In 2003, the city of Tirana, headed by then-mayor Edi Rama, had commissioned a masterplan for the redevelopment of the city center. Drafted by Architecture-Studio, the plan envisioned the construction of ten towers, arranged in parallel order around Skanderbeg Square, with an intended maximum height of 85 meters set for each tower, so to maintain a cohesive skyline.
Projects such as Alban Tower and Eyes of Tirana deviated from these height restrictions, creating a precedent that led to increased heights for future developments. This change contributed to a progressive trend toward taller and more imposing structures within and around the city’s urban core. [1]
The list below is organized based on the international standards set by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). [2]
List of buildings with a minimum height of ~300 m (980 ft).
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Floors | Architect | Developer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tirana Society Towers | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′44″N19°49′16″E / 41.32894°N 19.82104°E | 300 m (980 ft) | — | Alejandro Aravena | Delta sh.p.k / Techno Alb sh.p.k | ongoing |
List of buildings with a minimum height of ~200 m (660 ft).
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Floors | Architect | Developer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Grand Park Skyline Tower 1 | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′00″N19°49′09″E / 41.31656°N 19.81910°E | 266 m (873 ft) [3] | 71 | Valerio Olgiati | X One sh.p.k | ![]() |
2 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′39″N19°48′52″E / 41.34426°N 19.81453°E | — | 65 | Herzog & de Meuron | Klar sh.p.k | ![]() |
3 | Mount Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′47″N19°49′14″E / 41.32975°N 19.82054°E | 206.4 m (677 ft) [4] | 58 | CEBRA | Nova Construction sh.p.k | u/c |
4 | Papuli Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′40″N19°48′28″E / 41.32779°N 19.80768°E | 205 m (673 ft) [5] | 58 | Bofill Arquitectura | Classic S & J sh.p.k | ![]() |
5 | ABA Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 58 | — | Gener 2 | ongoing |
6 | Lana Riverside Residences | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′20″N19°48′09″E / 41.32210°N 19.80248°E | 204.45 m (670.8 ft) [6] | 56 | Marco Casamonti & Partners / X-Plan Studio | Forever Construction sh.p.k | u/c |
7 | Barcelona Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′37″N19°48′59″E / 41.32689°N 19.81628°E | 202 m (663 ft) [7] | 51 | Bofill Arquitectura / UDV Architects | Bami Holding sh.p.k | ![]() |
8 | Bond Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′07″N19°47′48″E / 41.33539°N 19.79661°E | 199.5 m (655 ft) [8] | 55, 44 | OODA | Nova Construction sh.p.k | ![]() |
List of buildings with a height variance from ~100 m (330 ft) up to ~199 m (653 ft).
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Floors | Architect | Developer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Grand Park Skyline Tower 2 | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′59″N19°49′05″E / 41.31630°N 19.81811°E | 192 m (630 ft) [9] | 51 | Valerio Olgiati | X One sh.p.k | ![]() |
2 | Tirana Gate | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′37″N19°47′15″E / 41.32688°N 19.78756°E | 184 m (604 ft) | 50, 39, 25 | Marco Casamonti & Partners / MVM Architecture | Xh&M sh.p.k / Alfazed sh.p.k / Smart Construction Invest sh.p.k | ![]() |
3 | Embassy Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′12″N19°49′34″E / 41.32001°N 19.82613°E | — | 47 | — | Hanxhari Group sh.p.k | ongoing |
