Survey and architectural recovery activities of semi-abandoned villages as strategic actions towards the sustainable development of local economies

During the last decades many things have changed and have been lost in small historic centers of many countries. People want to update their own houses with the most modern features and, in many cases, there is the urge to improve the living standards. In the most isolated villages inhabitants are trying to find more contemporary places for themselves and fit into new structures. While their love for these old settlements has not diminished, some of the residents have moved towards the main cities in search of a modern lifestyle and new job opportunities. At the same time some municipalities are very keen on protecting this cultural heritage and they do not want to accept any modifications by the owners. In order to achieve the ambitious goal of giving new life to these forgotten vernacular villages, governments must be aware that changes in the physical structure of old settlements are inevitable (and have been from ancient times) but that there is also a dire need to control these changes driven by economic activities. In addition, in many vernacular villages along the Albanian coastline, legislation and mechanisms are necessary in order to start a building by-law implementation able to explain what to do in order to preserve the original structures: there must be a subtle change strictly linked to business activities both able to retain the quality of the buildings and enhance the local economy through the use of those structures. It does not have to be development versus conservation: the two issues should work together. Although an uneasy paths, full of economics and cultural obstacles, it is still viable if we really want to preserve this important cultural heritage.