Citizens Urban Stories
Citizens Urban Stories serves as a vital communication platform connecting journalists, residents, and citizens of Tirana to the city's cultural monuments. Born out of a critical need during the first phase of COVID-19 in 2020, this initiative emerged at a time when global attention was focused on the pandemic, and local authorities in Tirana undertook actions to demolish numerous villas—some classified as cultural monuments, which are legally mandated to be preserved. These demolitions, many occurring during the citizens' isolation, posed a significant threat to the collective memory and historical identity of Tirana. Citizens Urban Stories was created to address this delicate moment, aiming to promote transparency in local government decision-making regarding the alienation of cultural monuments and to strengthen accountability through journalistic reporting. The project provides an alternative source of information and establishes a crucial database on Tirana's historic dwellings, ensuring the city's heritage remains visible and protected for future generations.