My house is your house

摘要

Art and architecture combined to counter urban decay, building speculation and the loss of identity of the built surroundings: this is the idea behind Art House, the "open" residence of the artist Adrian Paci in the old city centre of Shkoder, Albania, 50 kilometres from the Adriatic Sea. Art House was made in collaboration between Paci and the architect Filippo Taidelli, and the design was shortlisted for the EU Mies Award 2019. Shkoder is a lively city, formerly a cradle of Albanian culture. For years now, it has been the victim of a development model that has progressively altered the urban fabric, allowing for the systematic demolition of traditional housing in favour of anonymous condominiums.