Industrial areas and historic villages: two sides of the same coin? Proposals for enhancement and regeneration through urban strategies

The contemporary urban landscape is increasingly characterized by a territorial structure divided into core and non-core areas, which face common critical challenges such as depopulation, infrastructural decay, and difficulties in adapting to contemporary needs. This study aims to outline effective urban regeneration strategies for marginal areas, identifying their criticalities, root causes, and potential opportunities for reconnection and revitalization. The main objective is to explore the transferability of successful models and practices from the Italian context to diverse settings, specifically within the metropolitan area of Tirana, focusing on the Uzina area in Shkoza. The methodology adopts a qualitative approach based on a comparative analysis of two case studies: the village of Campolo in Italy, which exemplifies the process of the urban regeneration in the Italian context, and the Uzina area in Shkoza, Tirana, a former industrial zone characterized by a unique blend of residential, industrial, and rural functions. The comparative approach is not based on a direct parallelism between settlement typologies, but on the application of a proven theoretical framework derived from the Italian experience to a new and distinct context, aiming to extract guiding principles such as the valorization of cultural and landscape heritage, rural sustainability, and participatory design. The results highlight how the Italian experience offers a solid methodological framework for reconnecting and valorizing Uzina's intrinsic territorial capital (the Tirana River, agricultural areas, the former industry, and the community), transforming it into a potential new urban hub. This systemic approach contributes to rebalancing Tirana's fragmented urban fabric, promoting resilient and inclusive development that transcends historical and geographical differences.