The former residence of dictator Enver Hoxha is set to be transformed into an artists’ residency, writes Florelle Guillaume in an article published in the French magazine “Beaux Arts”.

This is the new project of the “Art Explora” foundation, which consistently surprises with its original initiatives in favor of creation and cultural democratization.

“Villa 31,” located in the heart of the capital city of Tirana, is the former home of the Albanian ex-prime minister Enver Hoxha, a staunch Stalinist who ruled the country for four decades marked by severe repression, isolation, and significant violence against artists.

“Since the death of the dictator in 1985, this historic place had remained a frozen ghost villa in time, with its Hollywood-style decor from the 1970s,” according to the general director of “Art Explora,” Bruno Julliard.

Hidden tunnels, dim neon lights, velvet furniture, an unused swimming pool, and secret bunkers all contribute to the eerie and old-fashioned atmosphere of this villa, both frightening and admired by the locals.

In search of a “new destiny” for several years, the current Prime Minister Edi Rama, himself an artist educated at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the 1980s, could not help but appreciate the cultural project of Frédéric Jousset, the transformation of a symbol of intolerance into a paradise for artists from around the world. A beautiful defiance of history!

The renovation of “Villa 31” will be entrusted to the architectural company NeM, which previously carried out the spectacular transformation of the “Bourse de Commerce” in Paris.

“The goal is not to become a museum of dictatorship nor to overshadow its historical heritage,” said Bruno Julliard.

Partially to be opened next autumn, the 4000-square-meter residency with eight residential studios will welcome from December a first wave of international artists and creators from the Balkans.

“The objective is the development of a long-term program of artistic research and experimentation, open to the world, but also highlighting the extraordinary artistic dynamism of the Balkans,” said Blanche de Lestrange, artistic director of “Art Explora”.

“Villa 31” will be open to the public through seminars, film screenings, and festivals.

/k.s/