4 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′07″N19°47′59″E / 41.33518°N 19.79973°E | — | 44 | — | Ultra–Tech sh.p.k | ![]() |
5 | Tirana Highest Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | — | — | Halisof sh.p.k | ongoing |
6 | Sun Moon Star | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′08″N19°48′55″E / 41.33562°N 19.81540°E | 162 m (531 ft) | 44 | Sam Chermayeff | AL Point sh.p.k | ![]() |
7 | Tirana New Boulevard | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′31″N19°48′50″E / 41.34207°N 19.81392°E | 159 m (522 ft) | 44, 41 | Marco Casamonti & Partners | Smart Construction Invest sh.p.k / Progeen sh.p.k | ![]() |
8 | Downtown One | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′27″N19°49′26″E / 41.32412°N 19.82386°E | 150 m (490 ft) [10] [11] | 40 | MVRDV | Kastrati sh.p.k | 2024 |
9 | Grand Park Skyline Tower 3 | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′59″N19°49′07″E / 41.31634°N 19.81872°E | 150 m (490 ft) [12] | 40 | Valerio Olgiati | X One sh.p.k | ![]() |
10 | New Boulevard Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′24″N19°48′52″E / 41.34000°N 19.81452°E | 145.4 m (477 ft) | 39 | Oppenheim Architecture | Tirana 2-Konstruksion sh.p.k | u/c |
11 | Colosseum 339 | ![]() | Tirana | 144 m (472 ft) | 36 | Luca Dini | Belhaus sh.p.k / Colosseo Construction sh.p.k | ![]() |
12 | Vertical Hora | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′49″N19°48′08″E / 41.33027°N 19.80212°E | 142.26 m (466.7 ft) | 41 | OODA | Develalb Construction sh.p.k / Edonil Konstruksion sh.p.k | u/c |
13 | Tirana Fik-Park | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′40″N19°48′47″E / 41.34437°N 19.81299°E | 136 m (446 ft) | 40 | Fuksas | Usluga sh.p.k | ![]() |
14 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 40 | — | Green Living Company sh.p.k | ![]() |
15 | Lift Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′44″N19°48′07″E / 41.32895°N 19.80206°E | — | 39 | Baukuh | — | ongoing |
16 | Farol Tower Residence | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′07″N19°48′14″E / 41.33527°N 19.80380°E | — | 38 | — | Gjoka Konstruksion sh.p.k | ![]() |
17 | Lake Diamond Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′47″N19°48′55″E / 41.31304°N 19.81525°E | — | 37 | Atelier 4 | Texas Development sh.p.k | ongoing |
18 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 37 | — | Stela Konstruksion sh.p.k | ongoing |
19 | Tirana East Tower Residence | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′04″N19°49′58″E / 41.31791°N 19.83270°E | — | 36 | Bolles+Wilson | Geo Construction sh.p.k | ![]() |
20 | Nova Hotel | ![]() | Tirana | — | 35 | — | Ferro Beton & Construction sh.p.k | ![]() |
21 | Tirana Dancing Towers | ![]() | Tirana | — | 34, 19 | — | Orion Construction sh.p.k | ongoing |
22 | Eyes of Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′43″N19°48′56″E / 41.32851°N 19.81559°E | 135 m (443 ft) [13] [14] [15] | 31 | Henning Larsen ↓ X-Plan Studio | Ideal Construction sh.p.k | 2025 |
23 | InterContinental Hotel Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′48″N19°49′06″E / 41.33009°N 19.81832°E | 133.5 m (438 ft) [13] [16] | 33 | Bolles+Wilson / Atelier 4 | Geci sh.p.k | 2023 |
24 | Top Seven Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′05″N19°48′05″E / 41.33461°N 19.80135°E | 130.65 m (428.6 ft) | 35 | Archea Associati | Top Seven sh.p.k | u/c |
25 | Multifunctional Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′36″N19°49′17″E / 41.32674°N 19.82152°E | 123 m (404 ft) | 33 | Bjarke Ingels Group | Fusha sh.p.k | ![]() |
