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1.

WELCOME TO VLORA!
QUALITY THROUGH DIVERSITY

PINE TREE BEACH

ARCADE RESIDENTIAL, HOTELS, RETAIL SHADED URBAN PROMENADE

CULTURAL BUILDING MARINA MARKET HALL

FERRY TERMINAL

WA TER

TAX I

UNIVERSITY GARDENS

TAXI BOAT JETTYS

Make the city attractive for

tourists and citizens alike Integral design: Pearls of Vlora

Connectivity along the

waterfront and to the hinterland Enhance the existing assets: sea, mountains, history and culture Repair and protect Vlora, the Gateway to
Albania..
Albania is Europes last hidden gem. Its beautiful, robust, raw landscape, inhabited by friendly tradition-driven people, has the potential to shine. Vloras central position regionally and on the Mediterranean can help greatly to its transformation into international local city and economic leader. In order to maintain this unique character it must cleverly approach environmental challenges, urban challenges and challenges of uncontrolled development and over-development.
FE RR IES

CONCEPT AND OBJECTIVE The central aim of this project is to transform Vlora and its waterfront into a highly attractive place for tourists and citizens alike. More than simply designing a facelift, now is the opportunity to make the exceptionally beautiful natural landscapes and maritime environment work alongside the citys potential prosperity. The project should emphasize local, existing qualities; improve infrastructure and create opportunities for diverse, sensitive and controlled development. In doing so, Vlore has the potential to become one of the most attractive centers in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Plans for a national by-pass and an alternative municipal street will detour heavy traffic from the waterfront and will make it possible to have a traffic-free area in the South Segment of the coast. The promenade will no longer act as a barrier for pedestrians but as a connector, and high quality public space can be developed to make it functional and attractive. The relation of the sea and the hinterland can be re-established. As a result local pride and tourist potential can thrive. Modernisation of tourist infrastructures will enable Vlora to become more accessible to, medium and high-end holiday goers from other European countries and catch the eye of national and international investors. Waterfront interventions will integrate basic needs such as; accessibility and drainage, improving public health and importantly sustaining itself as a place to relax and enjoy oneself. We believe Vlora will be able to utilize its natural assets, whilst protecting, respecting and nurturing them helping itself to become an eco-conscious city. Vlora is a highly cosmopolitan area, it has cultural and historical richness, traditional agro-based products, fine gastronomy and its own strong identity. It is our firm belief that these multiple assets are far richer to the city than a single key feature and should be further exploited. Quality through Diversity. The interventions being taken now will set the directional course of Vlores future.

PLAN SCALE 1:4000

DIAGRAMS
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2.

low traffic medium traffic high traffic uninterupted promenade future national ring road increasing attractive coastal area

water taxi ferry bike + pedestrian car + bike + pedestrian car high intensity

INFRASTRUCTURE

MODES OF TRANSPORT

PHASE III

PHASE I

PHASE II

tourism & commercial low density & amenities high density & commercial historical core commercial zones pedestrian pier & marina international ferry terminal

current infrastructure phase I : by-pass road = free up area phase I : new promenade phase I : green strip to city centre phase II : port development = profit phase III: ring road = cost

CENTRAL DISTRICT

PHASING

BOULEVARD ISMAIL QEMALI PROFILE

centre cycle route pedestrians

double vehicle lane pedestrians double vehicle lane

VILLA HOXHA

west waterfront promenade

iconic buildings points of interest

3 AREAS CONNECTED BY 1 PROMENADE

POINTS OF INTEREST

pedestrian
5m

car
6m

car

pedestrian / bike
2,5m 5m 2,5m

car
6m

car

pedestrian
5m

Section 1:400

green corridors

CENTRAL HUB FOR DAY TRIPS

In the coming years Vlore will approach urbanization levels found in comparable European cities due to its strategic position and assets. The proposed terminal of trans-Balkan Gas & Oil pipeline from the Black Sea area, the Port development and the potential construction of a new airstrip at Pishporos, 10km from Vlore, could further accelerate development.

