INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS IN TETOVO AND POSSIBILITIES FOR TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Existing industrial buildings and sites serve as reminders of the industrial past and the socio-economic transformations caused by industrialism. Nevertheless, all the architectural, cultural and historical values of these sites are being lost, as with the decline of production, abandoned buildings are demolished and replaced with new.

Although many studies claim that the awareness of the values of industrial heritage and the possibilities related to them may have increased in recent years, Tetovo’s continuous destruction of industrial buildings proves otherwise.

This reserach is conducted in the city of Tetovo, North Macedonia, where in the first part of this paper, industrial buildings and sites, especially those that are underutilized or no longer have a manufacturing purpose, are identified, mapped and analyzed. While the second part of this paper explores  the historical development and the current state of "Todor Cipovski  Merjan" - Teteks, one of the largest Macedonian textile manufacturers. The historical development is researched to understand the value of this location for the city of Tetovo and the collective memory of our citizens. The analysis of the layers of the buildings in terms of flexibility, creates a picture of the existing situation and provides insight into the potential for transformation and opportunities for reuse.

The aim of this research is to promote Tetovo’s industrial heritage as a key element for urban and regional development, by supporting the process of cultural recognition and protection of industrial buildings and complexes.