Five Albanian Villages

This book is the result of a research project designed and carried out at the Department of Architecture, University of Florence. This research was based on the transfer of knowledge from members of the Albanian Diaspora in Italy (university students, young architects and researchers) to their home country. This unique process blazed a trail in the Albania-related studies by creating a methodology, which could be replicated not only in Albanian rural contexts, but also elsewhere. 
The book constitutes a structured tool for generating sustainable and socially inclusive territorial development processes in five lesser-known Albanian cultural sites. Their tangible and intangible cultural heritage was seen as a driving factor for triggering development processes aimed at improving the inhabitants’ quality of life and strengthening local identity and social networks.
Through concrete proposals and strategies, the book offers scenarios and solutions capable of enhancing the potential of each village and, at the same time, counteracting the effects of land abandonment that so often characterise them.



Settlement and buildings
Historical overview e area in which Zvërnec stands was already inhabited in the 6 th -5 th century B.C., as shown by the presence of the remains of the Castle of Treporti, which had an important harbour a ached to it 1 (Baçe, 1975).According to some oral testimonies obtained on-site it appears that the rst inhabitants of Zvërnec -who came from the Greek coast -reached the area during the Middle Ages and permanently se led on the hill a er having se led rst on the Island of Sazan.During the second half of the 17 th century, Evliya Çelebi describes Zvërnec as a village with 150 families of Christians who worked in the salt marshes or were shermen (cit. in Danko & Elsie, 2000).
ere are no remaining traces of the ancient se lement, nor any wri en sources on the origins of the current village.
Today Zvërnec is composed of two quarters: one on the hill and the other downstream, in the direction of the coast (Fig. .e former was recorded on the topographic maps of the Italian Military Geographical Institute (1929Institute ( -1941) )  2 and in those of the Geographic and Military Infrastructure Institute of Tirana (1959Tirana ( -1965)); the la er has gradually developed during the rst half of the 20 th century and is populated by Vlachs 3 .e village saw a period of particular growth during the industrial development of Vlorë in the Seventies.The residential area Zvërnec is located in an area that remains isolated from the main communication roads.e village is around 9 km from Vlorë. Wth the exception of an approximately 2 km long section, the road is paved and in relatively good condition.
e two quarters of the village are separated by a hill on which several antennas and radio repeaters are located.
In the quarter on the hill, which faces the lagoon, a clear organisation of the individual urban plots, distributed along the main thoroughfares, can be appreciated.e Rruga Zvërneci, which is steeply sloping, runs through the centre of the quarter.It does not have sidewalks and some sections are in a state of disrepair.e old path that is still used to reach the Church of the Dormition of Mary on the Island of Zvërnec during the Marian celebrations of 14-15 August is also in bad condition.
In the downstream quarter, the urban fabric consists of two nuclei of isolated houses separated by cultivated elds.e main road in this quarter is paved and in good condition, and has sidewalks on both sides.e inner streets, however, are in gravel and have no lighting.
e repair of road sections in critical condition is envisaged as part of the regional development by the General Town Plan of Vlorë (Bashkia Vlorë, 2017: 149).

