WEST SEGMENT
Existing Conditions
• Wide & Sandy
• Old beach area
• Less urbanized
• Adjacent to Soda Woods
• Traditional touristic structures
• Recently erected high-rise residential structures
Opportunities
• To introduce the promenade and to define the urban border
that will connect the sandy/beach area to the urbanized area
W
E
T
u
Rrug
Isma
il Qe
T
Boule
Sazan
i
Rruga
S
E
G
M
sova
a
g
ru
Koso
va
Universiteti
i Vlorës
E
Rrug
a Pe
livan
a Pe
T
livan
PORT OF VLORA “HINGE”
Existing Conditions
• Connects two segments of project site
• Second largest port of Albania
• One of the most attractive tourist centers
in the eastern part of the Mediterranean
Sea. Potential to be come a tourism hub
Opportunities
• To become the center of “social hub”
ug
a
Lagj.
Centrale
aj
Rrug
N
Lesk
aj
University
Square
LEGEND: LAND USE
Residential: Low Density
M
ur
at
Të
0~100 habitants/ha
rb
aç
i
PORT
OF
VLORA
T
N
Rruga Murat Tërbaçi
E
M
G
PORT
OF
VLORA
S
O
S
E
LEGEND
H
West Segment
Primary Road
ba
ç
ur
a
M
a
U
T
Rr
ug
E
DANNY HAN
:::
Public Facilities
Commercial Facilities
G
a
Sports Facilities/
Green Spaces
M
ur
at
M
LAND 4900
Të
Notes:
rb
aç
i
E
N
T
PORT AREA
SCALE: 1”= 200’-0’
300+ habitants/ha
Industrial Facilities
Tertiary Road
CITY WATERFRONT
Residential: High Density
H
S
Bay of
Vlora
100~300 habitants/ha
Existing Conditions
• Narrow
• Well-defined
• Heavily urbanized
Opportunities
• All buildings that stand in between the building line
and the sea to be removed
• Possible future plan to another city road parallel to
the existing waterfront connection
• Great opportunity for a pedestrian-only promenade
:::
l
ne
tun s
the ile
To 2.7 m
Secondary Road
S
Rr
ug
O
tT
ër
South Segment
i
U
T
Vlora Port ‘hinge’
Existing Green Spaces
Residential: Med. Density
SOUTH SEGMENT
Bay of
Vlora
H
Lesk
E N
T
Rr
Ne
R
M
t
ha
i
ak
x
a Ko
vard
i Kastrioti
Rruga
S
ra C
it
1.4 m y Cente
r
iles
azani
S E
G
Rruga Gjerg
E
rati
Stadiumi
Flamurtari
Rruga S
mali
S
Soda Woods
W
To V
lo
mali
il Qe
Isma
MAP OF ALBANIA
sh St
vard
MAP OF EUROPE
Rrug
a Du
Boul
e
Vlo
re
3.7 (Pow
e
mil
es r Plan
t)
rgi Kastrio
ti
rhan
is Du
aM
EC
Rruga Gje
Rrug
To T
To Akade
mia e For
cave Ajro
(Air Force
re
Academ
y - Vlora)
1.7 miles
INVIGORATING THE VLORA WATERFRONT: SITE ANALYSIS
PROF. VERMA
• The map exhibits the lack of inland body
of water or water features within the
project boundary. The closest inland
waters is located approximately 4.7
miles north of the Port of Vlora.
• There is an opportunity to have the
existing port as the center attractions
and as well as a functional port itself. It is
a industrial site as of right now.
:::
APRIL 22, 2014
INVIGORATING THE VLORA WATERFRONT: MASTER PLAN
Vlora’s waterfront is a 3 mile-long stretch of coastline located in the southeastern side of
Albania. It is a symbolic waterfront to the people of Vlora that is rich in history. Some consider
the waterfront a touristic attraction in Albania, but its current state does not reflect that
because it is both disjointed and unattractive. The city of Vlora and the Ministry of Urban
Development and Tourism wishes the waterfront to be developed as an iconic destination
for potential tourists, as well as current and future residents.
BEACH
The waterfront is divided into three segments: west-segment, south-segment, and the port.
The west-segment is wide and sandy, and currently faces many touristic structures, as well
as high-rise residential structures. The south-segment is narrow but very well-defined, and it
stands in between an existing road and the sea. The existing road in the south-segment has
the potential to be a pedestrian-oriented promenade. The existing port that serves as the
hinge connects the two segments. Within the middle segment exist three important features
of Vlora: the University of Vlora, the second largest university in Albania, the Museum of
Independence, where Albania was declared an independent state, and the port itself.
