Architecture Grad Transforms Albanian Bunkers into Spaces for Memory and Dialogue
Eric Pançe's "The Revitalization of Albania’s Concrete Bunkers" imagines the symbols of former oppression as new spaces designed to help teach and heal
What if the scars of a nation's past could become its sites of healing? Recent Wentworth Institute of Technology graduate Eric Pançe, Master of Architecture '25, Architecture '24, examined this idea with his master's thesis, "The Revitalization of Albania’s Concrete Bunkers."
This powerful project reimagines the approximately 750,000 abandoned military bunkers that once symbolized oppression in Albania as future hubs for memory, reconciliation, and cultural identity. These fortifications, built at an estimated cost of $2.1 billion during the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, represent a significant economic and cultural burden the country endured.
Pançe, a first-generation Albanian American, drew upon his family's history in the Balkans to inform this deeply personal work. Focusing on the region of Shkodër, Albania, his architectural storytelling proposes a narrative route that reinterprets these former symbols of fear and isolation into centers for reflection, resilience, and public engagement. He highlights that Albania has a long history of occupation by larger nations, a factor that underscores the significance of reclaiming these sites.
"This work is rooted in my family’s history and the stories that shaped them under the communist regime," Pançe said.
By transforming these structures, Pançe aims to shift their meaning "from symbols of fear and isolation into spaces for reflection, resilience, and public engagement." He emphasizes that Albania suffered deeply economically and culturally during this period, leading many Albanians to migrate in search of a better life.
His concept of "revitalization" extends beyond the bunkers themselves, encompassing the surrounding land and aiming to reconnect the Albanian people with their history and foster new relationships with visiting tourists.
Wentworth's Master of Architecture program encourages students to tackle complex real-world challenges with creative design solutions. Pançe's thesis exemplifies this approach, showcasing how architectural thinking can extend beyond traditional building design to address cultural and historical issues.
"I’m incredibly grateful to my mentors, peers, and especially my family for their support," Pançe said.