Typological features
Most of the historical buildings in Zvërnec have been demolished and rebuilt using 'modern' materials and techniques, or else have undergone major alterations, which have completely changed their original appearance.
e few surviving historical buildings are in the quarter on the hill.ey are either abandoned or in a state of ruin (Fig. .Among the abandoned buildings, two are quite interesting. e rst is a two-storey building constructed during the years of the Communist regime and used as vacation resort of the Albanian army. is building is located in the centre of a slightly sloping area and can be easily reached on foot following the path that connects the two quarters of the village.In front of the building, there is a large courtyard, today in a state of total decay, which o ers a magni cent view of the lagoon.e building measures 20.00 by 12.00 m (Fig. ).e other building is the former village school, which was closed in 2007 due to the lack of students.It is adjacent to the quarter on the hill and next to a small square that overlooks the lagoon.e access road is unpaved, yet accessible by car.e building is composed of two volumes: a two-storey structure (approximately 18 by 14 m), and a smaller single-storey one (approximately 14 by 14 m) (Fig. ).
In the downstream quarter, the buildings were built a er the Forties and mostly modi ed or rebuilt a er the Communist regime collapse.
From the analysis of the older residential buildings, only one typology could be observed.Two di erent variables could be distinguished, both based on a rectangular shape: one with a side ratio of 1: 2 and the other with a side ratio of 2: 5.Both the buildings show the same interior layout, but di er in structural terms.In the 1: 2 ratio type, only the outer walls are load-bearing, whereas in the other case the interior walls are also load-bearing.
e traditional house was usually one-storey.Occasionally, however, and depending on the plot shape, there was a semi-basement, which served as storehouse (divided into sections depending on the items stored) and as stables.e ground oor, instead, consisted of two rooms and a central entrance/corridor.One of the two rooms housed the hearth (shtëpia e zjarrit) and was used for preparing and eating meals; the other was used as a bedroom.Originally, the two levels of the house were not connected internally by means of a staircase, but were only accessible from the outside (Fig. ).
e recently constructed residential buildings in most cases have a square plan, and are placed at the centre of a courtyard.ese are almost exclusively second homes used by their owners during the summer.In the downstream quarter, there are also some houses for renting (partially or totally) to tourists (Fig. ).
e second homes generally have two levels above ground and share the same interior layout: at the centre there is a corridor that includes the staircase and serves the di erent rooms: a living room with a dining kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom.Along the main facade (on both levels), there are usually balustrade terraces that offer weather protection.Usually, parents live on the rst level, while their children and their respective families live on the upper oor.
Houses for rent usually have 3-4 rooms per oor, each with a kitchene e and a bathroom.In these houses, the staircases are on the outside, so as to make each oor independent.Here, the terraces are also present and guarantee the entrance to each room.
Many buildings are incomplete, with the upper oors un nished.

Building features
In traditional buildings, load-bearing walls are in three-leaf stone masonry and have an average thickness of 60-70 cm. e external leaves are made up of uncoursed rubble stones.Gaps between stones are lled with smaller stones and copious quantities of mud mortar.In more recent maintenance works, joints have been repointed with lime mortar.e inner leaf is of smaller pieces of stone and earth.Inside the wall, there are timber tie beams repeated at regular intervals in height (approximately every 60 cm). is technique was found during the surveys also in the nearby village of Nartë, both in residential buildings and in some chapels.e analysis of the buildings revealed a greater care in the execution of corners, for which squared o blocks that are slightly larger than those of the walls were used.
Opening are small and lintels are generally in timber.
Intermediate oors are also in timber.Directly above the beams, wooden boarding serving as paving is placed.In semi-basements, which are used as storerooms or stables, the paving is in rammed earth or in concrete screed.
Bedrooms and living rooms o en have false ceilings made with wooden planks.
Roofs are hipped and have a timber structure consisting of trusses with a king post.Above the trusses are joists on which a wooden boarding is placed.e roof covering is made of brick tiles.
e roof pitches are slightly protruding (approximately 10 cm) from the walls by way of ju ing bent tiles.Ground Floor

Semi-Basement Floor
Partitions have a timber frame covered with woven reeds plastered on both sides.e frame is made of regular vertical elements (studs) oor to ceiling (at a distance of approximately 70 cm one from the other), connected by horizontal elements (crossbeams).Doors and windows, both exterior and interior, are in timber.
e building system used for recent constructions (since the Nineties) is a frame in reinforced concrete, with in ll walls and partitions in hollow bricks.Doors, windows and shading systems are generally in aluminium.
Public Space e urban fabric of Zvërnec has few public spaces.Only the quarter on the hill has a square, overlooked in the past by the shops and the village school.e square, located near the church, is a rectangular and unpaved space, which on one side faces the Island of Zvërnec. is space is currently in a state of abandonment and used as a car park, and the only remaining places available to the inhabitants of the quarter for social interaction are a shop/bar and the space behind the church (Fig. III-4.7).