WAVE PIER
PERSPECTIVE OF STREET
BEACH
The concept of the waterfront revitalization offers a design that is focused around these
three things: the port, the University of Vlora, and its independence. There is a commonality
among the three that is associated with the word “liberation”. The port allows travelers to
venture out to the unknown, giving them the freedom and opportunity to see new things. A
university is a place where students are open to new experiences and knowledge,
allowing them to liberate themselves from their past knowledge. Lastly,
independence was declared in Vlora, which simply is the most important
event of Albania’s history. To represent these features, two forms, the
first being rigid and the second being free forming, were used to signify
UNIVERSITY
Vlora’s oppressed past and its bright future.
THEATER
CITY
PARK
MAP OF EUROPE
OF
VLORA
SPORTS
COMPLEX
FREEDOM
PARK
MUSEUM OF
INDEPENDENCE
AREA OF MASTER PLAN
LIGHTHOUSE
BUILDING USE LEGEND
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL
MIX-USE
LIGHTHOUSE
INSTITUTIONAL
MAP OF ALBANIA
LOCATOR MAP
The concept for the master plan is well represented throughout the site for
both functionality and aesthetic purposes. The entirety of the design starts
from the center of the project site forming rigid hard line. Subsequently,
hard rigid lines deviate into series of arcs and become loose lines until
they reach the ends of both south and west segments. The idea
is for the lines to represent past to future, or “liberation”, as it
get further from the city center. In addition, ample amount of
green spaces that have variety of functions are introduced
in the master plan. Having this much greenery was vital
since there was almost no sign of any when the site
was being studied during the analysis phase. Due
MARINA
to the narrow tendency of the site, most of the
special destinations neighbor bodies of water
that provide unique experience.
MUSEUM/PUBLIC
SCULPTURE GARDEN
URBAN BEACH
MALL/RETAIL
URBAN MEADOW
PERSPECTIVE OF WAVE PIER
MASTER PLAN
PERSPECTIVE OF URBAN BEACH
TENNIS COMPLEX
SCALE: 1”= 300’-0’
DANNY HAN
:::
LAND 4900
:::
PROF. VERMA
:::
APRIL 22, 2014
INVIGORATING THE VLORA WATERFRONT: DETAILED PLAN
Freedom Park is located at the heart of Vlora Waterfront, adjacent to the University of Vlora campus. It
is surrounded by many multi-story buildings giving the park a sense of enclosure around the edges. At
the same time, it is open in the center by an inlet of the Adriatic Sea, bringing water close for the users
to experience. The purpose of the park is to provide access to green space, which the city of Vlora
lacks, and also to demonstrate what the beautiful waterfront has to offer to both visitors and residents.
The park is designed so that most of the site is on the existing street level far
water level. Stone steps direct people down to the boardwalk around
allowing them to enjoy water from closer. Because the park is split by a
there is a pedestrian bridge that serves as the connection between the
above the existing
the park’s edge
body of water
two halves.
Freedom Park is programmed for a wide range of users and provides both active and
passive recreation all around the park. For active recreation there are features like
an outdoor amphitheater, step seating, in-ground water fountain which has a
versatility to become an ice skating rink during winter, and an urban bosque
where user enjoy the company of other people in the shade of canopy
trees and the beautiful waterfront. For passive recreation there
plenty of open grass and mounds where people can relish the
SHOP
sun and the sound of waves crashing. Freedom Park is a
destination spot with a flexibility that can offer users
many forms of fun and exciting entertainment,
and quiet and serenity at the same time.
PERSPECTIVE OF STEP SEATING
PERSPECTIVE OF PLAY FOUNTAIN
WN
DO
URBAN
BOSQUE
CAFÉ
GRASS MOUND
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
N
W
DO
PERSPECTIVE OF URBAN BOSQUE
STEP SEATING
PLAY
FOUNTAIN
CAFÉ BELOW
SECTION A-A’
SCALE: 1”= 30’-0’
GRASS MEADOW
OUTDOOR
AMPHITHEATER
DETAILED PLAN
SECTION B-B’
SCALE: 1”= 30’-0’
SCALE: 1”= 30’-0’
DANNY HAN
:::
LAND 4900
:::
PROF. VERMA
:::
APRIL 22, 2014