26 | Lion Residences II | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′06″N19°48′02″E / 41.33497°N 19.80049°E | 122 m (400 ft) | 34 | GG-Loop / UDV Architects | UrbAlb sh.p.k | ![]() |
27 | The Cliffs | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′28″N19°48′57″E / 41.34104°N 19.81579°E | — [17] | — | — | Adriatic Resorts LLC | ongoing |
28 | Komuna e Parisit Towers | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′03″N19°48′26″E / 41.31761°N 19.80718°E | — | — | Oppenheim Architecture | — | ongoing |
29 | Tirana Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′28″N19°50′38″E / 41.34111°N 19.84385°E | 119.34 m (391.5 ft) | 34 | Oppenheim Architecture | Anchor Investments sh.p.k | u/c |
30 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 34 | — | EHW sh.p.k / Lion Construction sh.p.k / Pitagora Konstruksion sh.p.k | ![]() |
31 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 34, 33 | — | Ksamil Seaview sh.p.k | ![]() |
32 | Glow Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 32 | — | Glob 3x sh.p.k | ongoing |
33 | The Eagle Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′51″N19°47′07″E / 41.33081°N 19.78514°E | — | 31 | David Macullo Architects | — | ongoing |
34 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 31 | — | Concord Investment sh.p.k | ongoing |
35 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 30 | — | Ere Architecture & Construction sh.p.k | ![]() |
36 | Mixed-use Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′47″N19°46′27″E / 41.34645°N 19.77407°E | — | 30 | — | Pajtoni sh.p.k | ongoing |
37 | Maji Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′52″N19°49′17″E / 41.34787°N 19.82138°E | — | 29, 25 | — | Shk Real Estate sh.p.k | ongoing |
38 | Tirana Marriott | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′08″N19°49′23″E / 41.31894°N 19.82311°E | 112 m (367 ft) [18] [19] | 25 | Archea Associati | AlbStar sh.p.k | 2019 |
39 | Manhattan I | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′05″N19°48′24″E / 41.33468°N 19.80671°E | 108.8 m (357 ft) | 30 | Archea Associati | Forever Construction sh.p.k | u/c |
40 | Alban Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′34″N19°48′59″E / 41.32610°N 19.81652°E | 107 m (351 ft) [20] [21] [22] | 27 | Archea Associati | Al&Gi sh.p.k | 2022 |
41 | Bazaar Gate | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′46″N19°49′22″E / 41.32953°N 19.82273°E | 103.65 m (340.1 ft) | 27 | Bolles+Wilson | Bregu sh.a | u/c |
42 | Tirana West Center | ![]() | Tirana | — | 28 | — | Tirana West Center sh.p.k | ![]() |
43 | Residential Building | ![]() | Tirana | — | 27 | — | Hein-Invest sh.p.k | ![]() |
44 | IL Bonçe Complex | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′27″N19°49′42″E / 41.34077°N 19.82821°E | 101.5 m (333 ft) | 23 | — | IL Bonçe sh.p.k | ongoing |
45 | Multifunctional Tower Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′54″N19°48′43″E / 41.34824°N 19.81204°E | 100 m (330 ft) | 27 | Chybik+Kristof | 2T sh.p.k / Be-Is sh.p.k | ![]() |
List of buildings with a height variance from ~45 m (148 ft) up to ~99 m (325 ft).
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Floors | Architect | Developer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mixed-use Highrise | ![]() | Tirana | — | 27 | — | Tirana West Center sh.p.k | ![]() |
2 | Mixed-use Highrise | ![]() | Tirana | — | 26 | — | Ital-Project sh.p.k | ![]() |
3 | Tirana Boulevard | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′36″N19°48′49″E / 41.34327°N 19.81352°E | 97.38 m (319.5 ft) | 25 | MVRDV / UNO Architects | Sky Invest sh.p.k | u/c |