Infrastructure network 4
Some of the village's infrastructure networks are in critical condition and require urgent works.
e situation concerning the water supply is particularly serious.In the past, water was supplied to the quarter on the hill took place, basically, in three di erent ways: (1) from the village fountains (çezmat e fshatit), (2) from individual wells, and (3) from a common well which today is located inside a private courtyard.Toward the late Seventies, the village was connected to the water network coming from Vlorë and a cistern was built on top of the hill that separates the two quarters, including a pump plant.Supply to houses is discontinuous, generally once in three days and the water is not drinkable (Bashkia Vlorë, 2017: 62).In the downstream quarter, many houses do not use the water main, but rather the water from the well, which, due to its high salinity, is not drinkable.Drinking water in both quarters is ensured by tanker trucks or bottled water purchased from the village shops.
e villagers recount that electricity came to Zvërnec in 1968.e electric supply network has been recently upgraded and its service quality has been greatly enhanced.
e use of solar panels is steadily increasing in both quarters.ey are used for producing domestic hot water and for facing the greater electricity consumption that takes place during the summer.
Public lighting is limited to the main streets running through the two quarters.Zvërnec does not have a sewage system.e disposal of grey and black waters is done mostly by leaching cesspools, generally installed in the courtyards of houses by the owners themselves (Bashkia Vlorë, 2017: 77). is type of sewage disposal has gradually polluted the underground water and perhaps also the public water supply network, through leaks in the ducts.
e main roads of the village are equipped with a system for the collection and the disposal of rainwater (Fig. . Another critical aspect concerns the malfunctioning of the public waste collection and disposal system.Waste is disposed of in a dump located at the former airport of Akërni and then burnt, together with rubbish coming from the city of Vlorë5 .Otherwise, the inhabitants leave waste on the sides of the roads just outside inhabited areas, or burn it in the courtyards of their houses.6e issue of the open-air illegal dumps obviously increases during the summer, due to the presence of tourists (Fig. III-4.9).
e General Town Plan of Vlorë envisages the enhancement of network infrastructures.In the speci c case of Zvërnec, the following works are planned for the 2017-2021 period: -Renovation of the potable water supply network, including the installation of new water cisterns; -Assessment of the current state of the waste water disposal systems and installation of a sewage system; -Introduction of a waste collection and disposal service; -Repair of roads sections in poor condition (Bashkia Vlorë, 2017: 156-161).

Public services, shops and tourist facilities
Zvërnec is a tourist destination visited mainly during the summer.e tourists (mostly families) who stay in the downstream quarter generally choose the beaches of Vlorë, which o er be er services and vehicular accessibility than those of the village.
Fragmented and partial tourist information can be found on several o cial governmental web pages and amateur Facebook pages7 .Here, basic information on the hotels and the places to visit has been disseminated.
ere is an almost total lack of many of the typical (cultural, hiking, recreational and sport) activities of a lagoon or coastal tourist destination.
Medical services consist in a rst-aid medical o ce, which is available only in case of an emergency.
As mentioned above, the quarter on the hill used to have an elementary and middle school, which was closed in 2007 due to the lack of children8 .e lack of services is worsened by the bad condition of some sections of the road leading to the quarter on the hill, as well as by the absence of parking spaces and of a public transport service connecting Vlorë to the village.
Accommodation facilities are limited to the downstream quarter, due to their proximity to the beaches.ese include two hotels and many guesthouses or rooms for rent, o en managed by the parents of owners living abroad9 .
In the downstream quarter, there are two small restaurants, while in the quarter on hill there is a small bar-general store.
Figure  e poor conditions of a road in the hill quarter.

