Eranda Janku - Urban & Spatial Planner Portfolio

ORCHID CITY

REINVENTING THE FUTURE OF LIVING

Read more on this project: https://orchidcity.eco/

Team Project with Except Integrated Sustainability

Role: Lead Urban Planner and Urban Designer (2021- ongoing)

THE CONTEXT

Orchid City is an own-project of Except Integrated Sustainability, developed by a team of sustainability researchers, architects, urban planners, engineers, and business developers, along with global partners.

The project recognizes the impact of cities on the environment and society, particularly their high consumption of energy and production of pollutants. To address these challenges, it is necessary to focus on improving urban development, neighborhood design, and human interaction within the built environment.

Orchid City aims to do precisely that by prioritizing not just the physical infrastructure but also the relationships and systems that operate within the city.

By doing so, the project can create more sustainable and livable urban environments that benefit everyone, especially vulnerable populations.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Orchid City is the world’s first futureproof and fully self-sustainable city blueprint. By utilizing a holistic and climate-adaptive vision, Orchid City solves many infrastructure and systemic challenges related to clean energy generation, waste management, food production, and housing affordability. The blueprint ensures that healthy and vibrant ecosystems directly benefit residents while also helping to strengthen regional economies and enhancing resilience to deal with the effects of climate change. Orchid City applies an integrated strategy to produce detailed systemic modeling and far-reaching improvements. It combines innovative solutions in agriculture, resource management, climate adaptation, and bio-based construction and manufacturing. One of the essential features of Orchid City is the integration and fostering of economic development and generational connectivity - a vital step in creating a vibrant and harmonious community. Strong social cohesion not only makes for

a nice place to live but provides financial and educational support for workshop centers, community services, and programs that produce positive cultures, small business development, and other innovative outcomes. The Orchid City blueprint supports various communities and is scalable in size, ranging from small towns of 500 inhabitants to larger settlements of 50,000+. The design is adaptable across multiple climates, locations, and cultures and can support all types of economic activity from low to high-tech industries. An Orchid City community can work within the confines and availability of a particular space, the ambitions of partners, and the unique local demands for such sustainable developments. Orchid City’s feasibility has been modeled for locations in Brazil, the Netherlands, and Vietnam and is extensible to any part of the world, in either urban or rural contexts. This universality reveals Orchid City’s adaptability and resilience to different environments, cultures, and economic situations.

built

on a scalable dynamic model

Orchid City Metabolic Map

The Orchid City blueprint can adapt across different scales, from a small neighborhood to a sizeable town, primarily driven by the availability of space, the community's population, and the budget and ambitions of partners.

Regenerative resource cycles ensure the city flourishes

500 inhabitants

Total land area: 175 ha

Built up area: 4.1 ha

Centers & satellites: 1

Self-sufficiency: 75%

Development costs: € 125 million

5,000 inhabitants

Total area: 1,840 ha

Built up area: 49 ha

Centers & satellites: 3-5

Self-sufficiency: 90%+

Development costs: € 1.400 million

Orchid City is built on a scalable dynamic model

15,000 inhabitants

Total area: 5,570 ha

Built up area: 140 ha

Centers & satellites: 5-8

Self-sufficiency: 95%+

Development costs: € 4.200 million

The Orchid City blueprint can adapt across different scales, from a small neighborhood to a sizeable town, primarily driven by the availability of space, the community’s population, and the budget and ambitions of partners.

Orchic City Vietnam, The Delta Sketch-masterplan and strategy

Located on Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, is Orchid City - The Delta. Flooding remains one of the most significant issues here and will worsen in the future. This blueprint enhances access to meaningful jobs, flood adaptation, and water management and purification. Mangroves and banks protect the waterfront, and canals guide water through the community toward productive rice terraces, food forests, and localized flood plains.

OC Vietnam has been planned to accommodate 5,000 residents within a total area of 1,474 hectares, of which only 21 hectares have been developed for buildings, while the rest is dedicated to diverse natural landscapes serving various purposes, including food production, flood management, and recreational activities.

The pages that follow depict various areas of OC Vietnam, highlighting the characteristics of both these environments.

Neighborhood on the Terraces

Cultivated terraces

elevated infrastructure

Houses in stilts

Aquatic habitat

Fishing pond

Orchard

Neighborhood in the Forest

Open air food market

High-tech agriculture

Floating market

Elevated land

Elevated houses

Food forest

OC Waterfront Downtown

Outdoor community spaces

Port and waterfront promenade

Mangroves

Green terraces

Food forest

The 1:500 masterplan on the right depicts features of the OC Waterfront Downtown.

MIDDELBURG SINT LAURENS

THE CREEK RIDGE THAT BLOOMS IN A REGENERATIVE WATER LANDSCAPE

Read more on this project: Sketch masterplan for a sustainable Sint Laurens

Team Project with Except Integrated Sustainability

Role: Lead Urban Planner and Urban Designer

Client: Middelburg Municipality

(2022, Middelburg, Netherlands)

THE CONTEXT

The Netherlands is facing challenges in expanding its housing stock in a future-proof manner - strategically, qualitatively, and sustainably. In collaboration with the municipality of Middelburg, we researched and designed an expansion plan for the village of Sint Laurens in Zeeland, which is challenged in terms of water management, facilities, and soil shrinkage.

