While there is still the ongoing rattle about the National Theatre for more than two months, the National History Museum will be undergoing a deep reconstruction to its foundations as they have suffered degeneration through the years, but also will rehabilitate its sight to make it more attractive.
This comes after an announcement the Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro made herself. She said that it is important to rehabilitate the institution to meet the generation of 21st century, as the Museum was built in 1981 and holds a communistic facade and ideology. She wants the museum to speak to Albania’s history and people, to make it more engaging through a contemporary concept.
She wrote the building hasn’t had any investments since its construction, and thus has degenerated over the years due to cheap amortization. As being an institution of high importance, and following perhaps the tragedy that happened to the National Museum of Brazil that suffered a fire and thus losing around 20 million artefacts, it would be smart to invest in our museum.
‘’Physical reconstruction project to a building overly amortized, tired, which has never had any structural investment, which today lacks all necessary conditions proper for a public cultural institution; a preserving of the cultural heritage, the funds and collections, and the modernization of the museal life,’’ wrote Kumbaro in a post via Facebook.
It is implied thus a more dynamic museum to fit the reconstruction of the Skanderbeg Square. at which the building stands, and as the square has high movement of citizens, the institution wants to explore the possibilities of attracting them to its frontiers.
The project presents itself as an inviting and transparent entrance, digital screens, reception, souvenir shops, coffee-bar, wardrobe, interactive digital forms. This however, it’s only a concept presented by architect Olsi Eftimiu, who has also worked on the projects of ArTurbina, National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, and is thought to be participating in this other national object reconstruction.
However, both Kumbaro and Institute of Cultural Monuments director Arta Dollani said there is no definitive project, as both the Culture Ministry and Museum are working with 20 experts examining the building, and then a decision will be made on the best project that will depict the vision of the institution.
This vision seeks to extinguish the interpretations and ideologies, and present the artefacts exclusively through the historical facts they hold. A contemporary, educative museum to show and teach everyone of Albania’s history, uncovered.
‘’The museum will have a different presentation with digital platforms, a staff that preliminary explains what you’ll be visiting, what you might be interested upon, so it will have a diversified museal program. This project’s cost will be 13 million euros. The way of itnervation will be through phases so there will never be a full closing of the museum, so there is a continuation of exhibitions and educative part,’’ said Dollani.