Critical issues and future prospects
Considering the results of the analysis undertaken, road repair, as well as the enhancement of network infrastructures and of the waste disposal system, appear to be the most urgent works to carry out in Zvërnec.e situation is critical and has a negative impact on the inhabitants' quality of life and on the balance of the lagoon's ecosystem and, additionally, hinders the development of the tourism sector.
A er these priority actions, it would be necessary to redevelop the public spaces and the ancient trails, as well as to activate a public transportation service between the village and Vlorë.
In general, it is necessary to activate intervention strategies that involve the few resident inhabitants, as well as the villagers who have emigrated abroad and the NGOs operating in the area.It is also pivotal to undertake a campaign to promote the image of the village, based on its landmarks (the island with its church, the coast, the pine grove, the hill with its ancient olive trees, etc.), on other 'minor' places (such as the Chapels of the Holy Trinity and of Saint Athanasius) or others which are shamefully neglected, like the area of the Castle of Treporti.
e Rules and qualitative regulations for strategic investments in sites with a national importance for the development of tourism10 has identi ed Zvërnec as one of the priority areas, envisaging the construction of a tourist accommodation complex that includes a ve-star Ecolodge Resort, a golf course and 100 timber co ages.A project of this magnitude risks endangering a vast area of the Lagoon of Zvërnec-Novoselë (a section of the wider Lagoon of Nartë), a particularly fragile ecosystem including a range of habitats in a precarious balance (see chap.III.3).

Intervention strategies S2 Planning Strategies
A.1 Assessing the environmental and social impact of the construction of a tourist resort in the area of the Lagoon of Zvërnec-Novoselë e Rules and qualitative regulations for strategic investments in sites with a national importance for the development of tourism envisage the construction of a tourist accommodation complex in a vast area of the Lagoon of Zvërnec-Novoselë. is area is very important in ecological terms due to the variety of natural environments included within it.For the purpose of environmental safeguarding, our suggestion is to submit this project to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in accordance with the European Union Council Directive 85/337/EEC.e EIA could identify and assess the direct and indirect e ects of the works envisaged in the project on the environmental components of the area so as to prevent, reduce and, if necessary, compensate the negative e ects they may entail.Considering the inevitable consequences of this intervention on the local communities, it would be necessary at the same time to develop a Social Impact Assessment (SIA).It consists in an analysis of the social context and is aimed at highlighting the social sustainability of the project and its e ective capacity to generate value for the inhabitants.Within a perspective of local development based on the priorities and needs outlined by local stakeholders and bene ciaries themselves, the SIA should focus mainly on the following speci c objectives: 1. Exploring the main strengths and weaknesses of the considered case, also evaluating its replicability on other areas as a successful model; 2. Understanding the main relations among relevant local stakeholders and local residents; 3. Collectively identifying and evaluating potential innovative policies at a community level.
e relevant social impacts could be identi ed through the de nition of speci c indicators of 'social values' (e.g.Awareness/Educational; Visual impact, Nuisance and Pollution; Well-being and Recreation, etc.).Bene ts could be evaluated based on the results of in-depth interviews (see Beinat & Nijkamp, 1998).Further social values could be added according to speci c results emerging from stakeholder interviews (see da Rocha et al. 2017).
e results of social assessment (SIA) need to be considered together with the results of the environmental assessment (EIA).us, we suggest conducting part of the environmental and social analysis of the place in an integrated manner.Finally, we recommend the periodic monitoring of the environmental and social impact of the works undertaken by the project once in use, following Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) methods (Pa on, 2014).

A.2 Upgrading the technological systems in the houses of the village
See Action A.3, chap.II.4 Works for enhancing the network in astructures of Zvërnec are already envisaged by the General Town Plan of Vlorë.We suggest that an in-depth study of the quality of the waters and of the impact of domestic waste waters on the soil, the underground and the aquifers be carried out.