This expansion improves the sustainability performance of the entire town in terms of groundwater, energy, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Other core factors are sustainable food production and an inclusive community. The Orchid City sustainable city framework was utilized to achieve this.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

In Sint Laurens’ expansion district ‘De Kreekrug bloeit’, residents will live amongst a regenerative landscape, offering a range of features to enhance recreation, food production, and access to fresh water. Additionally, it provides a place for an inclusive and active community, exchange, and education and ensures residents have access to all they need for a sustainable life.

Due to the high salinity of the groundwater, freshwater is scarce in the province of Middelburg. However, Sint Laurens has access to a pocket of freshwater that sits atop saline groundwater, making localized regenerative food production possible. The village will collect rainwater in wadis and rainwater buffers for irrigation, ensuring a climate-adaptive village and sufficient freshwater availability for food production.

The east side of the village has polluted soils, limiting the possibility for open field agriculture but providing a ridge for traffic sound deadening and space for biological greenhouses and helophyte filters. In addition, constructed wetlands nearby will filter organic material, nutrients, and heavy metals from the brackish water.

When assessing from a systemic perspective, material flows are closed by applying existing technologies in a productive landscape. The freshwater storage in the creek ridge is absolutely crucial. This nature function enables local agriculture, providing food and compost. PVT panels and a biomass reactor provide the village with renewable energy and heat. Compost and wastewater close the flows through reuse with bioreactors and helophyte filters and actively improve soil quality.

100% productie groente en fruit

120% voorziening energie & warmte open community

The district located on Noordweg offers a unique blend of energy production, community facilities, and regenerative nature. The plan is designed in such a way that these three aspects of the district are organically intertwined, creating a harmonious and sustainable living space for residents. The community facilities and vegetable gardens are situated along the winding connecting road, which is surrounded by homes that are seamlessly integrated into the food and water landscape. The biogas installation and greenhouses are carefully sheltered from the ecological zone, where new water habitats are being created. The result is a district that not only generates its own energy but also provides ample opportunities for communal living and a thriving ecosystem.

voor duurzame stedenbouw, gebruikt. Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie – Voucherregeling Ruimtelijk Ontwerp > Duurzame economie en ruimte

De kreekrug bloeit in een regeneratief waterlandschap - Except Integrated Sustainability - Gemeente Middelburg

CLIMATE ADAPTIVE URBAN GARDEN

Team Project with Except Integrated Sustainability

Role: Lead Urban Planner and Urban Designer

Client: Roosendaal Municipality (2021, Roosendaal, Netherlands)

A TRANFORMATION IN THE CENTER OF ROOSENDAAL

Read more on this project: Roosendaal Climate Adaptive Urban Garden

THE CONTEXT

Van Hasselt’s Urban Garden is a transformation of an inner-city parking lot into a climate-adaptive and biodiverse urban garden.

Designed in collaboration with the municipality of Roosendaal, the garden retains rainwater and reduces the urban heat island effect. The Urban Garden contributes to an attractive urban environment that invites users to interact with and learn about cultural history, urban ecology, and our changing climate. The increase in patronage also contributes to the area’s vibrancy and safety.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The innovation and true value of the park lie in the combination of unique and practical features: the water retention landscape and the urban green, the wide selection of diverse and edible plant life, and a compact yet comfortable and inspiring outdoor space that invites

social connectivity, education, and entertainment. Additionally, the parks utilize recycled and accessible maintenance-free materials, lowering embedded energy and, when paired with the climate adaptive features, allowing the park to more naturally evolve, like a natural landscape, but also to be modified for new uses over time.

The design of the park includes a central wadi that collects runoff from the surrounding neighborhood’s roofs and can store over 1000m3 of rainwater, creating a temporary reservoir after heavy rain that reduces water management burden and flood risk. The integrated approach also transforms the former paved area by creating an urban garden that reduces heat island effect, offers a place to observe the effects of changing weather and climate, and provides changing experiences throughout the year for park users. The park has no integrated lights to preserve darkness and reduce

light pollution, benefiting the wildlife, and is divided into four zones with diverse vegetation, including an herb garden and a food forest area with over 25 edible plants used by the restaurant for cooking and as tea. The garden is designed for education on urban ecology, climate, and water cycles and management, with sufficient seating areas and small amphitheaters for outdoor classes and performances, and also serves as a vital green oasis in the historical Roosendaal city center and facilitates a range of cultural events and exhibitions through the right infrastructure.

Lastly, the landscape design of the park aims to support wellbeing by offering varied spaces for rest, relaxation, socializing, learning, and play, highlighting seasonal and weather-related changes to create awareness of environmental change and provide an attractive and interesting place to visit all year round.

PLANKAART VOORLOPIG ONTWERP

LEGENDA

Halfverharding, gebonden, kleur beige- oker geel

Gebakken bestrating, halfsteensverband,

KOETSHUISTUIN

Sokkel

bestrating (bestaand)

Van

Hasslet’s awarded 2nd place by Green Cities Europe 2022

boom Suggestie nieuwe boom

prefeb beton elementen, donkergrijs

hard hout, b 16o cm

Padverlichting

Ent ees en omheining

E1 Ent ee Nieuwst aat

E2 Ent ee Molenst aat ongerloohuys

E3 Ent ee Uitrit vanuit oetshuistuin

E4 Ent ee Molenst aat oetshuistuin (valt buiten o g ve)

Cultu ele inrichting

C1 De G oen abriek

C2 Sok els

C3 Theekoepeltje (bestaand)

Zitplek en Z1 Zitplekken aan wadi, De kring

Z2 Zitplekken aan wadi on erlootuin

Z3 Z4 Zitmuurtjes

Paden, vlonderpad en duiker

V1 Vlonderpad, De ster

V2 Vlonderpad, eek oetshuistuin

Wate elementen

W1 Dui er Tongerlo g acht naar wadi

W2 Dui er wadi

W3 Waterpeil -

At the end of 2022 the design of Van Hasslet’s Urban Garden received 2nd place in the Dutch round of the international Green Cities Europe Award 2022.

