Vila 31 x Art Explora

Authors: S. Mosko, K. Kolaneci; B. Daja, A. Jano

Short history of the building and its use

On January 9, 1940, Albanian deputy Hamit Myftiu leased the land for 99 years to Italian entrepreneur Vittorio Ercole Belloti. Within two years, an Italian woman built a house on the property, prompting her to revoke the initial lease and purchase the land outright. On June 2, 1942, a new agreement was made, revoking the lease and completing the sale of the house and land to Ms. Velleda Lucia Costa from Genoa. Despite the purchase, Belloti and merchant Petraq Katro from Korça continued to reside there until 1944.

Enver Hoxha’s Transition to Power and Residence in Blloku
Upon assuming power, Enver Hoxha initially resided at the Dajti Hotel in Tirana. However, he soon took an interest in an Italian-style villa built in 1942 in the Blloku neighborhood, close to the residence of his confidant Koçi Xoxe (1917–1949), possibly hinting at a rivalry between them.

The former owners of both villas, including O. Biçakçiu, were quickly imprisoned by the Communist Party, persecuted by security services, and, six years later, one of them, H. Myftiu, the previous owner of Hoxha’s villa, was executed by a military court under charges of being an “enemy of the people.” Later, Xoxe himself was sentenced to death on charges of treason and collaboration with Yugoslavs. Following Xoxe’s execution, the villa was formally taken over by the state, and a corridor was built connecting the two properties.
Major building interventions:
In 1973, a new structure, now known as Villa 31, was added to the site, spanning about 0.7 hectares with a footprint of approximately 1,070 square meters. The complex includes two adjoining volumes within the same plot as the original villa. Although the structures are connected, their architectural styles reflect different eras. At the time, it was regarded as a modern building with innovative, extravagant architectural elements, visible in both exterior and interior designs. This sense of opulence mirrored the lifestyle of Blloku’s residents, who lived far removed from the poverty experienced by the general population outside.

Villa 31 was constructed in two phases. The initial two-story house for Hoxha’s immediate family was completed in 1970, and the second phase commenced in the early 1980s. Soon after, the need for additional space became clear, prompting architects to design an expansion that incorporated ample natural light and large glass windows to connect with the outdoors. The functional layout was extensive, featuring spacious living and work areas, a cinema, elevators, a swimming pool, a private salon, a dedicated kitchen for Hoxha, uniquely styled apartments for each family member, and several auxiliary rooms for staff. After many years reserved exclusively for official receptions a new chapter awaits this storied residence as it transforms into Villa 31 x Art Explora, an open cultural art residency space.