Featured Image [1]
After each revolution, monuments, sculptures, and buildings remain, here and there, left over from the former ruler. What is the right choice? To preserve or destroy them? Who gets to decide? People who are fulfilled with different emotions over time or those who care about preserving the historical value for future generations? In this piece, the author discusses this dilemma using the case of the Albanian Pyramid.
– Editor: Elaheh Houshmandipanah
Preserving “the ugly” Albanian Pyramid
March 12, 2019
– Author: Orestja Habilaj
The Pyramid of Tirana is one of the many sad looking buildings, constructed during the time of communism in Albania. The Pyramid was built to honor the greatness of communism, reflect the economic development, and to honor the Dictator, Enver Hoxha. After his death, Albania became a democratic country, leaving this building alone and without any attention. Today its condition is miserable, most of the windows are smashed, the cement is falling, and the people have started to destroy it. There is an ongoing preservation controversy when it comes to this “ugly” building.
The Pyramid in Tirana, Albania [2]
The first initial thought about the existence of the site as a whole, and in particular this pyramid, started during a political protest in January 2011, when four people were killed. The reasons behind its destruction are not primarily related to its beauty, but to what it represents. This pyramid represents dictatorship and its power. The main party who wants to destroy this building are members of the Democratic Party in Albania. Meanwhile, historians and the government want to preserve this site to show their history and not be afraid of it.
A photo of a young man during the protest of January 2011[3]
The Democratic Party uses artistic value as their argument, claiming that this building should not be considered art. It is ugly, and it has little functional use, therefore it must be destroyed. Another argument is its historic value. This building was never used, and it is located in the center of the capital of Albania. But the other party does not approve. According to the other stakeholders of this case, keeping this building is related to historical value. Even though it represents the former dictators’ beliefs, today it represents Albania’s history, which they should learn from it and not destroy part of their past.
I would strongly stress the value of history. This building represents sufferings, it represents the power of one man, the sufferings of those families who were imprisoned, taken out of cities or family members who were killed. But this building also represents history, and as bad as our history might be, we should never throw it away.
My own painting of buildings from the communist dictatorship in Albania
New values are needed to properly access the building’s impact on the city. The dictatorship has fallen, democracy is finding its own way to succeed, and people’s mentality has changed. New assessment methods and values are needed in order to properly represent what people think and to adjust to the changes that have happened during the time. After all the things that this Pyramid has gone through, it still stands strong today, reminding us to be careful of our own choices and appreciate our history.
Reference
[1] The Bohemian Blog, http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2017/06/pyramid-bunkers-communist-albania.html (accessed March 12, 2019)
[2] Dombrowski, Quinn, No title, http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/01/28/the_fight_to_preserve_albania_s_ugly_pyramid_of_tirana.html, (accessed March 7, 2019)
[3] Godaj, Godo, Anti-government protestors at the pyramid in January 2011, http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/01/28/the_fight_to_preserve_albania_s_ugly_pyramid_of_tirana.html, (accessed March 7, 2019)
[4] Ella Morton, The Importance of Ugliness In Albania, http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/01/28/the_fight_to_preserve_albania_s_ugly_pyramid_of_tirana.html, (accessed March 7, 2019)
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