Albania Jewish Museum to Open in Vlorë in 2025

The city of Vlorë, Albania, will host the Albania Jewish Museum, set to open in 2025. Designed by Kimmel Eshkolot Architects of Tel Aviv, the museum is located within the old town and integrates a historic building with a new wing, an open-air exhibition area, and a connecting pavilion. The layout creates pedestrian pathways between Rruga Perlat Rexhepi and Rruga Ceno Sharra, with the open-air hall carved from the adjacent square to foster urban renewal and dialogue. The entrance pavilion features a cut creating a narrow alley revealing interior views through a glass door. Sustainability is central: the historic stone walls provide thermal mass for energy savings, and the new wing uses local stone, except for an exterior area clad in Jerusalem stone from Israel. Temporary exhibition spaces have flexible layouts with acoustic panels and track lighting, while permanent collection rooms can be darkened for video projections. The museum traces Albanian Jewish history from Roman times (first settlements in 70 AD) through the Ottoman era, World War II, and the Hoxha dictatorship. During WWII, despite racial laws and German occupation, local Christians and Muslims protected Jews, leading to a postwar population of 2,000. After 1991, most emigrated to Israel, leaving only a few dozen today, mostly in Tirana. The museum aims to preserve this heritage and revitalize the urban fabric.