Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes an unknown archival document obtained from the fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP which is dated February 25, 1978, where Enver Hoxha held a discussion at the meeting of the Politburo, where in one of the points of the agenda was also the discussion regarding the project and construction of the Historical Museum that would be erected in the center of the capital, where previously was the building of the Executive Committee of the district of Tirana, one of the most beautiful of the entire complex of ministries and the center of the capital, which was demolished to “pave the way” for the construction of the Historical Museum and the reconceptualization of Skanderbeg Square. All the words of Enver in that meeting where he gave his thoughts and suggestions regarding the way of building the style of that building, starting from the exterior facades, to its interior and the streets and buildings in the northern part hers.
“It seems to me that on the platform the work is presented correctly. I thought that the part of the houses that comes after the main building of the National Museum should not look like old age, because we are on the main road, near the Grand Hotel. Therefore, give importance to the whole complex: front, side and back. Here will pass the small center ring, and, for this, each part of it must have a special charm. You, of course, have thought about this problem yourself. My next remark is about the interior environments, which must be adapted to the exteriors, to be in harmony with them. This part can also be the subject of a complex study. I am talking about windows, walls, partitions, etc. All must be very well planned, so that the museum can be used not only currently but also in the future. Then comes the issue of the fasade. This should also have a national character, because the other two facilities that are here, such as the Grand Hotel and the Palace of Culture, do not reflect this requirement; but even the Bank building has no national character”. This is what Enver Hoxha said, among other things, in his discussion regarding the conception, design and construction of the building of the National Historical Museum in one of the meetings of the Politburo held on February 25, 1978, when the building of the Executive Committee had just been demolished. (Former Municipality of Tirana of the Monarchy period), and the government had submitted for approval to the Politburo, the model and the entire platform where the building would be built and the Monument of Freedom, which was never built! What else did Enver Hoxha say in his discussion at that meeting of the Politburo regarding the project and construction of the building of the National Historical Museum? In this regard, the archival document that Memorie.al publishes for the first time in full and without any changes.
Discussion of Enver Hoxha at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the ALP
“THE MUSEUM SHOULD HAVE A COMPLETELY NATIONAL CHARACTER”
February 25, 1978
After getting acquainted with the platform and the model of the National Historical Museum and the Monument of Freedom and after discussing about them, Comrade Enver Hoxha said:
“It seems to me that on the platform the work is presented correctly. I thought that the part of the houses that comes after the main building of the National Museum should not look like old age, because we are on the main road, near the Grand Hotel. Therefore, give importance to the whole complex: front, side and back. Here will pass the small center ring, and, for this, each part of it must have a special charm.
You, of course, have thought about this problem yourself. My next remark is about the interior environments, which must be adapted to the exteriors, to be in harmony with them. This part can also be the subject of a complex study. I am talking about windows, walls, partitions, etc. All must be very well planned, so that the museum can be used not only now but also in the future.
Then comes the issue of the fasade. This should also have a national character, because the other two facilities that are here, such as the Grand Hotel and the Palace of Culture, do not reflect this requirement; but even the Bank building has no national character. Therefore, everything has to fit into our national architecture and art. I cannot say now anything concrete how and how this can be achieved, but our architects, painters and sculptors have done studies, have published large albums and, from what I have seen, in these creations of theirs, I have put re that they have managed to derive the typical, national characteristic.
Their ability now is to try to find some of the most typical national features from the hundreds of unique data they have extracted, and then to reflect them in the language of art on the façade of this museum. I think on the first floor, there should be no glazing. I mean, in this monumental building, there should be no such glazing, that the parts of this floor look like shop windows.
The museum, even in this part, must be solid. But, this does not mean that there should not be any gates and windows with glass to allow full intensity light to enter the lobby In. The main thing is that this museum should have fully reflected the national characteristic of strength, and the immortality of our nation.
Let him show that he is not only strong, but also light and agile, like our people. To be such as to express the idea that our people fight and win. The point is, when others come and see this museum, they discover the characteristics of our people. We in our country have characteristic houses where some special stones are placed to express a certain idea.
If we think that even in this museum, in one form or another, some characteristic stones are placed in such a way as to give the impression of a necklace with bullets. Of course, this should not be aggravated like the work of that bride who puts all the ornaments on her forehead, face and hands, in a word, overburdens her.
The point is to give the building national color everywhere. This is your job now, but we too, after studying it, can look at it. You, friends, should consider them one by one and discuss these issues that arose here. Then decide which of them can be realized in this architectural ensemble and which not.
You have to think and discuss everything, even the colors, to imagine exactly how it will look finished. So, to think and decide in time for all the necessary problems and requirements. Then, we wish you success!/Memorie.al
