Brunilda Basha

Historic buildings maintain the local characteristics and preserve the culture and history of a country. This historical and cultural significances as a legacy can be passed to next generation by conserving the historical buildings. Nowadays in the process of conservation, Adaptive Reuse Practice has been necessary, especially when historical buildings are no longer functioning its original purpose. Moreover, adaptive reuse holds different dimensions of sustainability that of economic, environmental and social. In the pursuit of the sustainable development, social sustainability has been the new parameter to investigate the viability of adaptive reuse. In this regard an attempt has been made as a main objective to investigate the viability of adaptive reuse and its social sustainability. Asia Heritage Row located in Doraisami Street and Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Kuala Lumpur is used for the hypothesis testing. The variables that are measured as parameters in achieving social sustainability are categorized into cultural, aesthetical, social and human comfort. The data is mainly collected from literature review, case study and questionnaires distributed to the users of the case study area. The data is analyzed by determining the statically reliable relationship between adaptive reuse and social sustainability parameters. The associations between variables are examined by correlation. The result show's that adaptive reuse of Asia Heritage Row Building not only have a social value but preserves the heritage significances as a place of social interaction and also ensures its sustainability. Hope this study would be worthwhile for those who are intending to know or carry out research about the socio-sustainability of readapted heritage buildings in future.

Abstract: Historic buildings maintain the local characteristics and preserve the culture and history of a country. It is mainly through
conservation of heritage buildings that we can pass on currently identified cultural significance to future generations. Adaptive Reuse
is an effective way to preserve building heritage, especially when the building is no longer able to function its original purpose. In the
pursuit of sustainable development, adaptive reuse holds different dimensions of sustainability. The aim of this study is to investigate
the viability of adaptive reuse application to historic buildings as an approach to achieve .Sustainable Heritage. In this regard in this
paper, an attempt has been made to explore adaptive reuse with .sustainability through literature review. After that, the case study of
Asian Heritage Row located in Doraisami Street and Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Kuala Lumpur has been used for the hypothesis testing. The
variable measured as parameters in achieving .sustainability are categorized into cultural, aesthetically, .and human comfort. Data
collections were obtained from case study, survey questionnaires at Asia Heritage Row and literature review. The associations
between variables are examined by correlation. The findings of this research have presented facts that the successful adaptive reuses
of historical buildings hold .value approach. It preserves the heritage significance of a building, ensures its sustainability, and
generates the building into a .interaction place. By the means of adaptive reuse, the .life of the inhabitants in historical buildings at
Kuala Lumpur can be preserved sustainably in the end and passed on to future generations.
Keywords: Adaptive Reuse, .Sustainability, Sustainable Preservation, Built Heritage, Architecture, Historic Building

Inscriptions and buildings have a great historical importance. Sometimes, they provide previously unknown information or a diverse landscape of the actions of certain people. In some cases, they revive the history for the generations of our time and give us the previous cultures atmosphere, which is now missing.  In the period when the centralization of the Turkish Empire had reached its peak, during fifteen and sixteen (XV-XVI) centuries, Ottoman art in Albania was very similar of that in Skopje or Edirne. On the other hand, in the seventeenth (XVII) century, the influence of the central Ottoman government is slowly sat; therefore local contribution to Islamic buildings in Albania became greater. In the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth (XVIII-XIX) century, the blending of Ottoman elements reached its peak with the appearance of a particular style of Albanian-Islamic. This style presents a synthesis of religious and secular elements such as ottoman, local and western.

The fusion of these features seemingly heterogeneous reflects indeed the country of Albania in history, as a connecting route of the East and West. These recent works, as named by Machiel Kiel, (2011) are the product of the "Golden century of Islamic culture in Albania". This time is the "golden age" in terms of architecture development.

This paper attempts to analysis how Islam was spread in region of Albania and how the religious buildings adapted the Islamic elements breathing harmoniously with the local architecture and its elements. In this regard, literature review on Islam in Albania and Islamic architecture has been explored. After that, the case study of Et’hem Beu Mosque of Tirana has been conducted to unfold the facts of a relationship of Islamic local and European architecture. A detail description on Mosque background, history and its architecture implication will be presented.  Eventually this study will promote the evolution of Islamic architecture in Albania and its significance in Albanian architecture development. Also, it is hoped to become a reference to other research works in whichever way it may.

Keywords: Mosque, Islamic Architecture, Ottoman Art, Muslim Community, Islamization

For half a millennium much of Southeast Europe was an integral part of the Islamic world and shared fully in its political economic and cultural life. Balkan cities were among the largest of the Muslim Empire. Ottoman architecture came into being in a land with no tradition of Islamic culture, therefore the contribution of Ottoman Empire in Balkan Islamic Built environment is vital. The relationship between the Ottoman State and Albanian began after 1325 and in the year 1506 the whole Albania was ruled by Ottoman Empire. Elbasan was one of the most important cities during that period, re-established by Sultan Mehmet II in 1466. During the time when Empire prevailed many of religious, social, cultural, commercial and educational structures have been built and the city was developed. Starting from 1967 most of Ottoman Heritage in Albania are demolished due to ideological-political reasons and are not reconstructed back. Some have changed the function several times through the history and some others have remain in their original function. The aim of this study is to identify the remaining structures built between 15th-19th centuries inside Elbasan Fortress walls and to analyses their architecture before and now, as well as to evaluate their preservation work level. Some of them have had several restorations and still function today such as; King Mosque (Hunkar Camii) and Clock tower. Other structures are left abandoned such as Castle bath (Kala hamam), and some others are totally demolished such as; market (bazaar) or Suleymaniyye mosque. For understanding the Ottoman architectural language used in Albania and how the preservation work took place in those structures, this research employs a historical and analytical approach analysis. The methods used include a literature review from several sources, analysis on archives drawings, case study and interviews. At the end of this paper, recommendations are highlighted in order to increase the awareness of Ottoman and Islamic Heritage in Elbasan and its preservation for future use.

