The capital of Albania had its face changed by fascist domination, but in many ways this only modified a facade: Tirana still displays the typical Balkan contradiction between modern, imposing buildings in its rational and grand administrative quarters and oceans of old, tiny houses in its many slums. The city's uncontrolled growth was more of an indirect result of fascist policy rather than a real success, and much work is still to be done in order to truly turn Tirana into a city of the 20th century.