Hibridi(CI)ty

Gjirokaster Integrated mobility strategy

Smart and sustainable solu0ons for the world heritage city

We believe in processes.
Design is aimed to involve, bring together and take advantage from the dierent stakeholders and
protagonists involved to ac:vate economic and human energies.
The urban processes of transforma:on are economical, physical, social and so poli:cal.

a very well-preserved series of buildings which are tes:monials of the

culture of self-defense by individual family units, which are numerous,
preserved and recognizable in the city today;

-an extraordinary material con:nuity between the public realm and

the privately owned buildings, which allow Gjirokastra as to be
recognized as an en#ty, with a strong historic iden#ty;

-a preserved intersec:on between the natural features of the
landscape and the human-made built landscape.

Shrinking
Gjirokastra is the representa:on of this situa:on, which can be
sinthe:zed in the following pathogen elements which occure to the
territory/city:
lack of inHrastructural connec:ons (streets, IT networks);
lack of touris:c oer (if we exclude the historic value)
lack of energy-free networks;
lack of hospitality nodes;
lack of cultural networks with universi:es and heritage ins:tu:ons;

Goals
The following goals are clearly iden:ed in the Gjirokatsra current planning framework. The
general vision is the crea:on of an uniformly and stronlgy interconnected city:

Divert vehicular trac from the historical areas

Create a easy and fast connec:on between the old and new town centers

Improve east-west connec:vity around the castle

Incen:vate new ac:vi:es along the roads

Propose a solu:on for the city public transport system

Improve pedestrian safety

Enhance walkability and other green modes

The 2 bypass concept

CURRENT SCHEME:

PROPOSED SCHEME:
Outer bypass

New pedestrian zone

Inner bypass

Residents & visitors trac converges to Bazaar area

More than 2 km of pedestrianized roads

No safe environment for pedestrians

Electric shu[le bus system

No formal parking solu:ons

Integrated smart access control system

No alterna:ve mode for intra-urban trips

Mul:ple parking solu:ons

No clear historical and naturalsitc i:neraries

New green and historical i:neraries

No waynding system

Waynding naviga:on system

The proposed road scheme

Protected zone [30km/h]
Na:onal road SH4
Outer bypass
Inner bypass
Connector roads
Pedestrianized roads
Pedestrian trial
Exis:ng roundabout
Proposed roundabout

Central parking structure

Interchange car park

The proposed scheme rely on the exis#ng road network not requiring massive interven:on that may alter the
character of the city. By small, punctual ac#ons it creates an extended pedestrianized zone around the
Bazaar by diver:ng the trac on the two bypasses: the inner bypass, connected to the new parking structure P1,
provides a quick access to visitors; the outer bypass connected to the interchange car park P2, feeds all the
se[lements on the hillside.

A pedestrian friendly environment

Typical road sec:ons

Streets for all users

Even out of the pedestrian zone the city sloped and narrow streets allows for the crea:on of a pedestrian
friendly environment. Gjirocastra historical zone roads will be converted into shared spaces by limi:ng the
speed to 10km/h and through a set of minimum interven:ons:
physical barriers to moderate vehicles speed (bumps, chicanes);
accommoda:on of street furniture to promote street ac:vi:es;
signing to inform drivers.

Public transport
Electric shu[les

Public transport scheme

The new parking facili:es will be connected to major city des:na:ons by a new public transport service. A eet of
small electric vehicles will drive visitors and resident around. The system will share some stop with the
regional public bus on the na:onal road to enhance intermodality.
Touris:c buses (coaches) will be able to reach the central area to board and alight victors. The depo is located next
to the interchange car park P2.

The new parking system

Small parking pockets

Parking strategy scheme

Minor modica#ons on the roads alignments and kerb design of the city historical road network can create
some good opportuni:es. Such as the provision of formal drop-o areas at the entrance of the new pedestrian

zone to be used by visitors and taxis. New parking stalls can be placed along the network where the sec:on allows
it. Resident , who have access to the pedestrian zone, will have their dedicated free parking spots. Visitors will stay
on the bypass and can park in some small paid parking pockets along the route or in the new parking structure P1.