THE YSY BUILDING

Team Project with Except Integrated Sustainability

Role: Sustainability Consultant and Designer

Client: Mitsubishi Estate Co. and Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc. (2020 - ongoing, Tokyo, Japan)

THE CONTEXT

Our world faces various transnational and trans-institutional challenges that require human determination, cooperation, and innovation to achieve sustainable development goals, and this project aims to push the awareness, ambition, and engagement of Japanese society forward through an ambitious sustainable building, its transformational program, and its community of change.

The process is threefold, including consulting the client on the building’s design, a learning trajectory on sustainability for the client, and the creation of YMCo, a sustainability community.

The YSY project consists of two interconnected buildings: the Y, a 6-floor hotel and arts center, and the SY, a 36-floor office building where YMCo occupies 3 floors. Construction starts in 2023 and is expected to finish in 2027.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The goal of the YSY building, on a system level, is to yield a considerable contribution to the sustainability of Yurakucho, Tokyo, and Japan. This means that the building will enhance the resilience, autonomy, and harmony of its surroundings. The YSY building is a pioneer and a catalyst for sustainable change in Japan, while its program and the YSY Community contribute to learning, collaboration, and innovation. Descending to the object level, where the building directly impacts nature, people, and the community.

The core concept of the YSY building is that of a transformative entity beyond its building. This transformation takes place along several dimensions. The building, which is a resilient disaster relief shelter for the Marunouchi area, serves as an essential resource provider for energy and water.

Water, being one of the biggest challenges for Tokyo in the future, is particularly crucial. Additionally, the building offers a transformational experience for visitors, while being an inspiring transformer of the Japanese sustainability community and a green/blue transformer for the area and biodiversity booster. The YSY building aims to contribute to systemic sustainability. This means that this takes into account sustainable solutions in the fields of energy and materials, but also pays attention to ecosystems and species, economy and culture, and health and happiness.

Lastly, YMCo is a community that fosters innovation and sustainability, connecting bright minds to build a better future. It supports and shapes changemakers with a network of worldclass pioneers in sustainability, creating value beyond finance.

Strategy and programmatic elements for the Water and Energy Systems

To achieve 80% water self-sufficiency the YSY relies on water saving, water harvesting and water recycling. In addition, the YSY has high energy-saving goals and low material impacts, aiming to achieve up to 70% reduction in energy use.

YSY as an asset for Yurakucho and a Community Catalyst

The YSY’s transformation holds the power to ignite a massive positive change to its neighbourhood and district, transforming into a community catalyst, which presents a series of values and benefits produced by it: Water & Energy Hub (Generates energy and can provide back to the neighborhood grid. Water circularity through conscious use and natural filtration systems); Essential Daily Services & Cultural Hub (Generates inspiration for people working and visiting Yurakucho. Connects and encourages cross-generational interactions); Emergency Shelter (Provides place of refuge and protection in Yurakucho. Offers a space to seek emergency shelter for up to 72 hours); Biodiversity Booster (Ecosystems of the YSY building stimulate the biodiversity of Yurakucho).

YSY Integrated Metabolic Map and Water System

The Green Arcade

Creates space for internal and external ecosystems to merge and flourish. Provides recreation and showcases buildings features. Offers access to foot bridges to connect the YSY.

The

Green Steps

Provides users with a joyful and immersive experience. Encourage pedestrians to observe and interact with the YSY. Enhances the buildings ecologicallydriven design.

YSY Design Projects

The SY Lobby

Offers an outdoor space in a traditionally enclosed area. Reveals the water purification and phytoremediation systems Inspires users and spurs innovation.

The Y Rooftop Showcases rainwater gardens and ponds, greenhouses. Provides recreation and educational experiences. Offers an attractive location for a restaurant/canteen. Provides easy access to the SY via pedestrian bridge.

The above four main design projects aim to improve YSY's green footprint from 3,244m2 (planned initially by the client) to a total of 7,301m2 of green areas, resulting in a 125% increase. These spaces provide ecosystem services for the neighborhood, help boost local biodiversity, reduce CO2 emissions by 1.58%, decrease stormwater runoff by 30% in the worst-case scenario, and have a total water retention capacity of 1,198m3. Additionally, they remove approximately 96kg of fine particulates from the atmosphere, provide local food production, and offer spaces for the community to interact.

Albania 2030 MANIFESTO

Read more on this project: Albania 2030 Manifesto

Individual Project Role: Urban and Spatial Planner

Own Research / MSc Thesis followed by work experience (2014 , Tirana, Albania)

THE CONTEXT

For a very long time, one of the biggest challenges for Albania has been the consideration of territorial planning as a management tool for controlling and facilitating development, in order to achieve territorial, social and economic cohesion. The transition from a centrally planned economy, where everything was controlled by the government, towards decentralization and market economy caused many consequences, among which uncontrolled and fragmented urban development, loss of agricultural land due to urbanization, sprawling and informality, and massive abandonment of the eastern periphery of the country. Nevertheless, starting from 2006 the efforts for strengthening the role of territorial planning in Albania have been intensified due to development needs, but also due to the requirements for the EU integration. One of the most important steps has been the reformation of the planning system and the transition from regulatory planning to a more pro-active planning process for the territorial development.

