Nearly 1 million people live in Tirana today, and just 15 years ago there were nearly 300.000. The city expanded so much that the urban master plan of 1989 was useless. The city fell into a chaotic development that venquished all that was beautiful about it. Almost all public places, like parks for example, were occupied by shops and clubs, while along the Lana river contruction of all kinds were raisen. It took a politician with broad vision and a lot of political courage to return the city to an acceptable condition. Right now the city is developing through segmentary urban plans. The most important is the
regulatory plan for the city, which is being carried out by the municipality. This plan is estimated at 180 million $. It has 4 main sections:
1- Rehabilitation of all roads and restoration of green spaces within neighbourhouds. This includes primary, secondary and terciary roads. This example from a part of "Artan Lenja" block, in the suburbs, gives clear idea of what this part of the regulatory plan is about
:
This is a section of the Artan Lenja block before the intervention of the regulatory plan:
This is what the space management will be after the works in this area are over:
2- The second section of the regulatory plan involves the lengthining of the main boulevard "Deshmoret e Kombit" with 2km, thus doubling its size. The current boulevard links Mother Teresa square with the train station. The last extremity will move into the Tirana river. Tirana river on the other hand will have a concrete profile similiar to the one Lana river has. The image below shows the extension of the boulevard. Green is the actual boulevard, while in red the new section the will be constructed is shown. The new extension goes through a low developed area, and it is thought that this move will bring more constructers to build commercial and service centers there.
3- The third section is about the construction of the big outer city ring, linking Tirana-Durres highway, with the Tirana-Elbasan highway which will be constructed soon by private investors. This is supposed to reduce traffic within the city itself. Other rings will be constructed, but this is the most important one.
4- The third section involves the construction of two tram routes. The first going through the main boulevard and the second following the Lana and Tirana rivers perimeter as shown on the map. Red is route one and yellow is route 2.
The second most important development is the City Center Master Plan designed by Architecture Studio, which addresses mainly areas around the main boulevard.
Western and Southern City Ring (WR, SR) and the Tirana-Elbasan Highway (TREL).
Western Ring
WR is 6-6,5km long and links the Kamza Turn (Tirana-Durres HW entryway from Tirana), which is the access point of all vehicles coming from the north to the capital and many transit through the capital to south eastern destinations.
Southern Ring
SR is 7,5km long. It links Vaqarr, southern extremity of WR, with Farka Bridge, the entryway to Tirana-Elbasa HW (TREL). This is meant to move all in city transits to south eastern Albania, outside the city.
Tirana-Elbasan Highway
TREL is 35,2-35,8 km long. It is built through a rural area. 65% of expropriations are public (state) property. 35% of expropriations involve private land. Expropriations are however minimal. TREL is shorter then the current Tirana-Elbasan road, and has a a track speed at least 3 times faster.
A segment of TREL in perspective view shows how TREL relates to geographical features along its trace:
Finished Projects
1. QTU - Qendra Tregtare Univers, a shopping mall located 8 km outside of Tirana.
2. Mount Dajti Ropeways - Mount Dajti Ropeway Project linking Dajti Mountain with Downtown Tirana
3. Apartment Building
4. 11 million dollar aluminum factory
5. Tirana Prosecutor Building
6. Zogu 1 Boulevard renovated
7. A new BMW shop
8. New Porsche and Audi Store.
9. Reconstruction of 75 percent of streets in Tirane
Deshmorit Road
10. Zayed Business Center
11. Mother Theresa Hospital Reconstruction
12. Sheshi Wilson
13. ETC:
14. Twin Towers:
15. Sheraton Hotel:
16. Sky Tower:
17. Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Council of Justice:
18. New Office Building Constructed:
19. New residential campus
20. Tile Factory
21. Oil Factory
22. New high-rise near Wilson Square
23. mid-rise residential complex
24. Another mid-rise residential
25. Mid-rise
Projects Under Construction
1. Rinas Airport - An all glass world class mid-size terminal being constructed by German company Hochtief
2. The French master plan
3. Skenderbeg square
4. Avni Rustemi square
5. The Train Station
6. West part of Unaza Re
7. Selita neighborhood
8. Elbasani Street
9. Muhamet Gjollesha Street
10. Laparka Neighborhood in the suburbs of Tirana
11. Don Bosco Street
12.Eyes of Tirana - 25 level building in the shape of a tulip complimented by 2 smaller buildings of the same structure
13.TID Tower (Tirana International Developing) - 25 level contemporary modern building
14. Archea Tower
15.Bussiness Center - A modern contemporary building complex being constructed in Toptani st. Project was designed by Dutch architectural firm MVRDV
16. Tirana Grand Park - A master plan just put into place for Tirana's Grand Park will eliminate illegal construction activities and will organize and modernize the park to EU standards
17. Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard - Tirana's main Boulevard is undergoing a major renovation
18. Business Complex - A new business complex to replace old Cinema Millennium in Kavaja st. next to Turkish embassy
19. Kamza Regency Plaza & Residence - An enormous shopping and leisure complex, which will occupy 30,000 sq meters will be the largest center of its kind in Albania, bringing a new approach to shopping habits and leisure activities of the local population. The Plaza will be a combination of a fully facilitated mega shopping mall with a down scale covered market area and supported by onsite leisure facilities.
