This is a Call for Artists  and  organizations to  support  artistically and financially this Visual Integrity program with a focus on  the Albanian:

1) Rooftop Water Tanks

2) Satellite Dishes

3) Power Boxes

4) Garbage Bins

5) Walls

6) Lamp / Telephone poles

Under each of these themes, we aim to bring attention and action to the aesthetic, artistic and safety hazards and potentials.

Visual Integrity remains a term that has not yet achieved much recognition or status within many realms of  cultural interaction.  It is not yet found in World HeritageConvention nor is it found in the World Heritage Operational Guidelines.  Still, the concept is considered crucial for the preservation of cultural and natural World Heritage sites.

The concept was recently discussed at the International World Heritage Expert Meeting on Visual Integrity, in Agra, India, which came to the conclusion that “The closest approximation to the concept of ‘visual integrity’ within the Operational Guidelines is “important views”, and is mentioned in paragraph 104 of section II.F.”

But it is more than just important views.

Nils Scheffler, Lead Expert of the HerO network, discusses the term as “the wholeness
and intactness of the historic urban fabric and landscape“, adding important aspects such as:
• The physical safeguarding and restoring of the (protected) historic fabric (monuments, historic buildings, open space);
• The preservation and re-establishment of view perspectives, silhouettes, townscape characteristics and panoramas;
• The preservation and reconstitution of visual relationships to the surrounding landscape.

He continues to discuss the importance of proper integration of new architecture and development with the historic, spatial and townscape characteristics of its setting, in short – practice and enforcement of high quality urban design standards. Likewise, he stresses the protection of visual key view perspectives, silhouettes, panoramas, etc. which make a place distinct from another.

His definition includes the proper use of advertisement and commercial signs in public space, while not distracting from the existing historic urban landscape.

Finally, he adds, that safeguarding the historic fabric can be encouraged by inciting property owners to invest in their property, preserving the cultural heritage values and supporting the sustainable urban development.

Other elements of visual integrity may include the relationship between settled area with the setting of its surrounding, both natural and man-made; the functions and traditions that the settlement has acquired over time; and its adaptation to new functions while maintaining its history and inhabitants; and the cultural traditions, spirit of places and contemporary creative potentials that contributes to the identity of a place.

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In this section, we aim to explore ways and examples of how visual integrity fits in around us on a regular basis, and how it effects us.

In reference to the article Water in the City, we are pleased to begin the campaign to address the issue of endless visual pollution in Albania, starting with the following themes:

1) Rooftop Water Tanks

2) Satellite Dishes

3) Power Boxes

4) Garbage Bins

5) Walls

6) Lamp / Telephone poles

Under each of these themes, we aim to bring attention and action to the aesthetic, artistic and safety hazards and potentials