Imagine și putere: impactul arhitecturii fasciste în Tirana

Abstract

Albania’s difficult economic situation after the First World War has made this country a de facto protectorate of the Italian State since the 1920s. The economic aid granted by Italy contributed to the increase of the political interference of the Italian State in the internal affairs of the Land of Eagles. This influence is also evident in the buildings of that period, clearly attributable to the fascist architecture. According to the historical period considered in the study, a significant difference in the building architecture emerges between the pre – and post-annexation of Albania to Fascist Italy. On the one hand, in the stage preceding the Italian occupation the buildings in Albania are small in size and covered with local artistic details that evoke the past of the Albanian state. On the other hand, during the period of occupation, the buildings which represent the political centre of the fascist regime in Albania, are majestic, large in size and positioned in strategic places. Despite the differences in style, in both periods Italy used architecture as a mere propaganda tool and the choice of style is attributable to the political message that Italy wanted to convey.

Keywords

• fascist architecture
• albania
• brasini
• di fausto
• bosio