20. New high-rise - A 23 level high-rise being constructed close to Palace of Congresses
21. Modern Theater - Piramida also known as International Center of Culture will be turned into a Modern theater, project has been approved and construction of the interior will start soon
22. Parliament Museum - The New Parlament Museum will be identical to the one from 1921 designed by austrians
23. National Theater - National Theater is undergoing a major renovation
24. Casino - A major casino to be built by parku Rinia. Construction starts later this year.
25. New Apartment Building
26. Apartment Complexes
27. Rehabilitation of Park by the Lake of Tirane. Construction has already started.
28. Construction of new Apartment Block
29. New Orthodox Church in Tirana
30. Tirana International Hotel renovation
31. Polychromink Tower
32. Kompleksi Goldi
33. Urban Villa
34. Entertainment Center
35. Crazy Windows building
36.Villa Antonella - The 18th of March was site-permission granted by the municipality for this residential and commercial building in the center of Tirana.
37. Apartment Construction by Lana
38. Boardwalk on Main Boulevard is under renovation
39. Two new lowerises under-construction at Kavajes Street.
40. Gas Station - A large dome covers the filling area, creating a shaded space with quasi-religious aspirations. The dome is a brick construction resting on three points. One of these points is the corner of the shop and back office: a straightforward glass and concrete box. The two other points are part of the large T: one sits on the leg of the T, the other hovers in the air, suspended by a cable hanging from the largest branch.
41. Office and Retail
42. New 9 level residential/comercial complex in Tirana
43. New housing blocks in Tirana
44. Gas Station
45. Ford Showroom
46. Apartment complexes
47. Condor Building it made of four buildings with a shared base of 9 floors each. First 3 floors are intended for shops.
48. Another building, on the other side of the road from Condor, has finished construction:
49. "Baja Building" is also on the final construction stages and is one of the most beautiful buildings in the area:
50. These tow other buildings are also concluding counstruction works:
This is a view over the sidewalk there:
51. This is a project u/c near location of Condor and Baja:
52. Sirius sh.p.k:
53. Unknown name but is similar to villa antonella
54. Also unknown name
55. New constructions entering Tirana
56.
... when finished:
57.
... when finished:
58.
... when finished:
59. Residential/retail complex.
60. Mid-rises
61. 12-storey residential
62. Massive complex in "Rruga e Barrikadave"
... when finished:
63. Another mid-rise in the same street as project above
... when finished
64. Small-rise
... when finished:
65. Another mid-rise
66. Small-rise residential
67. Modern mid-rise
... when finished:
68. Small-rise residential
... when finished
69. mid-rise
... when complete
70. mid-rise
... when finished:
71. mid-rise apartment complex
72. small-rise
.... when finished
73. Small-rise
74. Mid-rise
75. Small-rise
... when finished:
76. A new project by the lake area:
.... when finished:
Projects Under Study
1.Sub-Urban Complex - Four buildings of 18 floors each to be constructed in one of the informal suburban areas of Tirana. The development of the area is a joint effort of the City Hall, Lura sh.p.k and ARC. Firenze.
2.The wellness recreation center proposed for Tirane. If built it will be the tallest structure in the Balkans. Four towers will be built by the famous company Mabetex.
3. A proposal for the parliament building in Albania.
4. A trade center in Kavaje St.
5. Urban Rail Project
6. Regulatory plan projects
7. Cultural Center
8. Noka Bllok - The basic concept for the NOKA BLLOK is to collect strong individual buildings into one continuous block. Each building can host a specific program. Our proposal is based on a central core building (offices) surrounded by smaller perimeter buildings (housing/offices). The shopping activity will benefit from the 5 differentiated public areas surrounding the ground floor. These small gardens/plazas can act as exterior extensions of the commercial program.
9. Tirana Catholic University - A proposal for Tirana Catholic University
10. New Hospital Center in Tirane