Call for volunteers--Gjirokastra, Albania

Volunteers Needed for Restoration Efforts in World Heritage City of
Gjirokastra, Albania

Auron Tare has traveled the world seeking support for conservation
projects in Albania. Now he is hoping people will travel to Albania
to help him restore one of the distinctive Ottoman kulle houses that
make up the World Heritage Site of Gjirokastra. He and Heritage
Conservation Network are recruiting volunteers for a two-week
hands-on building conservation workshop that runs from
September 28 - October 11, 2008.

Gjirokastra, known both as the City of Stone and the Town of a
Thousand Steps, is one of the best preserved Ottoman cities in the
world. Its architecture is characterized by a type of tower house,
the Turkish 'kulle', which developed in the 17th century and was
utilized for several hundred years. The houses feature a tall
basement, a first floor for the cold season, and a second floor for
the warm season. The city's many slate roofs were immortalized in
Ismail Kadare's Chronicle in Stone, a book about the author's
childhood in Gjirokastra during WWII. Any one interested in historic
architecture or exploring a new culture is encouraged to participate
in this restoration effort. Albanian conservators will teach and
guide participants as they work; no experience is necessary.

As with most volunteer vacation initiatives, participants are asked
to cover their costs and contribute to conservation work. The cost
of the workshop is US$950 for one week and US$1,800 for two weeks,
which covers lodging, breakfast and lunch, insurance, workshop
materials, instruction and field trips. Transportation to the
workshop is not included. There is a discount of $50 per week for
registrations received by June 15, 2008. A few partial, need-based
scholarships are available for participants from Albania and
surrounding countries.

To learn more or register online, go to

    <URL:http://www.heritageconservation.net/ws-albania.htm>.

Ms. Jamie Donahoe
Heritage Conservation Network
International Hands-on Workshops for Architectural and Site
    Conservation
1557 North Street
Boulder, Colorado 80304
USA
303-444-0128


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:63
                   Distributed: Friday, May 30, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-63-010
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