4 | United Towers of Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′47″N19°48′29″E / 41.31311°N 19.80819°E | 95.7 m (314 ft) | 25 | Marco Casamonti & Partners | Arlis Construction sh.p.k | u/c |
5 | Urban Oda | ![]() | Tirana | — | 25 | — | Salillari sh.p.k | ![]() |
6 | Flower Tower | ![]() | Tirana | — | 25 | — | Ober sh.p.k / Kleal Invest sh.p.k / Xhajs Tirana sh.p.k | ![]() |
7 | Ekspozita Building | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′23″N19°48′40″E / 41.32295°N 19.81115°E | 93 m (305 ft) [23] | 24 | Mario Cucinella | Titan Konstruksion sh.p.k | u/c |
8 | A.F.A Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′50″N19°49′36″E / 41.33046°N 19.82656°E | 92.43 m (303.2 ft) | 25 | Cityförster | Oni & Afa sh.p.k | ![]() |
9 | Tirana's Rock | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′48″N19°49′10″E / 41.32999°N 19.81931°E | 89 m (292 ft) [24] [25] | 26 | MVRDV | ANA sh.p.k | u/c |
10 | Wind Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′17″N19°47′20″E / 41.33801°N 19.78889°E | 87.36 m (286.6 ft) | 22 | UDV Architects | Kastrati Energy sh.p.k | ![]() |
11 | Maritim Hotel Plaza Tirana | | Tirana 41°19′40″N19°49′18″E / 41.32778°N 19.82154°E | 85 m (279 ft) [26] | 24 | 51N4E | TID Albania | 2015 |
12 | Tirana Garden Building | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′37″N19°48′21″E / 41.32684°N 19.80575°E | 85 m (279 ft) [27] | 24 | Archea Associati | Nova Construction sh.p.k | 2023 |
13 | ABA Business Center | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′13″N19°49′23″E / 41.32023°N 19.82297°E | 83 m (272 ft) [28] | 21 | Bolles+Wilson | Gener 2 | 2008 |
14 | Ambasador III | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′06″N19°49′33″E / 41.31834°N 19.82585°E | 82 m (269 ft) [29] | 23 | Atelier 4 | Mane TCI | 2016 |
15 | Mixed-use Highrise | ![]() | Tirana | — | 23 | — | Aghak Cara sh.p.k | ![]() |
16 | Ndarja | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′28″N19°48′23″E / 41.32454°N 19.80645°E | — | 22 | OODA | Artech Group sh.p.k / Edonil Konstruksion sh.p.k | ongoing |
17 | Mixed-use Highrise | ![]() | Tirana | — | 22 | — | Stela Konstruksion sh.p.k | ![]() |
18 | Filigree Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′11″N19°50′22″E / 41.33632°N 19.83953°E | 81.7 m (268 ft) | 21 | X-Plan Studio | Kuteli sh.p.k | u/c |
19 | Book Building | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′39″N19°49′13″E / 41.32758°N 19.82023°E | 77 m (253 ft) [30] | 21 | 51N4E | Techno-Alb sh.p.k | 2024 |
20 | Sky Hotel Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′20″N19°49′05″E / 41.32236°N 19.81804°E | 76 m (249 ft) [31] | 20 | Ilir Shijaku | Lani sh.p.k | 2000 ↓ 2020 (extended) |
21 | Vertical Forest | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′05″N19°49′31″E / 41.31814°N 19.82514°E | 75 m (246 ft) [32] | 21 | Stefano Boeri | Gener 2 | 2024 |
22 | Mixed-use highrise | ![]() | Tirana | — | 20 | — | Lunor sh.p.k / Ultra-Tech sh.p.k | ![]() |
23 | Altura Trade Center | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′37″N19°48′42″E / 41.34369°N 19.81174°E | — | 19 | Studio Arch4 | Usluga sh.p.k | u/c |
24 | West Habitat | ![]() | Tirana | — | 19 | UDV Architects | — | ongoing |
25 | Green Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′24″N19°48′45″E / 41.32322°N 19.81240°E | 74 m (243 ft) [33] | 18 | SOA Architecture | Titan Konstruktion sh.p.k | u/c |
26 | Mixed-use Building | ![]() | Tirana | 73.8 m (242 ft) | 20 | Dalmat Architecture | TDT & Partners sh.p.k | ![]() |
27 | Nomad Building | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′30″N19°48′08″E / 41.32487°N 19.80236°E | 72.7 m (239 ft) | 20 | Dalmat Architecture | Artech Group sh.p.k | ![]() |
