Kavaja Street, the characteristic Villa Nepravishta; The People's Theatre, which is thought to be demolished and which has been making a lot of noise lately; The Palace of Brigades, as well as other buildings from 1935 to the 40s of the last century in Tirana.

Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo

Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo (1890-1966) Italian architect, prominent representative of the Italian rationalist architecture of the 1930s. There are his projects and ideas for the constructions of that time in Tirana.

 ...In the Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace, known as the Palace of the Brigades, began to be built by King Zog I in 1936. This palace, designed by the Italian architect Julio Berté and then profoundly changed in style: from Deco to the style of Monumental Rationalism from the famous Gerardio Bossioi, would serve as the residence of King Zog. Due to the outbreak of World War II and the occupation of Albania by Fascist Italy in 1939, King Zog left the country. The construction of the palace was completed in 1941 by the Italians and was inaugurated during the visit to Albania of King Victor Emmanuel III. The second "emperor" after him was "Meke Partizani", a character of Dritero Agolli. During the period of Socialism (1945-1991), the building was used for receptions and state ceremonies, functions that it still performs today. Since 1992, the official name of this institution is the Presidential Palace.

Below, we bring to the reader's attention some of the great names who have given their creative contribution to this work of monumental value.

Antonio Maraini and Odhise Paskali

The sculptures of the Royal Palace were made by the Italian sculptor Antonio Maraini and the Albanian sculptor Odhise Paskali. Both of these sculptors, surprisingly, apart from the joint work in this magnificent complex, were also connected by the same history of cultural and professional formation, since both initially studied and graduated in other branches, Marianini in Law, while Odhise Paskali in Literature and Philosophy. But they soon changed course, devoting themselves to visual arts, especially Sculpture, where they both became famous.

While we know our great sculptor, Odhise Paskali, and we are not going too long, we will give something from Mariani's life: Antonio Maraini was born in Rome in 1886 and died in Florence in 1963.

Highly appreciated during the fascist period, Antonio Maraini, apart from his creativity as a sculptor, also served as an organizer of the regime's cultural policy, in important official commissions and as a deputy. After the Second World War, Antonio Maraini lived somewhat as a recluse in Florence, not giving up the direction of the Academy of Painting.

Pietro Porcinai

The greening of the complex is supported by the greening project of Pietro Porcinai (one of the most famous European post-war designers) and the project of the Zgaravatti brothers in 1935, which we will talk about below.

Appreciated for his works, studies and publications in the field of natural landscape, he enters the world elite of garden architects and is considered the most prominent of this field in the last century in Italy and in the world.

Pjetro Porcinai was born in Florence on December 20, 1910 and died on June 9, 1986. He graduated in agriculture and first worked in Belgium and Germany. He then returned to the Institute of Agriculture in Florence, where he continued his studies until he graduated in 1935, while also working in Pistoia. In 1941, he started the Higher Institute of Architecture in Florence, but left it in 1945, without graduating.

Then he started working outside Italy, in the most important gardens of European Architecture, where he was given opportunities to face new methods and techniques and some important landscape solutions and concepts. He has collaborated with the architects of the most popular green monuments in Europe and the world. During his professional life, he has created many organizations for landscape and flowers, supported with technical assistance many businesses that deal with floriculture and landscape in Italy and beyond.

His design and creative opus includes a very long list in many countries of the world, over 1 works of naturalistic landscape (gardens). Among these living works of Pietro Porcinai is his first work realized in 100 in Tirana (Royal Palace Garden).

In addition to a large number of green monuments around the world, Porcinai also left many professional publications, books, practical guides, valuable essays which today have found use in parks and flower gardens projects.

 Sgaravatti brothers

"Brothers Sgaravatti" is the famous Italian garden firm that supported Pietro Porcina, with plants, shrubs, trees, ideas and projects. Although almost 200 years old, this company, originally established in Padua, continues today with subsidiaries throughout Italy. Historically known for its projects and supplies of plants in all the most famous cities and capitals of the world, in Europe, Asia and America.