PRINCIPLES for a tailor-made spatial planning methodology

Regions and Regional Development

Polycentrism and Growth Poles

Development Corridosrs and Free Economic Areas

Natural Potentials and Green Corridors

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Inspired by these dynamics, and given that spatial planning at a national scale had never been practiced before, this research project developed a methodology for spatial planning, specifically tailored to the Albanian planning context.

The methodology is based on a set of principles, including regionalism and regional development, polycentrism and growth poles, development corridors and free economic areas, as well as the natural potentials and green corridors. “Albania 2030” therefore, is a national spatial development strategy, which puts in practice this methodology.

FOLLOWING UPDATES

A year after, in 2015 the Albanian planning authorities adopted this methodology in what has been coined as “Shqipëria 2030”, the official National Spatial Plan for Albania. Following this document, three other sectorial planning documents were developed, aimed at the Albanian Coast, the Economic Corridor between Durrës and Tirana, and the Touristic Alpes Region of Northern Albania. In 2016 a Territorial Reform took place, re-organizing the Albanian territory from 373 local development units (of urban, or rural character), in 61 local development units (of mixed urban and rural characters).

CORRIDORVIII

CORRIDORVIII

POLYCENTRISM AND GROWTH POLES

Based on the proximity within functional economic areas, there can be seen 6 main polarities, which go around: Shkodra, Kukës, Tirana, Korça, Vlora and Gjirokastra.

Referring to polycentric analysis and to the outline of the 6 main growth poles, with the exception of Tirana, which is developed on an annular system, the 5 other centers are developed on a radial system, connecting to the main core city.

When these analysis’ are confronted with the cross-border areas, 8 additonal polycentric cross-border regions are identified, from which 5 of annular spatial morphology: Shkodra lake region, Gjakova region, Ohrid lake region, the Adriatic region and the Ionian Region; and 3 of linear spatial morphology: Vermosh-PlavaGucinje, Peshkopi-Dibra and Leskovik- Konitsa.

CORRIDORVIII

Development Corridors and Free Economic Areas (above on the left)

Albania 2030 Spatial Development Vision (below on the left)

Pan-European Corridors - south east Europe (above on the right) European Strategy, Corridor X (below on the right)

Conceptual Reading of Strategic Radial Roads (below on the right)

REACTIVE RIVIERA

Team project with MetroPOLIS

Role: Spatial Planner and Urban Designer International Design Competition (2015 , Tirana, Albania)

THE CONTEXT

The transition from a centrally planned economy, where everything was controlled by the government, towards decentralization and market economy, has been one of the biggest challenges for Albania.

Failing at considering territorial planning as a management tool and policy for controlling development, informality and fragmented urbanization have led to the overexploitation of centrally located areas, majorly manifested on the western coastal lowland, where most of the economic resources and potentials are located. With a coastline of 476 km, tourism has been considered one of the main sectors of the local economy, with a total contribution of 6% in the total GDP, which considering other indirect contributors reaches up to 20%. Lack of planning and control over this strip of land, also considered as a “strategic corridor”, has led to unsustainable models, which are suffering today not only the consequences of overexploitation of resources and irreversible potentials, but also the direct exposure to the impact of climate change.

Given this context, the OMB Observatory of Mediterranean Basin and POLIS University have done a series of research work and studies, aiming to understand the role of planning in not only guiding and controlling development, but also on mitigating the negative impact inherited over the years. On these terms, the case of the Albanian Riviera has been used as a research laboratory, providing specific and concrete examples on how the bottom up approach, participatory planning and comprehensive development models, can promote responsible behaviours in benefiting from local potentials

for an integrated social, economic and territorial development.

“Reactive Riviera” is the outcome of the collaboration between the two studios, Metropolis (AL) and Sealine (IT) on the framework of “Riviera International Competition” organized by AKPT (National Agency for Territorial Development) and the Ministry of Urban Development, in 2014. The aim of the design competition was to bring up ideas and concepts about the regeneration of the local economy based in tourism development, and improvement of the quality of public spaces.

Read more on this project: Riviera International Competition

Regional Vision (left) Strategic Connections Infrastructural Network (right) Riviera in the Region / The series of Networks.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The concept behind the “Reactive Riviera” is grounded on the belief that tourism is the most important source for Riviera, to safeguard the growth and improve its environmental and cultural heritage (i.e. mountain and coastal landscapes, villages and local communities, traditions and identities). Tourism and public aesthetics have the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to

its valorization and conservation. They can act as instruments to raise awareness of environmental values and tools to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance.

Following this, “sustainable”, “ethical” and “local” become three keywords that drive the project.

By examining environmental sustainability (in terms of environmental conditions, potential

risks and potential impacts produced), social sustainability (in terms of community resilience, local traditions, potential involvement and participation of inhabitants in the changes and growth), and financial sustainability (in terms of compatibility and balance between investors’ expectation and community needs, rights and participation), two sets of components were identified: the primary components (territorial

resources of historical, landscape and environmental character, which make the area to be considered a “tourist destination”), and the secondary components (the services, infrastructure and functions) designed to satisfy the tourist demand.