Albania and Turkey have a deep and rich connecting history, spanning hundreds of years. Ottoman civilization left behind prominent influences on the religions, traditions, and architecture of the people who have lived in regions where Ottomans have ruled. Researches show that, on the long time period that the empire prevailed, each Ottoman city (from Central Asia to the Balkans, from North Africa to the Black Sea) developed a format related with their unique dynamics and tradition understandings.  Thus, in different geographical area being under the same administrative system spatial organization of the cities share essential principles adapted with the surrounding geographical, socio-cultural and economical context.  To examine this sharing principles two cities; Amasya, in Turkey and Berat, in Albania are chosen as case study. Both cities were significant places in the Ottoman Empire history. Due to growth in population, the Ottomans expanded the both cities, provided facilities and established neighborhoods outside the walls.  Even though in 2017, Amasya and Berat have established a “sister city” relationship agreement, up to now there are no studies engaged to compare their urban and architectural elements and to find out the similarities and differences.  Therefore, for enhancing the continuity in mutual urban outlines, this research employs a historical and descriptive approach to explore the history, design and construction of the cities layout as well as going further down to their traditional houses during the Ottoman period. The comparison of the traditional houses pointed out similarities both cities have in terms of socio- economical, religious and cultural contexts. Thus the paper will have not only the analysis of the comparison of the history of two cities, but also it will give needed recommendations that are highlighted in order to protect and restore the residential heritage of respective cities in an accordance with each other in a socio-cultural and economical base for future use. Therefore the paper would be worthwhile for those who are intending to carry out research on history and preservation of architecture.

Keywords: Ottoman house, Urban planning, Albanian Ottoman House, Amasya Riverfront Houses.

The first contacts of Albanians to Islam are proven to be relatively early in the medieval centuries. Due to geographical situation, Albania was densely frequented by Turkish and Arab missionaries; no matter it was a commercial, religious or military purpose. The Islamization of Albanian Community went all the way through progressive growth as it is reflected from the customs of the community as well as from their architecture. The mosques remained the focal points for teachings of Islam and were considered as the core of the Muslim society as the mosques played the role not only for growing peoples religious needs but also had significant impact on the overall development of the community. From the beginning, the mosques were the places for prayer, meditation, religious instructions, political discussions, and learning places. Unfortunately the role of the mosques at the present time has been minimized only in performing daily prayers and few other religious activities. Hence today the mosques do not play sufficient role in social and cultural developments of the Albanian Muslim community especially the Muslims living in Durres city of Albania. This paper attempts to analyse the social and cultural role of the Great Mosque Duress, Albania and how far it has the impact on the development of the Muslim Community living in Durres. In this regard the case study of Great Mosque of Durres has been conducted to unfold the facts of deterioration of Muslim life style in Durres. Eventually this study will reach to a model design with some necessary added functions so that the new model design of Mosque should play the vital role in revitalizing the Islamic practices as it was observed in the past to develop the Muslim community in Durres, Albania.

For half a millennium much of Southeast Europe was an integral part of the Islamic world and shared fully in its political economic and cultural life.  Balkan cities were among the largest of the Muslim Empire, and some of the most important owe their very existence to the active urbanization policy of that state: the Empire of the Ottoman.  Ottoman architecture came into being in a land with no tradition of Islamic culture, therefore the contribution of Ottoman Empire in Balkan Islamic Built environment is vital. Most of mosques in Balkan area are demolished due to several factors such as natural earthquakes, ideological or political reasons and are not reconstructed back. Some others have changed the function several times through the history and some others have remain in their original function. The aim of this study is to identify the selected mosques architectural features built in Balkan during the early Period of Ottoman Empire and to analyse their current architectural state after restorations took place. This study includes a total of 10 mosques located in 5 countries (Albania, Bosna, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Hungary) built between the years 1400-1500. These mosques vary in the degree of preservation. Some of them have had several restorations and still function as mosques, some are left abounded, and some others are turned into churches.  For understanding the early Ottoman architectural language and how the preservation work took place, this research employs a historical and analytical approach analysis.  At the end of this paper, recommendations are highlighted in order to increase the awareness of Ottoman Heritage in Balkans and its preservation for future use.

Keywords: Ottoman Early period, Balkan mosques, Ottoman Architecture, preservation, Architectural Features

The main discussion set forth in this paper is about conservation issues and historical buildings. This paper attempts to give an overall view on conservation works by illustrating with building examples. Afterward this paper aims to evaluate the feasibility of the historical building after adaptive reuse process. The investigation is focused in Kuala Lumpur since it has a rich architecture legacy. The purpose of exploring Kuala Lumpur architecture is to determine how adaptive reuse is contributing to a more historically and culturally sustainable architecture and society. Case study, observations, literature and surveys are made in order to assemble facts and data regarding the feasibility of these heritage buildings after adaptive reuse approaches. This paper will present facts if adaptive reuse concept is relevant in making our heritage building workable in the present demand.