A smart access management system

Access control solu:ons

Access mgmt scheme

The access to new pedestrian zones will possible only to certain categories of vehicles and at certain
condi:on. In order to make sure the policy is respected by the drivers the proposal predicts a system of controlled
gates. Service and delivery vehicles can enter the area at certain #mes of the day, and that local residents
especially those with disabili:es can have a permit badge that allows access and parking at all :mes.

Dierent access for dieren users

Visitors

Residents

Together with the interven:ons on the network a whole new approach is proposed to enhance the accessibility
and appeal of Gjirokastra. In order to minimize the impact of vehicular trac a new naviga#on system will drive
visitors directly to the new main parking areas P1 and P2. From the new central parking structure P1, located
at the edge of the pedestrian area, the main city a[rac:ons will be reachable on foot.

Green network
Trekking and cycling

Green network scheme

legend

The posi:on of the city next to important natural des:na:ons such as the mountains and the river park call for the
provision of a wider green network.
Residents and visitors will be able to move from the city centre across the landscape thanks to protected and
signalized pedestrian trails and bike lanes.

Readable touris@c i@neraries

Preferred pedestrian paths can be developed and

signalized to create a con:nuous and compelling series of
public spaces that serve both the resident community and
tourists. Keeping this possibility in mind the proposal
promotes an integrated system of i:neraries that may
help visitors orient through Gjirokastra and see all the
hotspots the city has to oer. These routes can be
reinforced through a waynding system that places
signage, maps, and a main info point in order to guide
visitors through the city in an easy a immediately
readable way.

Umbria best prac@ce

Umbria Mobilita is the regional public body that

manage the transportation services of some important

cities with UNESCO heritage sites. The services include:
Transport on Wheels connecting the regional territory
through a Bus Network with urban, extra urban and
tuoristic routes
Interchange car parks located in cities focal points
accessible by the public transport system in order to
enahnce its use in the urban environment
Access management systems to control the circulation
of certain type of vehicles in the hsitorical areas
Moreover:
Local alternative mobility solutions such as
escalators, elevators, cableways, moving walkways.
Transport by Railways
Transport by Waterways

The graph represents all mobility ameni0es present in each city under
the supervision of Umbria Mobilita.

Spoleto Map

CiEa di Castello Map

Gubbio Map

WHAT ARE GJIROKASTER MAIN ECONOMIC POTENTIALS?

GJIROKASTER IS REGIONAL COMMERCIAL CENTRE

FOOD, LEATHER, TEXTILES INDUSTRIES
HISTORY AND RELIGION (ISLAM AND ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY) CENTER
UNESCO STATUS
REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL CENTRE
TOURISM (CASTLE AND TOWN CENTRE)

WHAT ARE MAIN GOALS FOR EXPLOITING AND

IMPROVING GJIROKASTERS ECONOMIC POTENTIAL?
IMPROVE MOVEMENT (PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR CREATE VIBRANT URBAN HUB

EXPLOIT FULLY EXISTING HISTORIC STRONG POINTS (Castle and Centre) BY IMPROVING
ACCESS, PARKING, SERVICES, ATTRACTIONS AND BY REFURBISHING THEM

DIVERSIFY CONTENT AND REVITALISE VISITOR PROFILE: EDUCATION, CRAFTMANSHIP,
FOOD, SHOPS, SPORTS, START-UPS

RECONSTRUCT HISTORIC HOUSES

PROMOTE ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION

PROMOTE PRODUCTION, SALE AND CRAFTMANSHIP OF LOCAL GOODS (TEXTILE, LEATHER,
FILIGRAIN, ORGANIC FOOD)

LURE EMMIGRANTS TO COME BACK, THUS REVITALIZING CITY

HOW DOES TOURISM IN ALBANIA RATE REGIONALLY?

AVERAGE TOURIST OVERNIGHT STAYS IN 2014:

ALBANIA 500.000 visitors
MONTENEGRO 9.500.000 visitors

WHY IS TOURISM SO UNDER DEVELOPED IN ALBANIA?

1.

LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE

Only one interna:onal airport, in Tirana

6h bus ride from the airport to Gjirokaster
It takes a day for an European tourist to arrive

2.

TOURIST OFFER INACCESSIBLE AND ONLY HISTORICAL

Tourists stay for few hours, few sleep over

As a consequence they do not spend money
Tourism service is linear it provides only for tradi:onal heritage tourist

OUR PROJECT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE

3.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE/ADVERTISMENT INTERNATIONALLY

HOW DOES THE PROJECT IMPROVE

INACCESSIBLE AND INADEQUATE CONTENT ISSUE?