The efficiency of each individual component and their relationships determine the success and attractiveness of the territory from

the tourist perspective. The key factor however, remains in the fact that all the components are able to engage with the local community. Therefore, the project aims at boosting accessibility through an integrated and multifaceted infrastructural network, connecting Riviera with the rest of the country and the adjacent cross-border area as well. Using this network, a series of hubs of different characters (settlements, landscape or historical sites, economic areas

etc.) were identified and reactivated, based on a whole – year activity program, extending the use and economic benefit of the whole Riviera, beyond just the summer season, and by exploring and promoting incremental public –private partnerships.

Riviera’s Tourism Agenda (above) Defining the Networks and the activities within each of them.

Dhermi Network Beach and Promenade (image 1 below) Masterplan (image 2 below)

Harbour and Lighthouse

Promenade and Pier Urban Park and Steps

Himara Network Harbour Upgrading Strategy (image 1/2 below) Key Actions in Sequences (image 3/5 below)

A PARK TO BELIEVE IN

Read more on this project:

Team Project with Felixx Landscape Architecture

Role: Urban Planner and Designer International Design Competition (2015, Tirana, Albania)

THE CONTEXT

“A Park to Believe In” is the outcome of the collaboration between POLIS University and Felixx (NL), a landscape architecture partner studio, on the framework of the “Park of Faith” International Design Competition. The competition was organized by the National Territorial Planning Agency (AKPT), the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Culture, and it was inspired by the noblest of religious harmony value, that Albanians share with others and the world, focusing on the open public spaces along the so – called “Martyrs of the Nation” Boulevard in the capital, Tirana.

The main purpose of the competition was to receive design proposals that would transform the linear open spaces of the boulevard, as well as other pockets of green spaces, into landscape representations of the noblest cultural values that Albanians share through faith, which is not only related to religious harmony, but harmony in general, as well. This was considered to be a unique opportunity to improve the city central public spaces through landscape design actions that seek spiritual comfort and contemplation.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Tensions among religions, and between religions and society, are from all times and not only far away, but also in the close enviromentns. Currently Albania seems to be an exception within this field, where different religions peacefully coexist and are harmoniously embedded in the society. But this coexistence is a delicate and fragile condition, and even in Albania there are small signs of tensions. Therefore the proposal aims to not fuel religion as an individual aspect of society, but rather subvert the peculiar character of coexistence in Albania, by cherishing the current embedding of religions in the Albanian society and safeguarding their mutual coexistence and interconnection with educational, cultural and social functions in the future.

Having said that, the boulevard is seen as a collective space which shouldn’t just symbolise and collect achievements of the past, nor should it become a space exclusively dedicated to historical celebration, and nor should it become a sheer celebration of the existing coexistence, at the risk of being soon a remembrance of the past. It should instead develop an inspiring perspective on how to capitalize all current dynamics and energy and embed coexistence in the city of the future. Instead of a park of believes, the proposal sees the boulevard as a park to believe in! To believe in the future. To believe in Albania, because that’s what Albanians do.

Therefore the design strategy looks to the future also in relation to fundamental issues that are currently at the centre of important discussions concerning cities’ sustainable development.

From this perspective, the Park, object of the competition becomes an occasion to address global urbanization issues regarding water, health, mobility, energy and waste. Landscapes can sustain and regenerate ecosystem services (benefits provided by natural ecological processes, like air cooling and filtration, water management etc.) while offering spaces for social interaction education and leisure activities (psychological wellbeing).

Starting from its historical core, Tirana can become the example of a

sustainable city where landscape’s resiliency guarantees a healthy and aesthetically pleasing environment.

• The parks become green and blue engines, integrating all measures to climate proof the city and transform it into a healthy place.

• The Boulevard axis and related parks serve as a platform for society, allowing for the celebration of past, current and future heroes.

• Moreover they become the infrastructural engine of the city, establishing pedestrian and bike networks, becoming the connector of a future public transport system. Lastly, the scale of the project requires an integrated process, involving different parties.

Therefore, the project is set up as a masterplan, consisting of independent projects and frameworks on different scales, where each project requires collaboration with specific stakeholders. They can be developed separately and/ or phased, but they share one ambition: creating the “park of the future” in Tirana.

NO GRAND PLAN

Instead a masterplan, consisting of independent projects and frameworks on different scales, where each project can be developed separately or in phases.

PROJETCS:

1. The Opera Gardens

2. The Green Campus

3. The Urban Beach Park

4. Lana River Park

5. The Platform for the Future

6. Neighbourhood Parks

7. The Gateway to the Parks

HYDRO RESPONSIVE

Read more on this project: Projecting Shkodra

Individual Project

Role: Spatial and Urban Planner

Own Research on the framework of the PhD studies

In collaboration with the Municipality of Shkodra (2016, Shkodra, Albania)

THE CONTEXT

Hydro Response takes place in the Municipality of Shkodra, in North of Albania. The project was developed on the framework of a “doctoral research lab” between POLIS University and Ferrara University in Italy, following the work done by POLIS and Arizona State University, on developing the General Local Plan of the Municipality of Shkodra.

