Revitalization of the historic "Çarshia e Madhe" in Gjakova (Kosova)

Abstract

Çarshia e Madhe is the historic commercial and crafts center located in the heart of the old town of Gjakova. It represents one of the rare examples of open air bazaars with urban and architectural characteristics influenced by Ottoman period architectural characteristics and local expression. Despite several vicissitudes, the structure present today exhibits original urban organization with shops in row and narrow streets in between, retaining cultural and historical values for the city. Through site survey, photographic documentation and literature research, the first stage of the study included creation of analytical maps presenting urban and architectural characteristics of the study area and its surroundings. Second stage evaluated problems and potentials of the area detected during survey were the reasons to initiate a revitalization project as the third stage. This study aims to revive the abandoned and neglected core of the city, improve environmental quality and use potentials and values of Çarshia as strategies to improve tourism which will in turn improve economy. The conservation decisions developed were: rehabilitation, revitalization and maintenance, treating architectural, functional, environmental and social aspects of the site. Rehabilitation had big impact in the site. Revitalization was developed through two general approaches which are physical and economic revitalization. This phase presented strategies as utilization of abandoned shops with traditional crafts, return of Çarshia ensemble into a pedestrian street, introduce outdoor activities such as open air cinemas, fashion runways, history reading points, cycle activities and other cultural activities, making the area desirable for tourists and citizens of Gjakova.