Presidential Palace, Tirana
| Presidential Palace | |
|---|---|
| Pallati Presidencial | |
Façade of the Presidential Palace.
|
|
| Alternative names | Pallati i Brigadave |
| General information | |
| Type | Palace |
| Architectural style | Monumental Rationalism |
| Location | Tirana, Albania |
| Address | Rruga e Elbasanit, Tirana 1044 |
| Construction started | 1939 |
| Completed | 1941 |
| Client |
H.M. King Zog I of the Albanians. H.M. Queen Géraldine of the Albanians. |
| Owner | Government of Albania |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Gherardo Bosio |
Coordinates: 41°18′41″N 19°50′0″E / 41.31139°N 19.83333°E
The Presidential Palace (Albanian: Pallati presidencial), formerly the Royal Palace (Albanian: Pallati mbretëror) and popularly known as the Palace of Brigades (Albanian: Pallati i Brigadave), is the official residence of the President of Albania. The Palace was commissioned by King Zog I of Albania to serve as his main official residence.
In 1945, it ceased to serve as a royal residence because the monarchist regime was substituted by a Communist-ruled Government. Since 1946, it has been used by the Government of Albania for holding official ceremonies and state receptions. In 2013, the Palace became an official residence once again, when President Bujar Nishani and his family moved into a reconstructed Villa inside the grounds of the Palace.
Architecturally, the Palace belongs to a Rationalism style. It is unique in its genre, not only in the country but in the wider sphere of Fascist architecture, including in Italy itself. Its bas-reliefs were covered with drapes in the 1970s during the cultural revolution, but not destroyed. Nevertheless, the Palace as a whole is in dire need of restoration. A description of the then new (and unfinished) Royal Palace appeared in the issue of Life dated May 22, 1939.
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