Digital Techniques for the Accessibility and Promotion of Historical Buildings: A Case Study of the Former-Yugoslavian Embassy in Tirana

T he urban character of a city lies in the layers of different historical buildings. Understanding, safeguarding, and showcasing this history demand a deep understanding of the city\u27s architectural heritage. Today, rapid advancements in digital technologies, including 3D modeling, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and online accessibility, facilitate the identification and promotion of cultural heritage. These technologies bring into life historical objects or artifacts in places inaccessible to the public or objects that have been lost and no longer exist. This not only disseminates and promotes historical heritage but also plays a crucial role in preserving collective memory. In addition to conventional methods of preserving and presenting historical buildings, emerging technologies can significantly contribute to this endeavor. Digitally documenting monuments aids in their preservation, presentation, and widespread recognition within the architectural heritage domain. Given the intense transformation experienced by our cities, wherein the loss of significant architectural structures cannot be discounted, digital techniques assume great importance. This research focuses on the iconic villa located on Durrës street in Tirana, build during the italian period, in a neoclassical style and known as the Former Yugoslav Embassy . It stands as one of the few remaining buildings from that era, albeit having undergone various transformations. The research project seeks to explore innovative digital methods to digitally delve into this architectural heritage. By employing these methods, the general public can access historical information, use archival materials, and virtually explore the villa. This interactive experience is enabled through a 3-dimensional web application, allowing users to interact with the space from differnt points of view and view the object in both its current state and historical version. The study comprehensively outlines the entire process of conceptualizing and developing this web application