Raymond Lemaire Interanational Centre for Conservation, Faculty of Engineering

The built heritage is often exposed to the risk of destruction from manmade hazards – war,
negligence, lack of awareness andappropriate regulations. Kosovo’s rich cultural heritageendured a terrible
war that resulted with serious damage.This heritage nowadays is faced with challenges and opportunities.
The main aim of this research is focused in integration and evaluation of main conservation practices applied
in three heritage buildings: (1) The Great Hammam in Pristina; (2) ex. Hotel “Union” in Pristina; and(3)
Hydro Power Plant in Prizren; in order to introduce usage of principles and conservation concepts towards
strengthening social role in the process of rehabilitation.The outcome of this research, through the detailed
study of the problems, illustrated with practical examples, is to create a path that will serve in establishment
of Sustainable Conservation Principles for built heritage located on the territory of Kosovo, in accordance
with international Charters, the attributes of the built heritage and existing professional capacities.

“Outstanding architectural monuments built during the Middle Ages and the Ottoman period,
have remained intact until today: fourteenth century churches and monasteries of a unique
aesthetic accomplishment and mosques of great stylistic perfection, but also non-religious
buildings like fortresses, urban centres and bridges, highlight the dense artistic creativity that is
characteristic of the region and that now forms the impressive built cultural heritage in
Kosovo.”

The cultural heritage of urban quarters in Kosovo were faced with a lot of social and physical challenges during last century, particularly endured in 1999, after a war which resulted partial destruction of their urban settlements. Introducing and underlining the concepts of heritage value of case study, distinguished Grand Bazaar of Gjakova - Çarshia e Madhe në Gjakovë, towards establishing an economic prosperity of the municipality is a challenging issue. Hence, the interminable discussions and not integrated approach of complex and demanding issues, diminishes the community interest to invest in further distinguishing value of cultural heritage by applying a sustainable conservation principles and in accordance with international Charters. The research relies on sustainable development concepts, applied as a tool to synthesize researched data found at relevant heritage institutions and to promote a cultural heritage richness of case study for local economic development component and community well-being demands.

Paper for Module 1 "Conservation of architectural heritage:
History, theory and practice" of the "Master of Conservation of Monuments and Sites" Programme, Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (RLICC), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Tutors: Prof. Dr. Art Historian / Archaeology Thomas Coomans & Prof. Em. Dr. Ir. Arch Luc Verpoest
Academic year: 2011‐12
Established result: 18 CP (on a scale of 20)

My thesis project aims to present the relationship between the urban fabric and the authoritative power in a city. Particularly the urban evolution of Rethymno is being examined along with the interventions made by the relevant authority in each historical period shaping its image. In general, the evolution of a city is motivated by the requirements of each authoritative power, the needs of society, the natural terrain, the visions of urban planners, architects, etc. who are undertaking the projects, and the technical knowledge of each period. A comparative analysis of the urban evolution of three Mediterranean cities-ports - Naples, Marseilles, and Barcelona – that date since antiquity highlights several interventions made on their urban tissue on a larger scale. Based on this analysis, follows the presentation of the historical and urban evolution of Rethymno, indicating the formative role of Authority in the city’s development. The urban space structure is identified by the study of the city boundaries, the urban factors and the architecture of the city, the memory of its districts and the place names, the void and the full, as well as the amorphous of its historic center. Finally, conclusions are drawn.

My diploma thesis concerns a large-scale urban intervention in the heart of Rethymno historic center aiming to enhance and regenerate it. It envisions connecting and highlighting monuments of various historical periods in a unified urban system. For this reason, the area once occupied by the main public spaces of four consecutive historical periods of Rethymno (Venetian, Ottoman, the Cretan State, the 30s) is initially identified in the present tissue. Then their recovery and connection to the modern public space of the historic center are proposed. A network of public walkways and green spaces is developed to enable connections between the fragmented sections of the urban fabric. Furthermore, new buildings and canopies are proposed, while some existing structures would be demolished to create urban transitions between monuments and public spaces and to develop new urban fronts, where is needed. Finally, the partially demolished Venetian Clock Tower would be restored to become the landmark of the new public space created in the traces of the Venetian Piazzetta.

My master thesis concerns the restoration and reuse of the ravelin located opposite the main entrance of the Venetian citadel, the Fortezza, lying on the Palaiokastro hill above the historic center of Rethymno. The Ottomans built the ravelin during the city’s occupation, around 1700 and 1715, inside the defense zone of the citadel, the esplanade, to support the citadel’s entrance. Between 1909 and 1929, the prostitutes were imprisoned in municipal buildings constructed on its terreplein following a Cretan State Law (1897-1913). In 1929, the Greek government occupied the ravelin to convert it into a Prison, whose operation ceased in 1969. The municipality claimed it to house the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno. According to the 1977 Museum study, its interior was demolished, and a new concrete structure was built inside its external walls. The Museum operated from 1991 to 2015. Since then the building is used as a storage of antiquities. The thesis proposes its reuse as an Art-Cafe by developing a project respectful at its Palimpsest. For this reason, time and space analysis is carried out. The description of the current state of the building is based on a detailed survey compared with historical documents to identify the surviving past layers and technical analysis. The heritage value assessment is preceded by the project proposal to justify the intervention level on the urban scale and the building. The current vision and needs of the Municipality, as well as the ravelin’s prominent location, are considered under the aspect of sustainability to devise an economic analysis. Finally, the project proposal includes a master plan aiming to restore the lost integrity of the area establishing a link with the city. The intervention on the building is based on the preceded analyses and value assessment, while useful conclusions are drawn.