A.3 Enhancing the waste collection system
is Action is aimed at intervening on the management of domestic waste, so as to enhance the living conditions of the community, tourism development, and to safeguard the protected area.For this purpose, it would be necessary to extend the door to door waste recycling system (promoted and implemented in 2018 by the NGO CELIM, through the ACAP (a) ) project to the entire village, and to provide adequate rubbish bins where waste is more usually dumped.
In order to prevent this, and while waiting for the supply of drinking water to the village houses to be provided by the public water system, we propose that two drinking water fountains be installed, one for each quarter.In both cases, the choice of the water puri cation method will depend on the microbiological and chemical analysis of the water.
e Action is also aimed at re-considering the public fountain, which also in Zvërnec historically played an important role in terms of social interaction.
e Action could be implemented with the support of the NGOs that operate in the area, in agreement with the Municipality of Vlorë.
A.5 Upgrading of some sections of the existing vehicular roads and construction of a public parking area With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life of the inhabitants and the tourism supply we recommend the following: -Repair the pavement of certain sections of the main road that leads to the quarter on the hill and repair the minor roads of both quarters; -Build a public parking area with no more than 30 parking spaces (cf.Bashkia Vlorë, 2017: 197), to be located at the crossroads of the street that goes to the island and the one that goes down to the beach.With the purpose of mitigating the impact on the lagoon environment and avoiding tra c jams, it would be convenient to locate it in an unobtrusive location and to follow the indications of Action A.7, sect.I.4.1.
A.7 Establishing a tourist information centre in the downstream quarter is Action is aimed at establishing an info point to provide tourists with information concerning the environmental assets of the area and the recreational and cultural activities it o ers, as well as to organise guided visits to the lagoon (either on foot, by bicycle or boat) and to o er a bicycle rental service.
is info point (which should include an ATM) could be placed at the entrance of the downstream quarter, and be built by the Regional Agency of the Protected Areas of Vlorë (Administrata Rajonale e Zonave te Mbrojtura Vlorë) in collaboration with the Municipality of Vlorë.Its management could be entrusted to a community cooperative.

S6 Enhancement Strategies
A.8 Renovation of the former vacation resort of the Albanian army and its transformation into an exhibition space.
e Action is aimed at transforming the premises of the former vacation resort of the Albanian army, located on the hill that separates the two quarters of the village, into an exhibition space devoted to the typical products and culinary tradition of the area of the lagoon, as part of the Dispersed Ecomuseum of the Protected Landscape described in Action A.12, chap.III.3.Next to the exhibition spaces, the building could house spaces devoted to tasting and purchasing of local typical products.
e building, partially collapsed, stands in a place of remarkable landscape beauty, with an outstanding view over the lagoon.For this reason, we recommend recovering the surrounding spaces for open-air activities such as exhibitions, cultural events, etc. Taking advantage of the sloping nature of the terrain, a small open-air amphitheatre could be built on the southern side of the building and be used for events and gatherings.Given the landscape features of the area, the redevelopment works of the open spaces and of the paths should respect criteria of landscape continuity by choosing equipment consistent with the context and by planting only autochthonous plant species.As for the recommendations concerning the project of recovery of the building see Action A.2, sect.I.4.1.
A.9 Creating a Summer Camp for children and teenagers at the former school of Zvërnec is Action proposes a Summer Camp for children and teenagers as a concrete and e ective solution for disseminating the culture and values of the lagoon environment among the young, combining education and environmental awareness with playing and recreational activities (A.1, chap III.3).Participants could be involved in activities connected to the welcoming tourists visiting the Island of Zvërnec.e camp could be located at the former village school, which is currently unused.We suggest that the following spaces be included in it: -A multi-functional area; -Lodgings; -A kitchen for preparing breakfast and quick meals; -Toilets and showers; -A space for the janitor.
For recommendations on the project for the recovery of the building see Action A.2, sect.I.4.1 In addition to the building, we suggest that the surrounding space be redeveloped as well, including the square opposite the school, to be used either for playing or for workshops.For the Action to succeed, collaboration is necessary between the middle and high schools of the Municipality of Vlorë, the local entities (such as the Regional Agency for the Protected Areas of Vlorë) and the NGOs of the area involved in actions related to the protection of nature.
A.10 Redeveloping the square in the quarter on the hill For the general requirements of the square, see A.13,chap. II.4. A.11 Recovering the old road that connects the quarter on the hill to the Island of Zvërnec is Action is aimed at recovering the ancient path that traverses the only threshing oor (lëma) of the village and leads to the Island of Zvërnec.
e restoration of the path must be considered as a preliminary work aimed at its inclusion among the cultural itineraries proposed in Action A.9, chap.III.3.For further information concerning redevelopment works see A.9, sect.I.4.1.