The research lab worked with the concept of “operative fragments”, dealing with strategic areas within Shkodra, where “water” was picked as a main argument to deal with on a territorial scale. The series of project proposals was then introduced and offered to the local authorities.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

With pressure coming from an uncontrolled urbanization process, which in most of the cases has been unplanned and compromising natural potentials, and with little awareness regarding the importance of understanding and respecting the natural features beyond just individual interests, the case of flooding in Shkodra makes for a perfect example, on how an ecosystem can react when reaching a critical point of change, which affects its ability to regenerate. Managing a healthy relationship between urban-ruraland natural is very important, and given the constant flooding challenges that Shkodra faces with

every year, learning how to manage and live with water, becomes the key to increasing the resilience of the whole regional ecosystem. This project tries to analyze the case of flooding in Shkodra, by understanding first the natural and artificial processes happening, and then coming in practice with a series of proposals of landscape interventions, aiming to improve ecosystem resilience. The confluence of Buna, Kiri and Drini River, and the surrounding agricultural and urban environment become subject of illustration, previewing how on different emergency scenarios, the whole ecosystem can adapt and sustain itself.

Pattern Analysis of the Confluences of the three Rivers (a) Urban Fabric vs Agriculture Land and Flowing Channels and (b) Flooding Events

General Strategy: Interventions introduced within the confluence area of the three rivers. Approach: Increasing ecosystem resilience through landscape interventions.

Dealing with water, which plays a pivotal role for the life on Earth, means being aware and considering that it is not a solitary source, but it’s made of more complex and interrelated systems that affect anything and everything. Therefore, nowadays threats to water resources are multiplied by global climate change, which reflect back to our urban and natural lands with severe impacts, among which flooding being one of the most active events. But flooding can only be as dangerous if not understood, anticipated, and prepared for. Preparing for flooding means “understanding the structural elements and functional properties of the ecosystem development, in order to lessen environmental stresses, which disturb the balance of water on a watershed area” (Watson. D.; Adams. M., 2011)*.

*Watson. D.; Adams.M. (2011), “Design for Flooding: Architecture, Landscape, and Urban Design for Resilience to Climate Change”; Printed by Wiley, John Wiley and Sons, USA.

Smaller Flooding Events in Nenshkodra and near Buna River Extreme Flooding Event in Shkodra Region 1 Smaller Flooding Event near Buna River

UNHITCHING THE COMPLEXITY OF THE URBAN-RURAL DIFFUSION

THE CASE OF GUIMARAES IN THE SUB-REGION OF MEDIO AVE

Individual Project Role: Researcher and Spatial Planner Own Research, Minho University (2018, Guimaraes, Portugal)

CULTURAL TRAITS:

- P o ound sense of ownership; - Esta e settlemen compli ations; - Gene al cepticism ega ding associativism;

“PLURAC TIVIT Y” EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS

THE CONTEXT

Located in the Northern Region of Portugal, Medio Ave encompasses the area along the River Ave and constitutes of the municipalities of Guimarães, Famalicão, Santo Tirso, Trofa and Vizela. With a population of nearly 113,960 inhabitants living in these cities, and almost 234,198 inhabitants living in “between these cities”, the sub – region is characterized by a diffused territorial model, which incorporates both the urban and rural realms into a very particular spatial model.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Being an integral part of this diffusion, Guimararães represents an interesting case, where different patterns overlay and constitute a continuous sub-urbanized model, which takes life by the emergence of urban and rural into a continuum of settlements, economic activities and natural potentials.

Morphologically, there are two main models that constitute the urban territory: (1) the compact, and (2) the diffused model, which is the object of this research project.

Three main arguments have been identified as the backbone on which the diffused territorial model is based on: (a) the impact of the geographical features (topographic and hydrographic features as attractors); (b) the impact of the road infrastructural system (development follows the road infrastructure); and (c) the impact of the employment patterns (pluriactivity as a main feature, represented by the overlaying of different social, economic and environmental patterns).

URBAN DESIGN ISSUES: - Settlemen dispersion; - Road network densi y

ECONOMIC ISSUES: - Imbalan ed plu activi y sys em;

DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURAL POLICIES INVOLVING LAND ASSEMBLY OR COLLECTIVE FARMING

THE DIFUSSED SPATIAL MODEL CREATED BY THESE EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS

BETTER AND EASIER ACCESS BETWEEN: AL THOUGH SERVICES ARE NOT C OSE AND CONCENTRATED ALONG THE NATIONAL ROADS

FRAGMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND

FARM ANDS / AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIAL AREAS MALL INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRICES OAD-WA S

AGRICULTURAL LAND HOUSING + AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIAL AGGLOMERATION RIVER GREEN-HOUSES PARK CIT Y CENTER HOUSING

ORINGINAL IN-SITU WATER SYSTEM BUILT BY PEOPLE

- household and agricultural use;

- sustainable

- natural water is kept clean

NEW WATER SYSTEM PROVIDED BY THE CIT Y

- household use

- less care or keeping natural water clean

- bad wa er qualit y for agricultural use

- more expensive

Hydrology System

The relation with the built environment (image above)

Topographic Elevations

The diffusion of different uses (image 1 on the left)

Water System

The differences between the in-sity and the new water systems (image 2 on the left)

Given the 3 main indicators identified as the driving mechanism of the diffusion in the Medio Ave territory [the impact of (a) the infrastructural system; (b) the employment patterns; (c) the geographical features], an analysis on the spatial dynamics and features of this territorial diffusion of urban and rural character, was developed. In the Medio Ave region the roads play a major role in guiding development in spatial terms, so the N206 road was taken as a reference, from the centre of the city, until the end of the municipal border. The analysis investigates on the way this road has impacted (a) the sprawling of settlements (and their respective typologies); (b) the agglomeration and clustering of industries; and (c) the development of agriculture as a main economy as well, identifying 4 main typologies and scales of practising. The configuration of all these overlaid patterns of different uses is what portrays the spatial character of the territorial diffusion, taking life by the proximity of the different parts.