GREEN CORRIDORS
Effects of post-communist transformation have become visible in physical and in spatial patterns, and in the living condition of the people. High rise buildings, inconsiderate locations of industrial sites within the city, destruction of green areas, wet lands and chaotic urban sprawl up the hilly slopes have greatly degraded the urban landscape and its potential touristic appeal.

Boulevard Ismail Qemali reference

INFRASTRUCTURE To emphasize unique existing qualities and create opportunities for diverse, sensitive and controlled development, the sea front must be protected from highdensity traffic corridors. Alternative traffic solutions are introduced to hugely increase the attractiveness for development in the coastal area.

Boulevard Ismail Qemali

Vlora suffers from the lack of appropriate road hierarchy in the citys current road network and street design. Roads, pavement, and intermediate spaces are quite badly maintained. Absence of public passages pose as a threat to the safety of pedestrians. cyclists. Safety and mobility facilities for pedestrians, handicapped persons and cyclists should be improved. Cycling is an ideal mode of transport for an actual, cost-effective and immediate improvement of urban conditions. Cycle lanes give drivers more freedom in their own lane, and the cyclist more security. The bicycle as a modern means of public transport should claim its dominant position in the public realm and should be deliberately used to solve future mobility demands. Poor public transport is also given room to imporve in new profile designs, making it enjoyable to travel for all, car, pedestrian or bus.

Walking is the main mode of travel in Vlore but there are poor infrastructure conditions for pedestrians and

PINE TREE BEACHES

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3.

MARINA

PORT

PINETREE PROFILE
recreational space in shade

HARBOUR BAY PROFILE

shaded palm stretch

CULTURAL BAY PROFILE

UNIVERSITY GARDENS PROFILE

wide pedestrian route

parking a continuation of the pine forest to the city buildings on the beach meandering paths long sandy beach stepped seating jetty new long family beach university vehicle + cycle route

waters edge seating

boat arcade shopping and promenade restaurants

waterfront cycle route

pedestrian bike car

6m 1m 3m

car
3m 2,5m

car
3m

car bike
3m 1m 2,5m

park
6m

park
4,9m

hotel
10m

park
8m

bike
2,2m

park
4m

beach
30m

pedestrian
6m

university campus
156m

bike
2,2m

park / recreation

park / recreation
137m

terrace
6m

pedestrian
9m 6m

pedestrian / bike
11m

marina
5m

park / recreation bike

6m 2,2m

pedestrian
6m

beach square
28m

beach
50m

Section 1:400

Section 1:400

Section 1:400

Section 1:400

Housing references

Fresh local produce

Harbour walk

Cultural on the beach

FERRY TERMINAL Pine tree beaches HARBOUR AREA The new waterfront

MARINA BAY

MARKET HALL

CULTURAL BUILDING Arcade shopping Daily market Stepped seating Nightlight on the strand well as concerts, art and shopping. All three axes connect to the new city ring, and in southern direction minor roads detour traffic that affects locals whilst improving their accessibility. The sea and the city become connected. By detouring traffic from the coastal road the University gardens attractiveness of the areas along the coast can be enjoyed by people in larger public spaces.

The port is an important hinge currently acting as a barrier between the two axis of the city. Our proposal integrates landscape, building, and street profile, enabling the port to harmonise this current disjunction.

Protection of the seafront from all unqualified and incompatible uses transforms seafront roads into urban promenades with; public transport, designated lanes for cyclists, and wide sidewalks for pedestrians, giving all users equal safety and usability. Natural facets should be protected, respected and fostered

Furthermore we enhance the current structure by improving the existing main axis and introducing two new axes in North-South direction. The two main axes connect the harbor with the historic centre thus creating two centres of gravity that can thrive with future densification and diversification.

