The Characteristics of Urban and Architectural Development in Elbasan in the Beginning of the 20th century

Abstract

In the beginning of the 20th century the city of Elbasan and its prefecture were amongst the biggest and most important in Albania. With a very favorable geographical position Elbasan is situated in the heart of Albania as a strategically site which connected the routs of Western with the Eastern European ones. Among the urban problems in this study will be treated the construction of the city and that of the main Bezistan Square, the communication network, the automobile transportation and that of the public sector. Amid these problems it will also be considered the role of Elbasan’s City Hall. Furthermore in this study there will be treated the folkloristic architectural elements which are based on the activity of society, the ethnical features and the development of the Albanian creativity in the line of constructions such as dwellings, houses, water-suppliers, fountains, bazaars etc. In Elbasan there were still present the architectures of the Islamic and Christian cults by verifying the entrenchment of western elements and eastern elements in the architecture. This study will reflect the new characteristics in the urban and architectural development, the eastern and western influence the entrenchment of the old and modern in the architecture without neglecting the development of the autochthon element of Elbasan.