28 | Grey Moon Tower | ![]() | Tirana | 71.55 m (234.7 ft) | 18 | X-Plan Studio | Babasi Coo sh.p.k | ![]() |
29 | Puzzle Tirana | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′52″N19°48′23″E / 41.31453°N 19.80633°E | 71 m (233 ft) | 20 | NOA / Atelier 4 | Texas Development sh.p.k | ongoing |
30 | Park Avenue | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′26″N19°48′45″E / 41.34062°N 19.81263°E | 70 m (230 ft) | 19 | Davide Mecullo Architects | Orion Construction sh.p.k | u/c |
31 | Tirana Lake | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′48″N19°48′48″E / 41.31329°N 19.81329°E | 68.55 m (224.9 ft) | 17 | Marco Casamonti & Partners | Building Construction Invest sh.p.k | ![]() |
32 | Lake View Residences | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′40″N19°48′40″E / 41.31106°N 19.81110°E | 60–70 m (200–230 ft) [34] | 17 | JA Joubert | Gener 2 | 2023 |
33 | White Tower | ![]() | Tirana 41°18′54″N19°48′23″E / 41.31489°N 19.80650°E | — [35] | 17 | Dalmat Architecture | Nova Construction sh.p.k | u/c |
34 | Art N'Lagje | ![]() | Tirana 41°20′08″N19°50′33″E / 41.33549°N 19.84261°E | — | 17, 15, 12, 20, 9, 7 | Dalmat Architecture | Aulonamar sh.p.k | u/c |
35 | Residential Highrise | ![]() | Tirana | — | 17 | — | Baholli Construction sh.p.k | ![]() |
36 | ETC Galeria | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′27″N19°49′22″E / 41.32405°N 19.82291°E | 56 m (184 ft) [36] | 16 | — | Edil-Al | 2006 |
37 | Tirana International Hotel | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′48″N19°49′07″E / 41.32999°N 19.81861°E | 56 m (184 ft) [37] | 15 | Valentina Pistoli | Albanian State | 1979 |
38 | Twin Towers | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′20″N19°49′11″E / 41.32236°N 19.81972°E | 52 m (171 ft) [38] | 15 | — | TID | 2005 |
39 | Residential Highrise | ![]() | Tirana | 51.7 m (170 ft) | 14 | Stefano Boeri | Domus Group AL sh.p.k | ![]() |
40 | MET Building | ![]() | Tirana 41°19′29″N19°49′15″E / 41.32479°N 19.82090°E | 48.7 m (160 ft) [39] | 15 | Mario Cucinella | MET Invest sh.p.k | 2024 |
41 | Illyrius Apartments | ![]() | Tirana | 47.9 m (157 ft) [40] | 15 | GG-loop | Balfin Group | ![]() |
42 | Multifunctional Building | ![]() | Tirana | — | 15 | — | Oni & Afa sh.p.k | ![]() |
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Floors | Architect | Developer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Durrësi Tower | ![]() | Durrës | — | 30 | Luca Dini | T&Xh sh.p.k | ![]() |
2 | Rajfi Residence | ![]() | Durrës 41°18′37″N19°26′37″E / 41.31029°N 19.44367°E | 91 m (299 ft) [41] | 27 | — | Rajfi Group sh.p.k | 2018 |
3 | Highrise Building | ![]() | Durrës 41°18′40″N19°26′58″E / 41.31124°N 19.44952°E | 84 m (276 ft) | — | — | — | — |
4 | Skalitur Tower | ![]() | Durrës 41°18′54″N19°27′06″E / 41.31490°N 19.45159°E | — | 19 | Luca Dini | Babasi Coo sh.p.k | ![]() |
5 | Crowne Plaza | ![]() | Durrës 41°18′31″N19°26′45″E / 41.30850°N 19.44571°E | — [42] | 16 | FOCUS Architecture | Mediterranean Investment Group | 2025 |
6 | Fly Tower | ![]() | Durrës 41°18′36″N19°26′53″E / 41.30995°N 19.44805°E | 58 m (190 ft) | 15 | — | — | 2008 |
7 | EGT Business Center | ![]() | Durrës 41°18′47″N19°26′48″E / 41.31301°N 19.44676°E | 49 m (161 ft) | 13 | — | — | 2007 |
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Floors | Architect | Developer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mixed-use Highrise | ![]() | Vlorë | — | 37, 35, 10 | — | Hel-Pet sh.p.k / Alb-Edil sh.p.k / Texas Development sh.p.k | ![]() |