EXPLOIT EXISTING CONTENT MORE

EFFICIENTLY
Pedestrianize center
Create Lower by-pass
Create upper By-pass
Create pedestrian links between centre
and castle
Create centre underground car park/coach
arrival
Create perifery car park
Improve connec:on to main road with two
round abouts

CREATE MORE ACTIVITY

Market
Arts+craHs
Pool/ska:ng ring
Informa:on center
Interna:onal architecture School
Exis:ng historical building refurbishment to
create B+B, tradi:onal craH shops, restairants
Historic material salvage yard
Spa

Heritage is the future and not the past!

map a series of buildings which can undergo a process of
renova:on and can be turned into diused hospitality;
involve students and craHmen in the processes of
renova:on as in a conserva:on live lab
apply to European/Interna:onal funding for
Conserva:on in networking with the major Conserva:on
Ins:tu:ons (i.e. Bri:sh Heritage Fund, Vene:an
Conserva:on Ins:tu:on, major European universi:es);
create a Recycling Material Depot to reuse for free the
demolished materials in the urban realm;

 construc#on of the smart por#co;

ac#vate a green energy system with free energy for start-ups and
small businesses;
ac#vate a high-speed internet access to improve business and
communica#on;
construc#on of a parking facility;
construc#on of hybrid spaces; (pools, ice-ska#ng parks, spaces for
small fair events)

CraHmanship and makers

design and build a new Pedestrian Historic Centre Infrastructure,
which is a smart network to use internet and energy connec:ons
for free- this will allow the poten:al installment of temporary or
more stable ac:vi:es connected with tourism (craHmanship,
makers, start-ups, etc...)

Frammen: di marmo della pianta di Roma

an:ca G.B. Piranesi

Partecipa:on workshop by C+S

Lawrence Halprin, Take Part Workshop

DO PROPOSALS WORK ECONOMICALLY?

1.

2.

Current visitors of 120.000-150.000

generate
income of 1.15m/year
Es:mated growth by WTTC +46% -
WITHOUT PROPOSED
IMPROVEMENTS - will generate
180.000-220.000 visitors
with 1.75m/year

3.

Growth of +46%, with proposed

improvements and tourists
staying 1 night will generate 5.5m/
year

4.

Growth of +46%, with proposed

improvements , with tourists staying
2 night will generate 8.8m/year

5.

If infrastructure and adver@sing

improved, with proposed
improvements, income could be in
even more signicant

CAN WORKS/INVESTMENT BE PHASED?

PHASING OF WORKS HAS BEEN KEY CONSIDERATION IN DEVELOPING PROJECT AIMING

TO:

REDUCE EFFECT OF WORKS ON CITY, ITS ECONOMY, PEOPLE MOVEMENT

ALLOW GRADUAL RELEASE OF FUNDS

ALLOW FOR MONITORING OF DEVELOPMENTS AND APPLYING FURTHER
IMPROVEMENTS

PHASES

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PAY OFF THIS INVESTMENT?

ESTIMATED COST OF WORKS IS 10.740.000M

INVESTMENT CAN BE PAID OFF IN 10-15 YEARS ASSUMING 1 OR 2 NIGHT STAY PER
TOURIST RESPECTIVELLY

2 NIGHT STAY
15 YEARS

10 YEARS
COST
1 NIGHT STAY
EXISTING

IN SUMMARY, WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS

OF THE PROJECT?

SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC GAIN

PROJECT INVESTMENT PAID OFF IN 10-15
YEARS
REFURBISHMENT OF EXISTING HISTORIC
BUILDINGS
INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL
VIBRANT CITY, MORE TOURISTS, STUDENTS,
CRAFTSMEN..
HIGHEL LIVING STANDARD FOR POPULATION

JOB CREATION FOR POPILATION

CREATION OF MOMENTUM FOR FURTHER
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INCREASE IN POPULATION
BETTER EDUCATION
AWARENES FOR ART AND HISTORY
INTEGRATION WITH INTERNATIONAL
VISITORS
PROMOTION OF CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND
CUSTOMS