Narrative Projection in Vushtrri: Reimagining Public Space Through Light and Story

On April 2nd, the facade of the old Court in Vushtrri was reimagined.

On April 2nd, the facade of the old Court in Vushtrri was reimagined. Once a closed and largely forgotten institutional building, it became a luminous surface for storytelling and reflection. Through Narrative Projection, the building’s own story was told—its weight, its past, and its importance to the people of Vushtrri—translated into moving images, color, and sound.

Held across Boulevard Adem Jashari, the projection was part of the project ‘Tu pa, Tu bo’, funded by the Government of Sweden and implemented by Lund University, Future by Lund, Anibar and UN-Habitat Kosova, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

The courthouse built in 1964 through the voluntary labor of Vushtrri’s citizens—was a powerful choice for this intervention. For decades, it stood as a seat of justice through shifting political scenes. From post-WWII trials to its use during Yugoslav times, the building witnessed countless stories, many involving the city’s youth. Vacant since 2015, it was nearly demolished in 2021 before being protected as a cultural monument. But history doesn’t only live in archives—it needs to be seen and remembered.

After successfully and excitingly working with the team on the projection mapping in Peja during August 2024,” shares Kaltrina Berisha from Anibar, “we believed we were ready to take the challenge and use this new form of narrative that we had learned and combine it with UN-Habitat’s research, to present it exactly on top of the main object of the topic: the old court building itself.”

Working from research and historical context provided by UN-Habitat, the team shaped a visual language rooted in memory and presence. “We also did two visits to Vushtrri—one before starting the production and one during the production,” Kaltrina adds. Being on-site allowed the team to sense the emotional weight of the building and informed how its story would unfold through projection.

“The main message was to remind the city what this building went through during the years that it existed—the history that it carries and the value it has. A reminder to the older generation and an introduction to the younger ones.”

The process, though inspired, was not without its trials. “It was the first time the team created visuals in this technique without having an experienced tutor along,” Kaltrina explains. The original animation had to be completely restructured after the team’s visit revealed the initial projection location wouldn’t work. On top of that, the team decided to project across two walls- a new technical challenge and much of the animation work happened remotely. “Even though we had weekly meetings and a very active group chat, it was still hard to keep track of each other’s work and progress while staying in sync.”

But the results surpassed the struggle. The projection turned the courthouse into an illuminated storyteller, transmitting emotion and history to the public gathered before it. “It brings unskippable attention,” Kaltrina says. “It has an impact of delivering a story and, most importantly, an emotion. It is a visual form that sticks with you—something to remember.”

While the piece carried nostalgia, its emotional core was about something else. “The most important emotion was the emotion of hope,” Kaltrina shares. “Hope that this building will have a new life in the community.”

That emotional thread extended beyond the structure itself. “Not just with the building—I felt more connected with the whole city of Vushtrri,” she reflects. “One thing I know for sure is that the team will follow the journey of this building in the upcoming years, hopefully while it glows.”

And this won’t be the last time. “As challenging as it was, we still managed to deliver what we hoped to, while only leading us to keep doing more visual mapping events. It was inspiring to see people react positively to our work. This form of storytelling has even more options yet to be tried and experimented.”

Though the projection was brief, its presence remains. It revealed the transformative power of visual storytelling—not just to revive a building, but to help a community remember, reflect, and imagine what might come next.