Vistas are created and special points of interest defined: a market hall, a cultural centre, the harbor, with room for port facilities and a public swimming pool. Locality can prosper here and culture is encouraged. Tourists can enjoy meeting vibrant activity immediately after stepping off the boat, and locals have amenities on their door step, as

HARBOUR BAY

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JETTY AREA PROFILE

cycle paths small jetty pavillion

TYPICAL PROFILE
cycle paths planting/seating

FOREST MEETS THE GREEN PROFILE

one way traffic kiosk in the green

SUSTAINABILITY - THE QUALITY OF VLORA

one way traffic

pedestrian

varying width balconies

one way traffic public showers pedestrian

varying width balconies

forest streching over the road seating in the shade

ADAPTABLE PROFILE DETAIL

The proposed plan promotes the protection and enhancement of Albanias unique landscape, it creates solutions to ease future infrastructural proposals, and encourages the creation of diverse, sensitive and controlled development in the city centre. We strongly believe that Vlore has the potential to become one of the most attractive cities in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea using its very own NATURAL RECOURSES - largely its pine and limestone - throughout the design. Challenges of the project shall be met with LEARNED PHASING TECHNIQUES. On top of this, to sustain the quality of life that is achieved, further PLANNING will have to be made for the FUTURE PROTECTION of the city and its environment.
5,2m

pedestrian pedestrian
6m

car
3,8m

bike
2,2m

pedestrian
12m

pedestrian
2,5m 3m

car

pedestrian park / recreation

3m 2,5m 8m

bike
2,2m

car
3,8m

bike
2,2m

pedestrian
12m

pedestrian / recreation
140m

6m

Section 1:400

Section 1:400

Section 1:400

The city has set itself ambitious goals: becoming a TOURIST HOTSPOT on the other hand developing its INDUSTRIALand harbor activities. Both are difficult to combine. However, thoroughly IMPROVING POLICY and action regarding the environmental protection and management issues (in wastes management, wastewater treatment, respect to environmental criteria for landscape protection in building development, protection of coastal zones, mountainous areas, forests and water bodies) can help to find solutions to achieve the best for the city. One of the largest challenges is the current water waste system. Only 90 % of the inhabitants are connected to a piped disposal system and all sewerage is disposed into the bay of Vlore. At the same time the sea is the main asset of Vlora. If the city is to become a tourist HOTSPOT the quality of water should be priority. We propose a system encorporated into the profiles along the coast. A RAIN WATER system that filters through slats in the LIMESTONE seating benches and into a pipe system that later connects with a new waste system and is led out of the city - and importantly away from the sea. In each challenge it can be easily imagined there are opportunities for JOB CREATION. In environmental management; coastguards, forest rangers, and civil servants for the maintenance of the new street profiles. All ensuring the promises of Vlores gold.

Vlora lighting and benches

Bicycle accomodation SOUTH SEGMENT- PROMENADE

Seating island
trees shall line the paths and routes, with seating placed at regular intervals to allow for a break. A widened profile and uninterrupted paths along the waterfront allow for a continuous beach promenade almost covering the full coast of Vlora. Here, vehicular traffic is not dominating, cars are visitors and the spaces are easy accessible for cyclists, pedestrians and public transportation.

Vlora seating

Paths through the green

an important role in both the new habour area and the South segment. It is the starting point to take hikes in the mountains encouraged by planting more green on the beach and densely along the promenade. What is created is a continuous green walkway along the sea infused with program; culture, sport fields, parks, sunbathing areas, an amphitheatre and jetties.

GREEN AVENUES, neighborhood gardens and urban parks

will improve the daily perception of residents, bring more people to the streets, and workers to the beach having long term benefits for the economy. Improvements to PUBLIC TRANSPORT can have long term benefits to Vloras carbon footprint; increasing cyclist numbers, reducing cars, lowering noise levels and decongesting the city centre.

The boulevard is a chain of landscapes, public- green spaces, and beaches set against the backdrop of luscious mountains. Due to the intense sunshine in the summer months public space without shade are unbearable. To improve the microclimate for people using these areas palm

Locals enjoy their day coming to a close with a social stroll along the promenade; lovers meet at the cultural building where poetry is being read at one side, and a pop concert plays facing the beach. Elderly, students, street traders and tourists alike populate the area and give the boulevard vibrancy and colour. The boulevard is not exclusive, instead it is a melting pot of cultures and ideas. The University plays

PROMENADE