By Ani Jaupaj
Memorie.al / After years of delaying the realization of this museum, Enver Hoxha finally decided to build it right when his daughter graduated in Architecture. This would be her degree defense, although the grade was undisputed. Architect Robert Kote and stonemason Kurt Murati tell us the truth today. As the whole Kruja affirms; the museum of this city was realized by the implementer of the project, Robert Kote and not by the designer Pranvera Hoxha. The engineer and architect Robert Kote would definitely do the work he did in the museum of Kruja, as long as he was under orders from above. Only that the order had come to him many years before the realization. No one understood what was happening, why the work was being delayed, why it was being suspended…! Suddenly, one day they call him again, already to finish it…!
Professor Roberti, how is the history of the Kruja Museum?
The history of the museum started many years before it was really worked on. In 1967, Enver Hoxha visited Krujë, during which he also visited the old museum. After that, he wrote a letter in which he criticized it, saying that he did not like this museum. Under these conditions, the signal was open since; “make arrangements to make another”.
This was the time when I, together with a friend of mine who lived in Kruja, started making the first projects and guesses. How could it be, where could it be built?! The letter only said that he did not like it, but gave no other indications. In conclusion, nothing was done. Several years passed. I was a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, when they called me again. In a meeting with Minister Thoma Deliana and Aleks Buda, we decide to go to Kruja, to see the terrain.
Was it built this time?
No. The three of us went together with Foto Çam, who was the first secretary of the Kruja District Party Committee, and none of them took it upon themselves to say an opinion, they wanted to ignore him, because they were afraid of Enver’s words. So they all left the country one after the other and no decision was made. We returned to Tirana again, without doing anything. This matter remained pending for several years, until one day we suddenly received the news that the museum would be built.
Who did the news come from?
From Enver Hoxha, the project of that museum, I have always said that it was born in his house. However, it came so suddenly to us all, but of course no one dared to speak.
What had happened suddenly?
Spring, the daughter, was studying Architecture and the time had come to defend her degree. He did with this project.
Was she your student?
No, all the children of the leaders have been my students, Hysni Kapo’s daughter and so on, but not Vera. I think I was in China, in the year when it was my turn to give the subject.
Kurt Murati, one of the museum workers, told us that although the name of Spring was on the paper, not many things remained from the plan. So, it was alienated. It says that in fact, you did…?
That’s what everyone says in Kruja. In fact, officially I was the implementer of the project, despite the fact that the project was quite amateurish, to put it that way. When they gave it to me, I told this to Xhemal Dymyla, former first secretary of the Party Committee in Kruja. His answer was; see do it yourself fix things.
What did you do did you alienate him?
I made a lot of changes. The first because the implementation of the project will be done in accordance with the terrain, with the archaeological findings. During the works, many unforeseen things may come up that make you change your plans. But, apart from them, I made other interventions.
How did Spring react to this, her work was not being done as she had given it…
Changes were being made for the better, so there was no need to react.
Did he come to follow the works?
Yes, he may have come about 5 times, in those 4 years and two months that the museum was built, no more. Once it was for an interview he gave in the museum, about Alfons Gurashi. I have never seen that interview, but I know it was done. I don’t know why they never showed it. Anyway…!
At first, when the work just started, Spring was in France, I think, and it didn’t come, then when he came back he saw it. Meanwhile, I had built a 2-meter wall, which they tore down because they didn’t like it. That’s it. But they constantly followed the works through videos and photographs that were always sent to them. There was a person charged with this job, taking pictures and filming.
Did you have any “conflict” during this period? Not that you could talk back, but the resentments seem…?!
No, there was no resentment; luckily it ended successfully, except that it was a little late in time.
Was this not a displeasure for them?
It could be, but there were no other alternatives. For the time it was constantly reported. I was dealing with this work Ramiz Alia, who when he asked me once, I told him the truth, that we could not finish it, as it was predicted. After that, he gathered us together with Pranvera and the ministers. “Why do you give wrong information? – said”. Meanwhile, Enver received a letter from the residents of Fier, about a theater hall, which was too small. Remarks were made on these two things, the museum and the hall.
It ended a year or so later, because even if it was completed as a construction, it would not be possible to furnish it. And in fact, even the way it was arranged, it was a trick, because it is really called the “Museum of Skenderbeu”, but there is nothing from him and his time there. However, after the meeting some additional funds were provided to make it happen.
What were the reactions after you finished the work?
The reactions were good, the museum was liked, and however their attitudes towards me, I don’t know why, were always not good. I had been circulated in Krujë, before the time of the museum and, at the end of it; Pranvera had promised me that he would transfer me to Tirana.
It was a promise she made publicly in front of everyone, but she didn’t keep it. Even Ramiz Alia, no matter how many times I told him, didn’t do it. I did not understand this reaction; however, towards us “workers” who realized the museum, there was always a not very friendly attitude, since we all seemed to have bad biographies. That’s why they decided not to include us even in the final photo, which was taken after the inauguration. Only the artists took part in it, not us.
Did Enver Hoxha come to the inauguration of his daughter’s work?
I remember that Sulo Gradeci came with a small orange car, with which he tried to enter Kruja Castle. But Enver Hoxha did not come. We all wondered why Enver Hoxha had not come to the official inauguration!
How is it possible, it took so long to realize it?
Not only was it taken care of, but in fact, it is called the work of Enver Hoxha. We waited until November 1, 1982, for Enver Hoxha to come; we all looked to see when he would come, but nothing. From the Political Bureau, everyone came, from Nexhmie Hoxha, Ramiz Alia, etc., but he did not come. This remains an enigma, which has not yet received a concrete answer.
He might have been sick. Later, there were rumors that they wanted to assassinate him, as they had predicted that he would come there. But these remain only words. I remember that at that time some people of Kosovar origin were arrested, in Laç and Fushë-Kruje, but whether they were related to him or not, that is not known!
Stone-carver Kurt Murati: “The Spring Project resembled a bunker”
So many years have passed that Kurt Murati only remembers the “main events” from the construction of Kruja Castle. He himself has been a stonemason for three years. He would take the job to the end, if they let him. Like every enterprise, street or house, there were also special messengers, to receive and deliver rumors.
Not that anything was heard, no matter what, but the events could be created by themselves. Among the stonemasons, Kurti was the oldest, whose experience was known not only in the works of the city where he lived. For this, in addition to carving the stone, he often exchanged ideas with the implementers of the project. The implementer, on the other hand, had relations with the executor.
Officially, the “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu” National Museum bears the signature of architects Pranvera Hoxha and Pirro Vasos. The latter’s name did not have to be twisted so much. After all, at that time, everyone mentioned only Spring. At the end of the 70s, Enver Hoxha’s daughter was giving the country a great work. But what is the truth of this museum? As far as he remembers, Kurt Murati, the one who built the museum with his own hands, tells us…:
Who made the project of the Skanderbeg Museum in Krujë?
In addition to the importance of that museum, as one of the few most important in Albania, at the time the construction started, it became doubly important because of the name of the architect, who made the first plan of the Museum, Pranvera Hoxha.
Why the first plan, there was a second?
Not on paper, that is, not officially, so that others would know.
What should others know?
That despite everything, the values of the architect and others, that museum was made by the implementer of the plan. The architect Robert Kote, who like me had a “spot” in his biography, has almost redone the first project. Of course, these things were not said up and down, no one knew what was being done, but those who had seen the first work plan found it very easy to make the change afterwards.
How was the first plan?
It was a project similar to the bunker, but nothing was made of it, it was alienated and took on the appearance you can see today. Memorie.al