Notes a)
e ACAP ("Azione Comunitaria per le Aree Prote e" or "Community Action for Protected Areas") project currently envisages the door-to-door recycling of waste only in the quarter on the hill and the placement of rubbish recycling containers near restaurants.e main problem is the disposal of waste once it has been collected.b) A particularly interesting project was promoted by the Agenzia Comunale Energia (ACEA) in Rome, as part of the "Case dell'acqua" project.e "Case dell'acqua" (or "water houses") are multifunctional devices installed in Rome and its province which in addition to supplying drinking water also provide the services of charging the ba eries of tablets and smartphones and accessing public information through their digital displays.For more in-depth information visit <h ps://www.gruppo.acea.it/al-servizio-delle-persone/acqua/le-case-dellacqua>.c) Similar initiatives aimed at enhancing the connections of isolated villages to larger urban centres using public transport are found in a number of Italian contexts (for example in the Municipality of Castel Gandolfo, in the province of Como, and in the Municipality of Empoli, in Tuscany).Five Albanian Villages.Guidelines for a Sustainable Tourism Development through the Enhancement of the Cultural Heritage.This book is the result of a research project designed and carried out at the Department of Architecture, University of Florence.This research was based on the transfer of knowledge from members of the Albanian Diaspora in Italy (university students, young architects and researchers) to their home country.This unique process blazed a trail in the Albania-related studies by creating a methodology, which could be replicated not only in Albanian rural contexts, but also elsewhere.
The book constitutes a structured tool for generating sustainable and socially inclusive territorial development processes in ve lesser-known Albanian cultural sites.Their tangible and intangible cultural heritage was seen as a driving factor for triggering development processes aimed at improving the inhabitants' quality of life and strengthening local identity and social networks.
Through concrete proposals and strategies, the book offers scenarios and solutions capable of enhancing the potential of each village and, at the same time, counteracting the effects of land abandonment that so often characterise them.
Antonio Laurìa is an architect and a full professor at the University of Florence's Architecture Department.He is the founder and scienti c coordinator of the Florence Accessibility Lab.
Valbona Flora holds a PhD in Territorial, Urban and Landscape Planning from the University "La Sapienza" of Rome (2019).Her main research is focused on peripheries regeneration, planning of public space by collective actions and the enhancement of the cultural heritage.

Figure
Figure III-4.1 Zvërnec.A view of the quarter on the hill.

Figure
Figure III-4.2Remains of a traditional dwelling in the hill quarter with horizontal reinforcing timber elements.

Figure
Figure e former military vacation resort on the hill next to the oldest quarter.

Figure
Figure III-4.4e former village school, abandoned since 2007.

Figure
Figure III-4.5 Hypothesis on the original layout of the domestic space and subsequent expansions of two traditional dwellings.[Author: Dritan Kapo] Figure III.4.6 Examples of a recent building in the downstream quarter.

Figure
Figure Two views of the currently abandoned square in the centre of the hill quarter.In the background of the photo below, the village church can be seen.

Figure
Figure III-4.9An illegal open-air dump just in front of the lagoon.

Kamela
Guza holds a PhD in History of Architecture from the University of Florence (2017).Her main research interests regard the history of Renaissance architecture in Italy -especially villas -as well as the survival of the classical language in architecture through the 20th century.
M C DiDA-Uni research fellow Author of Annex 1 of the book.Responsible for the on-site interviews.Collaborator in the chapters I.1 (Patrimonio alimentare) and I.3 (Tradizioni) of the LG Part I, II and III.Author of some pictures included in the book.L C DSPS-Uni professor Coordinator of the Urban Sociology Unit of the RP.Reviewer of some parts of the manuscript.L V DiDA-Uni research fellow Co-author of chapters I.4, II.4,III.4 of the book.Co-author of chapters II.2 (Villaggio) and II.3 (Edi ci) of the LG Parts I, II and III.Author of pictures and of a graphic scheme included in the book.

1
Burileanu (1912)lysis sheet no.49"Kartela për trashëgiminë kulturore të paluajtshme", National Institute for the Cultural Heritage. of the Valchs in Zvërnec must be from an earlier time.FromBurileanu (1912)we know that 5 Vlach families lived in Zvërnec in the early 19 th century.