Elena Mamani is an architect specializing in the preservation, revitalization, and interpretation of cultural heritage. She holds an MSc in Architecture Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and has led transformative projects that safeguard and promote cultural heritage in Albania and beyond.
Her work spans restoration projects of various scales, from vernacular houses to fortifications, religious monuments, and historic centers, as well as initiatives focused on revitalizing heritage sites for contemporary use. She has also played a key role in developing conservation methodologies, disaster risk management strategies, and capacity-building programs for professionals and craftspeople.
Elena has received advanced training from internationally renowned institutions, including ICCROM, Ritsumeikan University, and Norwegian University of Science and Technology TNU, in areas such as disaster risk management, wood conservation, and heritage impact assessment for World Heritage sites.
She also holds an Executive Leadership diploma from the University of Oxford.
Her expertise extends to strategic planning, policy development, and international collaboration in cultural heritage preservation. The projects she has been engaged in have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Europa Nostra Award, the Big SEE Architecture Award, and Best Practice in Disaster Risk Management.
I believe that I change things for the better, inspired by our heritage. There are no impossible achievements – all you need is to try, try, and try again.