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Adaptive Reuse of Contested Modern Heritage: The Revitalisation of the Pyramid of Tirana

  • Florian Nepravishta
  • Fiona Nepravishta

This paper examines the Pyramid of Tirana, conceptualised as an inhabited monument, a model of adaptive reuse, and a dynamic case of contested modern heritage, subject to ongoing debate over its civic function. Employing a qualitative methodology that integrates historical, spatial, and socio-symbolic analyses, the research argues that the MVRDV/TUMO intervention repositions the former socialist structure by reinterpreting its meanings. The analysis explores the aestheticisation of decay through vibrant architectural additions and reframes the complexities of socialist memory through contemporary technological optimism and urban branding. The adaptive reuse of the Pyramid underscores productive tensions among memory, public engagement, commercialisation, and conservation.

  • Keywords:
  • New heritage,
  • Adaptive reuse,
  • Contested modern heritage,
  • Pyramid of Tirana,
  • Post-socialist urban transformation,
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Florian Nepravishta

Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania - ORCID: 0000-0002-3815-0712

Fiona Nepravishta

University College London, United Kingdom - ORCID: 0009-0002-3070-2321

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  • Anno di pubblicazione: 2026
  • Pagine: 2212-2237

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Informazioni sul capitolo

Titolo del capitolo

Adaptive Reuse of Contested Modern Heritage: The Revitalisation of the Pyramid of Tirana

Autori

Florian Nepravishta, Fiona Nepravishta

Lingua

Inglese

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-1113-0.96

Opera sottoposta a peer review

Anno di pubblicazione

2026

Copyright

© 2026 Author(s)

Licenza d'uso

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Licenza dei metadati

CC0 1.0

Informazioni bibliografiche

Titolo del libro

ReUso 2026 - New heritage and future strategies. Perspectives on conservation and promotion

Sottotitolo del libro

14th International Congress Barcelona-Girona, 4-7 November

Curatori

Alessandro Scarnato, Marisa García Vergara, Ángeles Layuno Rosas

Opera sottoposta a peer review

Anno di pubblicazione

2026

Copyright

© 2026 Author(s)

Licenza d'uso

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Licenza dei metadati

CC0 1.0

Editore

Firenze University Press

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-1113-0

eISBN (pdf)

979-12-215-1113-0

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979-12-215-1112-3

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