TIRANA, April 8 /ATA/- Vlora’s water front promenade project, Lungomare, has been selected to take part in “BIG SEE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 2019,″ organized by Institute for Creative Economy in South-Eastern Europe.
It was the mayor of Vlora, Dritan Leli, who broke the news.
The waterfront promenade has been conceived of as a space with dedicates lanes for three modes of transport, vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians, making room for everyone depending on their wishes, giving priority to pedestrians.
The chief architect of Lungomare, Xaveer De Geyter, said: “This design proposal consists of a first phase for logical extension of the existing surface layer and expansion of the typical vegetation of Vlora. The continuation of Soda forest trees on the 5 km- long coast not only creates a harmonious setting, but also a one of a kind and specific identity for the coastal city, typical of Albania’s Mediterranean landscape. ”
“Aleppo pine, a native tree in the Mediterranean region, has a thin trunk and a wider, but flat crown, preserving the sea- front view all the time and providing shade for all sorts of activities under the tree. At a later stage, certain areas can be addressed in a more focused manner, for example through the creation of new white beach areas, sports areas, swimming areas and water parks, a pier and a marina, new hotels, a floating island, “the architect De Geyter said.
According to him, this design proposal is open to interpretation and extremely flexible in sequences and implementation: an instrument of urban intervention in the coastal area of Albania to serve as a model.
Apart from Albania with Vlora’s Lungomare, taking part in “BIG SEE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 2019” are Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova and Montenegro , Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey.
Inaugurated in May 2017, the Lungomare is considered to be the most important project in terms of tourism in the coastal city of Vlora among the most attractive draws for domestic and foreign tourists alike throughout the year.
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