REVIVING THE PAST: IDENTIFYING AND ADAPTING FORMER INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS IN TETOVO, NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

This paper examines the identification, documentation and reuse of former industrial buildings in Tetovo, North Macedonia, focusing on their potential reintegration into the cityscape. As a city once heavily dependent on industrial production, Tetovo today faces the challenge of dealing with abandoned and decaying industrial facilities scattered throughout the urban area. Although they occupy large and often strategically located areas, these former industrial buildings have been largely neglected in urban planning and academic research. Their abandonment reflects a broader trend of deindustrialization and shifting economic priorities that has left behind a significant but undervalued industrial heritage.
The first step in this research is to identify the specific areas in Tetovo where these industrial structures are located. Through historical analyses, mapping and field surveys, the study documents the distribution, typologies and current condition of these buildings. This process highlights the lack of comprehensive records or urban strategies that address the presence and potential of industrial heritage in the city. The need to record and document the physical evidence of Tetovo’s industrial past arises from the urgent threat of demolition, irreversible decay or inappropriate development. Although these buildings were once at the center of the city's economic and social life, their architectural, historical and urban significance is largely unknown to the general public and decision-makers. By uncovering the hidden values that lie within these spaces, this article positions adaptive reuse not only as a preservation strategy, but also as a transformative urban tool. The conversion of industrial buildings is a discipline that is still in its nascent stage in North Macedonia. However, it has the potential to address numerous urban challenges, including land scarcity, environmental degradation and social fragmentation. Adapted reuse can strengthen local communities, consolidate collective memory and improve the aesthetic and functional qualities of the urban environment.
This research proposes a vision for the reintegration of industrial sites into the modern city through sustainable design and strategic planning. It emphasizes the importance of adapting these structures to today's societal needs, especially in the context of the digital age, where flexibility, connectivity and cultural continuity are key to successful urban development. Detailed case studies of former industrial complexes are used to show how such a site can be revitalized through thoughtful interventions. The paper concludes with a masterplan that incorporates this complex and outlines a scalable model for the adaptation of other similar sites in Tetovo. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining an urban analysis, an architectural heritage assessment and a design strategy, this study contributes to the discourse on the reuse of industrial heritage in Balkans. It calls for a shift in perspective - from viewing former industrial buildings as obsolete remnants of the past to recognizing them as valuable assets for a more resilient and inclusive urban future.