2 | Vlora Altura | ![]() | Vlorë | — | 36, 34 | — | Leon 2011 sh.p.k | ongoing |
3 | Vlora Landmark Resort | ![]() | Vlorë 40°26′02″N19°29′44″E / 40.43383°N 19.49553°E | 125.5 m (412 ft) | 33 | Oppenheim Architecture | E&A Investment Vlorë sh.p.k | ![]() |
4 | Vlora Marina Tower | ![]() | Vlorë 40°27′09″N19°28′55″E / 40.45240°N 19.48206°E | — | 33 | — | — | ![]() |
5 | Vlora Central | ![]() | Vlorë 40°27′59″N19°29′03″E / 40.46639°N 19.48424°E | — | 31 | Oppenheim Architecture | Anchor Investment sh.p.k | ![]() |
6 | Luzaj Towers | ![]() | Vlorë 40°26′15″N19°29′54″E / 40.43737°N 19.49826°E | — | — | Coop Himmelb(l)au | — | ![]() |
7 | Residential Building | ![]() | Vlorë | — | 23 | — | En Construction sh.p.k / Dakz sh.p.k | ![]() |
8 | Flatiron Vlora | ![]() | Vlorë | — | 22, 21 | — | Kumi Konstruksion sh.p.k / Semajo sh.p.k | ongoing |
9 | The Leaves | ![]() | Vlorë | — | 16 | David Macullo Architects | Azure Developments sh.p.k | ![]() |
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Floors | Architect | Developer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rozafa Tower | ![]() | Shkodër | — | 34 | Selgascano + FRPO | Rozafa Group sh.p.k | ![]() |
2 | Residential Highrise | ![]() | Lezhë | — | 25 | — | Ilyonis Constructions sh.p.k | ![]() |
Clock towers in Albania were typically situated in the most vibrant and noticeable areas of cities, such as marketplaces, near the main mosques, and occasionally even within castles. They were considered landmarks or reference points, in contrast to the neighborhood and the city as a whole. The construction of these important urban structures was driven by a growing demand from the civic society at the time. [43]
The term "kulla" (English: tower ) or "kullë e veçuar" (detached tower) refers to a tall, fortified structure designed for various defensive and practical purposes. Detached towers were used as observation posts for monitoring roads or borders, facilitating signal exchanges, serving as fortified residences, and acting as primary towers within fortified cities and castles. They also protected monasteries and functioned as temporary summer dwellings for landowners or as vantage points during agricultural harvests. [56]
The largest concentration of kullas can be found in the historic region of Mirditë, known as the epicenter of catholicism in the country. Its bajraks held considerable influence in the political affairs of pre-independent Albania. [70]
The tower houses of Mirdita were historically built by wealthy and influential families, with the number of floors symbolizing their social status.
Each tower typically featured three, four or more rooms. In the absence of a separate shed, the ground floor was often used to house livestock. A narrow staircase, located just before the main entrance, led to the guest room, which was commonly equipped with a fireplace.
The most prevalent architectural form of fortified dwellings in the Orosh region and its surroundings is the corner plan, achieved by attaching an annex to the primary structure. The annex’s alcoves often housed the sanitary facilities for each floor.
These fortified houses were outfitted with chimneys, but unlike the chimneys in Mat and Dibër, they lacked windows, featuring only turrets. Over time, Mirdita’s çikmata lost their original function as seating areas and became purely defensive architectural elements. [71]
No. | Name | Image | Location | Height | Status | Builder | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nickel Mine Towers | ![]() | Prrenjas 41°04′02″N20°32′20″E / 41.06710°N 20.53879°E | 52 m (171 ft) | Decommissioned | Albanian State | 1966 |