Prime Minister Edi Rama described the competition as an example to be followed in other tourist destinations
TIRANA, Feb. 24 – Belgium’s XDGA has been announced the winner of an international design competition to redevelop the coastal promenade in the southern Albanian city of Vlora. An international jury selected the project because of “respecting and making use of the 5-km Vlora waterfront promenade and adjusting the project to specific elements.”
Speaking at a ceremony in Vlora last weekend, Prime Minister Edi Rama described the competition as an example to be followed in other tourist destinations.
“This is a competition which helps us materialize the idea of the crucial transformation of Vlora’s coastline, which in the meantime will be a transforming example to be followed in other segments of Albania’s coastline but even a transforming example regarding the Albanian government’s policy on the integrated tourist, economic and social development in Albania,” said Rama.
An Albanian design studio has been selected as a partner of the Belgian studio for the project development.
Five international design studios, out of 45, had been shortlisted for the competition
“This project will make Vlora more attractive to tourists. We have the will to complete this project on Vlora’s coastline. Our target is to complete this project by 2015 and I am convinced that we have the capability to make this a reality,” Prime Minister Edi Rama had earlier said.
The project involves a 5 km-long coastal band that lays territorially from the ‘Soda Woods’ (west) till the Tunnel (south), and bends at the Port Area as it reaches the city central area.
Preparatory works have already started with the demolition of some illegal building just next to the sea.
Winning project
The design proposal consists in a first phase of the logical extension of the existing boardwalk and broadening of the typical vegetation of Vlora. Extending the trees of Soda Woods over the full 5 km long coastline not only creates a harmonious whole but also a unique and specific identity for the coastal town, typical of Albania’s Mediterranean landscape, says Belgium’s XDGA on its website. “The “Aleppo Pine” a pine native to the Mediterranean region has a thin stem and a broad but flattened crown, thereby preserving the view onto the sea at all times and offering shade for all kinds of activities underneath the trees (sunbathing, sports, parking …). In a later stage, certain areas can be tackled in a more focused way, for example through the creation of new white beach, sports grounds, swimming areas and water parks, a pier and a marina, new hotels, a floating island… This design proposal is open to interpretation and extremely flexible in sequencing and implementation” an instrument of urban intervention in the urban coastal area of Albania in order to serve as a model.”