Determined by the topographic and hydrographic components, the territory is prone to provide room for different uses. With Ave River crossing in the middle of the municipality, and with a very rich hydrographic network, the area provides good conditions for agriculture to take place, although recently with industry taking over, agriculture has become a second employment sector. Less environmental attention has also contributed to more water pollution, which has decreased the quality of soil and its productive traits. Land fragmentation has also made the development of economy based on agriculture less efficient.

On the other hand, the assembling of land on bigger and more productive farms has been challenged by cultural traits (profound sense of ownership, estate settlement complications, general skepticism regarding

associativism), urban design (settlement dispersion, road network density), as well as economic features (imbalanced pluractivity system).

Nevertheless, agriculture still represents a major part of the network, and there are identified 4 main scales on which agriculture is vastly practiced:

1. Agriculture land with little or no other uses – typically the biggest continuous agricultural plots.

2. Agricultural land mixed with housing – typically fragmentized plots mixed with housing, various industries and road infrastructure.

3. Agricultural activity within the plot of individual rural housing – typically developed on a front or back yard.

4. Urban agriculture, which is a new practice that gives the opportunity to own a small limited agricultural plot to

anyone who doesn’t own any. Road infrastructure system, water system and alteration in crops were identified as three main components that fragmentize further the plots within each category.

A series of agglomerations and clustering of different industrial activities, mainly on textile, footwear, cutlery and wine production, are located along the main infrastructural network. The industry sector acts as a prime employment source, where most of the local population earns for the household. The vicinity to the main road infrastructure is interpreted as strategic positioning for easier and better access, and the combination with agricultural land on their surrounding is connected to the “pluractivity” system, in which people work in industry, as well as in agriculture.

Unhitching the complexity of the Urban-Rural Diffusion Elevation Samples, illustrating the urban - rural continuum and how different uses meet.

HANZHENG DISTRICT AND RIVERSIDE DESIGN CHARETTE

WUHAN PLACEMAKING WEEK

2018

Read more on this project: Wuhan PLacemaking Week

Team Project

Role: International Spatial Planning Expert ISOCARP, UPAT member (2018, Wuhan, China)

THE CONTEXT

Organized by ISOCARP (International Society of City and Regional Planners), UN Habitat, PPS Project for Public Spaces and Wuhan Land Use and Spatial Planning Research Center, Wuhan Placemaking Week convened placemakers of all backgrounds and nationalities to re-imagine the future of Chinese cities.

With a population of 10.61 million, Wuhan is a commercial center divided by the Yangtze and Han rivers, and is considered to be the sprawling capital of Central China’s Hubei province. Chinese cities like Wuhan are growing at an unprecedented rate, so it’s time to lay the foundation for these cities

to be shaped around better public spaces for all. Sharing knowledge about how placemaking can be applied to the unique context of growing Chinese cities is the first step towards adaptable, engaging public spaces. On this context, two main activities took place during the Wuhan Placemaking Week, a Design Charette aimed at the New Hanzheng Riverside Avenue, and an international conference organized in 4 main tracks. During the 4 days Design Charette an international UPAT worked together with the Wuhan Land Use and Spatial Planning Research Center in order to identify a strategy for the development of the New Hanzheng Riverside Avenue.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

In the Hankou area, the Design Charette team identified three strategic interventions, which would ground balanced development:

1. Improve Mobility

2. Support New Creative Economies

3. Establish Waterfront as a Place for Everyone

While some measures like introducing traffic filters, or traffic sectors, had a narrower purpose, others like reimagining the Quingchuan ‘Rainbow’ Bridge as a green link across the Han River had complex objectives in terms of urban mobility, spatial connectivity, local identity and landmarking for the district.

NP (New Port)

SI-I (Steel and Iron Industry)

AS-I (Aerospace Industry)

Water Ecosystem

AS-I (Aerospace Industry)

L-I (Logitic Industry)

HT-I (High Tech Industry)

Landmarks

Bigger Clusterings

L-I (Logitic Industry)

M-I

a network

(Mobile Industry)

1- Located at the confluence Hanjiang and Yangtze rivers

2- A link between the inner city and the wider blue-green structure of the Wuhan metropolitan area.

3- In the historic core of Hankou part of Wuhan.

4- Connected to the industrial/production/high-education districts of the Wuhan Metropolitan area.

GET A GOOD GRIP ON TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS IN THE HANZHENG DISTRICT

ENGAGE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE URBAN RENEWAL EFFORTS

MAKE BOTH RIVERS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HANZHENG DISTRICT

PROCEED TOWARDS BALANCED DEVELOPMENT

Situation now:

- Shortcuts through the area attract through-traffic.

- Through-traffic takes in 80% of the space (with only 20% in modal split).

How to improve?

- Make Hanzheng District a destination and avoid being used as a shortcut for freight and passenger vehicles.

- Prioritize public transport combined with cycling and walking.

Waterfront Insfrastructure - More than Mobility (before image 1 / after - image 2)

OPTION 1

TRAFFIC FILTERS (capacity or speed reduction)

OPTION 2 TRAFFIC SECTORS

1. BALANCED DEVELOPMENT: IMPROVE MOBILITY

Some parts of the Hanzheng district need to be preserved, some parts need to be redeveloped

2. HANZHENG DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES

3. WUHAN CENTRAL RIVER PARK

THE GENERAL LOCAL PLAN OF DROPULL

THE CONTEXT

The Municipality of Dropull is located in the South–Eastern cross border area between Albania and Greece. With a surface of 467km2, Dropull is organized in 3 sub-units (Dropull i Sipërm, Dropull i Poshtëm and Pogon), and it’s home to nearly 7,128 inhabitants of Albanian and Greek minorities.

