Session

Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment

Description

The following article is an account presenting a professional movement opposing a planned and approved project for the construction of a new road known as the “Bypass”, which endangered the Historic Center of Gjirokastra. The project, consisted in the construction of a new road, with the initial aim of diverting automobile traffic from the Bazaar, turning it into a pedestrian zone. However after a few procedural problems were noted, it became clear that the project itself was not fulfilling its original aim, and further more posed a threat to the historical center. During the only public consultation session held for the project, these shortcomings were mentioned however they were not considered further by the responsible authorities. At this stage a detailed technical report was drafted by the “Forum for the Protection of the Values of Gjirokastra”, in collaboration with a wide participation of different professionals who studied the multi-level effects of this project. The Forum’s report introduces 5 main group arguments and enough supporting evidence to demonstrate the jeopardizing effects that this project will have on the entire cultural heritage ensemble of Gjirokastra, if implemented. Below is a extract of the list of the identified technical and legal arguments, showing the perceived damages of this project to the structural integrity as well as the Outstanding Universal Values of the city of Gjirokastra.

Keywords:

Cultural heritage, World Heritage Site, New infrastructure development, brutal intervention, Heritage under pressure, Heritage under risk, Mobility and Management Plan

Session Chair

Muhamet Ahmeti

Session Co-Chair

Nol Dedaj and Nexhmi Krasniqi

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-437-65-3

First Page

35

Last Page

44

Location

Durres, Albania

Start Date

29-10-2017 11:00 AM

End Date

29-10-2017 1:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2017.42

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Oct 29th, 11:00 AM Oct 29th, 1:00 PM

Heritage under pressure the case of the “bypass” in Gjirokastra world heritage site Albania

Durres, Albania

The following article is an account presenting a professional movement opposing a planned and approved project for the construction of a new road known as the “Bypass”, which endangered the Historic Center of Gjirokastra. The project, consisted in the construction of a new road, with the initial aim of diverting automobile traffic from the Bazaar, turning it into a pedestrian zone. However after a few procedural problems were noted, it became clear that the project itself was not fulfilling its original aim, and further more posed a threat to the historical center. During the only public consultation session held for the project, these shortcomings were mentioned however they were not considered further by the responsible authorities. At this stage a detailed technical report was drafted by the “Forum for the Protection of the Values of Gjirokastra”, in collaboration with a wide participation of different professionals who studied the multi-level effects of this project. The Forum’s report introduces 5 main group arguments and enough supporting evidence to demonstrate the jeopardizing effects that this project will have on the entire cultural heritage ensemble of Gjirokastra, if implemented. Below is a extract of the list of the identified technical and legal arguments, showing the perceived damages of this project to the structural integrity as well as the Outstanding Universal Values of the city of Gjirokastra.