Gjirokastra, Albania is facing the pressures of urban development, as are many cities all over the world. As the new section of Gjirokastra grows, fewer resources are directed at maintaining viable neighborhoods in the historic part of town.

Community residents do not have the skills needed to maintain the large, historic tower houses – built during the Ottoman era – and the town’s cultural heritage is rapidly being lost to deterioration and collapse. The old town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which makes the situation even more distressing.

The Babameto House, one of the "newer" tower houses dating from the late 19th century, is the site of a restoration project developed by Cultural Heritage without Borders. This hands-on project is serving as a model for the restoration and re-use of these beautiful stone residences.

Adventures in Preservation will join CHwB for a two-week workshop, September 12-25, 2010. Volunteer participants will learn masonry conservation skills essential to keeping tower houses from tumbling, and will work with students from the region who also want to learn hands-on building conservation skills. Come and be a part of this model project that will promote preservation while it maintains community housing.