Inside the reborn bunker: Bunk’Art 2

Bunk’Art 2 is an underground labyrinth in the heart of Tirana, Albania. It was re-imagined from a Communist-era nuclear bunker into an interactive museum and art space. The transformation reflects Tirana’s initiative to celebrate a new era while remembering its solemn past.

Here are some key points about Bunk’Art 2:

• Location: Situated on the main block of ministerial buildings in Tirana’s center, this 1000 m2, underground shelter remained hidden for years.
• History: Secretly constructed from 1981-86 beneath the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it was part of Enver Hoxha’s paranoid ‘bunker project’ that involved creating over 700,000 bunkers across Albania.
• Purpose: Bunk’Art 2 unmasks the political persecutions of Albanians from 1945-1991. It also sheds light on the state security apparatus during Communism.

Visiting Bunk’Art 2 provides a powerful glimpse into Albania’s historical memory and the birth of a new era