Plan directeur Tirana 2030 Riverside, Tirana, Albania

The vision for the future of Tirana from now until 2030 (TR030 General local plan) has been deisgned by Stefano Boeri Architetti together with SON-Group, in collaboration with Mobility In Chain, Studio Laura Gatti, Sce project, Esa engineering and Transsolar.

This collaboration has led to the construction of the first neighbourhood in Europe designed to respond simultaneously to three challenges: Climate change – all sustainability requirements; housing emergency post-earthquake – response to the emergency of 26 November 2019 and Pandemic (COVID19) – new needs of the post pandemic phase.

In the new developed area, near the River Tirana, in the northern part of the city of Tirana, ideas are developed for a new affordable district, where the mix of cultures, different population group as well as different economic conditions takes its place.

The 29 hectares of Tirana Riverside offer new housing solutions to residents – for 12 thousand people – and are developed along a green and innovative central spine dedicated to soft mobility, where the commercial ground floors prevail, access to residential, sports and work spaces and numerous outdoor areas, emphasizing the total accessibility to all areas of the neighborhood.

A strong attention was paid to public and domestic greenery, distributed in the common areas, on vertical surfaces and roofs, considered as living spaces able to accommodate many plant species, areas dedicated to coworking and delivery of goods, sports and leisure facilities, roof gardens and pedestrian bridges. Furthermore, the forestation of the district is planned: 11.500 trees (1 for each inhabitant of the area) with a green surface per person of 13 sqm. The district will be sufficient in terms of energy, water and food supply and all public services. Specific areas for agriculture are also defined in the urban contest (about 14,000 sqm of Horticulture).

The area will include in total about 3175 family units and 5300 office units. New standards for health security and for a new way of living and working will be established in all the area, facing the latest healthy crisis. Walkability becomes a priority, focused on 15 minutes walking distance in all the area.

Transsolar's support was focused on the study of the masterplan composition and outdoor comfort. The spatial layout of the buildings and their architectural composition is well adapted to the prevailing wind flows, mainly East-West oriented, hence creating permeable and open spaces where the buildings do not shade each other. The study of outdoor comfort is fundamental to extend the permanence in outdoor spaces during all seasons improving the perception of comfort. The analysis of winds – directions and speed on a seasonal scale – while studying solar radiations, has allowed to identify the areas eligible for outdoor activities in summer and winter, relaxing and high intensity.

In the end, the energy approach has focused on the idea of a decentralized production system and energy storage, through the use of photovoltaic panels and geothermal boreholes. The energy exchange between the buildings defines a smart grid that aims well in the direction of the smart district assumed by the entire project area.