With a total of 41 villages, the Municipality of Dropull doesn’t have an urban center, but its inhabitants and economic activities are distributed among the different villages. With very rich landscape potentials, and divided in two main parts - along the valley of Drinos River and in the mountains of Nëmërçka and Bureto - Dropull is characterized by diverse landscape typologies, is rich in cultural heritage, and its economy is mainly based on agricultural and farming activities.

On the other hand, some of the biggest business districts in the country are located and operate along the main national road, which passes right through it. Nevertheless, depopulation due to migration is one of the main challenges for the Municipality of Dropull, threatening both its existence and the decaying of its various manmade artifacts, but also natural potentials.

Team Project with POLIS University

Client: Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and the Municipality of Dropull, Albania

Role: Project Manager and Spatial Planning Expert (2019, Dropull, Albania)

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Given the rural character and the potentials that come with it, the lack of integrated development and reference landmarks (either in economic terms, administrative, or historical), the main Strategic Objective of the General Local Plan considers Dropull as a “linear network” with five main centers, which are developed in five of the main villages with distinct characteristics and development potentials. Such potentials could be used as energizers for the development of the surrounding areas (other villages, or natural sites).

The concept behind the “linear network” also reads Dropull as a link between the two main regional hubs, Gjirokastra (Albania) and Ioannina (Greece), aiming to transform Dropull, from mere transitioning area between two main cities, into a complementary node, which uses all its local potentials and regional competitiveness to develop as a whole, rather than concentrating development strategies and investment exclusively in one single area.

The Spatial Development Concept of Dropull in the Crossborder Macro-Region “Dropull as a strategic gate and a hub of rural development”

The Municipality of Dropull is seen as a hub of rural development, located between the two main regional centers of Gjirokastra (Albania) and Ioannina (Greece), and the Albanian Riviera. The main economic drive of the area is based on agriculture, farming, tourism and industry, which build upon the main local produce and integrate the local population in an integrated slow development network.

Dropull uses the potential of the crossborder macro-region in terms of infrastructure, economic activities, and flows of people, complementing the two main regional centers and the Ionian coast, by offering space and resources for a series of activities of rural character. Given the strategic location on the crossborder area with Greece, Dropull has the potential to play a pivotal role in providing space and opportunities for common events, which can be translated into capacity growth and economic gain for both regions.

Providing employment opportunities, better living conditions and a stronger sense of community are considered as tactics for a more prosperous environment, in order to stop out-migration and make the local population stay and integrate within Dropull and its surroundings.

Përgjatë rrugës kryesore

TIPOLOGJITË HAPËSINORE TERRITORIALE

Përgjatë rrugës kryesore

I zhvedosur nga rruga kryesore

TIPOLOGJITË HAPËSINORE TË VENDBANIMEVE

E degëzuar 1.

Organike 9.

E tarracuar rrezore 16.

I zhvedosur nga rruga kryesore

Larg nga rruga kryesore

Larg nga rruga kryesore

I zhvedosur nga rruga kryesore

I ndarë në dy njësi më vete

Spatial Typology Analysis

I zhvedosur nga rruga kryesore

Larg nga rruga kryesore

Lineare 2.

Organike e qendërsuar 10.

Satelitore e rrjetëzuar 17.

Lineare e tarracuar 3.

Organike e degëzuar 11.

Satelitore e shpërhapur 18.

Lineare organike 4.

Larg nga rruga kryesore

I zhvedosur nga rruga kryesore ndarë në dy njësi më vete

Lineare e rrjetëzuar 5.

E tarracuar 12.

Satelitore organike 19.

Lineare satelitore 6.

E tarracuar me degëzime 13.

Rrezore 20.

E tarracuar organike 14.

Rrezore organike 21.

I zhvedosur nga rruga kryesore ndarë në dy njësi më vete

Territorial Spatial Typologies, which describe the relation of each village with the surrounding territory (A to D).

Settlement Spatial Typologies, which describe the spatial structure of the settlement patterns on each village (1 to 22).

Lineare e degëzuar 7.

E rrjetëzuar 8.

E tarracuar satelitore 15.

Rrezore e degëzuar 22.

I zhvedosur nga rruga kryesore

I ndarë në dy njësi më vete

Thematic Maps

Habitat and Landscape Protection - Environmental Risk Management (image above)

Dropulli 2031 Spatial Development Vision (image on the right)

VIZIONI ZHVILLIMIT HAPËSINOR

POLIÇAN

MALOR / AGROTURIZËM TURIZËM RELIGJION BIMË MEDICINALE

GJIROKASTËR

POLI DERVICIAN

PORTË HYRËSË / SHËRBIME TURIZËM RELIGJIOZ AGROTURIZËM BUJQËSI

POLI SOFRATIKË

ARKEOLOGJI BUJQËSI TURIZËM RELIGJION/ AGROTURIZËM

SARANDË

POLI JORGUCAT

ADMINISTRATË BUJQËSI QENDËR MULTIMODALE AGROTURIZËM INDUSTRI PËRPUNUESE

LIVADHJA/ SARANDË

PORTË HYRËSE SHËRBIME KËRKIM / BUJQËSI

KASTANIANI / IGOUMENITSA