RECLAIMING THE RIVER – ‘PEJA BAZAAR’

Tirana, Albania

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RECLAIMING THE RIVER – ‘PEJA BAZAAR’

Tirana, Albania

Firm

Urban Plus

Type

Commercial › Retail Supermarket Shopping Mall
Hospitality + Sport › Restaurant
Government + Health › Community Center
Landscape + Planning › Urban Green Space

YEAR

2013

I. CONTEXT-The project location is part of the city centre of Peja.Korzo Boulevard, shops, ‘Lumbardhi’ river, apartment buildings with shops and two bridges – pedestrian and ‘Ura e Zallit’ bridge. Municipal administration building encloses the area in the north-east side. Hotel Dukagjini, aa city landmark, is in the southern part of square and the former bank of Kosovatowards the park. KorzoBoulevard is enclosed byapartment building with shops on the street level. The other side is enclosed with small shops that limit access to the riverfront. The area is turned to a pedestrian zone where cyclists are welcomed.The area poses multiple symbolic features such as natural and those created through the history.The dramatic background of folding mountains creates the city visual identity which has resisted too many transformations caused by the human activities. The symbolic qualities are extendedfurther by two hotel buildings – Korzo and Dukagjini, which beside the architecture and the history recalls the early tradition of tourism in Peja.
II. RICLAIMING THE RIVERFRONT–Integration of the riverfront through ‘Peja Bazaar’ and creating a new social atmosphere in the city centre
The urban design conceptis based on three elements:
1. Riverfront – from pedestrian to ‘Ura e Zallit’ bridge. The concept envisages the opening of the riverfront on both sides.
2. The new pedestrian bridge–provides opportunities for resting, talking, reading and experiencing the mountain views.
3. ‘PejaBAZAAR’– The bazaar role is to functionally integratethe riverfront and the Korzo Boulevard.
The proposal has multiple objectives classified in three pillars of sustainable development:
I. SOCIAL
• Reclaiming of riverfront and accessibility to the river–opened for access to all
• Integration of the riverfront with the city centre–visual and physical accessibility.
• Creation of new social atmosphere in the public space -throughdifferent forms of social life,supported by experience of fascinating dramatic landscape of‘Pejamountains’.
II. ENVIRONMENTAL
• Riverfront regulation
• Establishing the main sewage collectors
• Increasing green area along the river and in the city centre
• Sustainable architecture principles
III. ENVIRONMENTAL - Improvement of business area
‘Peja Bazaar’ takes the role of a central business area where many different business activities – shopping, services, and leisure can take place forthe citizens of Peja. The bazaar concept was provides covered space for social interaction. Visually, the concept of the bazaar is interpreted through three elements: stone walls, wooden cantilevers and windows covered with folding wooden shutters.