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Industrial Heritage (Doctoral Research)
My doctoral work is part of the Joint International PhD Programme in Architecture and Urban Planning (IDAUP) — a collaboration between the University of Ferrara (Italy) and Polis University (Albania).
Doctoral thesis:
My research explores how home furniture design and development processes transformed from communism to post-communism and the free market economy in Albania — examining the industrial, cultural, and social dimensions of this transition.
Related publications:
- "Vintage Design Furniture in Albania, a New Retro Design Paradigm in the Post-Communist Era" — European Journal of Engineering and Formal Sciences, Vol. 2, 2019
- "The Woman-Friendly City: Case Studies of Post-Industrial Areas in Tirana" — with Dr. Dorina Pojani (University of Queensland) and Dr. Joana Dhiamandi, examining how former industrial districts (Kombinati and Porcelain) respond to contemporary needs of women and families
Themes I explore:
- Industrial landscapes and their cultural value
- Post-communist design transformation
- Adaptive reuse and heritage preservation policies
- Community engagement around heritage sites
- Gender and urban planning in post-industrial contexts
- Knowledge-based development of cities and innovation districts
Through my academic work, I aim to highlight the value of industrial sites not only as remnants of the past but as opportunities for future transformation, community identity, and sustainable reuse.