the country's cultural and national identity. The interventions of 1950–1954 proved the engagement of some of the most prominent architects after World War II in the country, such as A. Lufi, S. Pashallari, and others. Also, the presence of working groups of Soviet architects like D. Vasiliev shows the impact of Soviet neoclassicism on the increased volume of internal courtyard closure, which remained in good shape until the building's destruction. Engineers and architects engaged in additional projects and structures (after 1945) and the solutions they apply demonstrate not only their care for the harmonization of the structures of the different phases, but at the same time these interventions prove to us today the political changes in the country by applying techniques and materials different from those of the autarchy period. The complex was a turning point on the monumental axis, as it is the first rationalist object after a period of neoclassical construction. It is also one of the first rationalist buildings in Albania. The facility was first realized with prefabricated elements and innovative materials at the time, not only in Albania but also beyond. The cultural and sports complex is also the first facility with the pool still existing in the atrium. Scholars classify it as a rationalist building with the influences of Sant Elia and De Chirico's futurism and paintings. It was later called the Kosovo Movie Theater (). The inauguration and naming to Professional Theater of the State () occurred on 24 May 1945. Later the theater was called Popular Theater (). It held that name until June 1991 when it was called 'National Theater'. Protest and demolition In 2018, the Albanian government, under Prime Minister Edi Rama, decided to demolish and replace the theater with a new building designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. The National Theatre was relocated to a temporary modern venue named ArTurbina located on Sami Frasheri Street in Tirana. Plans of the authorities for a new building for the national theater were criticized by artists, professionals and citizens, which led to protests and also the declaration of the historic building as one of the 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Europe by Europa Nostra. National Theater is considered one of the most significant monuments of autarchy period in Albania at the beginning of 20th century Regardless of constant protest by Albanian artists together with the political opposition, the demolition of the National Theatre