Albanian 'carpet' transforms a waterfront village

Casanova + Hernandez have enlivened a waterfront plaza for the Albanian village of Shiroka by laying granite stone in a traditional carpet pattern, giving a, “unique and domestic identity to the public space.”

Commissioned by the Albanian Development Fund, Albanian Carpet forms part of a wider regeneration of the waterfront on the shores of Shkodra Lake.

The first phase of the Albanian Carpet was completed last year.

The area was once crammed with houses, restaurants and parking, illegally built in the early 1990s following the fall of communism in Albania, which has all been demolished in order to create Shiroka Square.

The 20,000 square-metre public space has been transformed into a pedestrian-oriented square, and, “returns the waterfront to the citizens demolishing the illegal constructions, opening the views over the lake, and creating an alive public space with a domestic character.”

The granite stone is laid in a traditional carpet pattern giving a “unique and domestic identity to the public space.”

Casanova + Hernandez’s landscaping evokes the feeling of a house with rooms to serve specific functions. U-shaped benches partially enclose areas for different uses, and the layout of open-air zones references a room common in traditional Albanian homes, an ODA.

These are characterised by low benches lining the space on three sides where family members can sit, lay and even sleep.

The project aims to rebuild the feeling of belonging and attachment to the public space.

Albanian Carpet features a playground room, picnic room, lounge room, fisherman’s room and amphitheatre, and the paving doubles as steps and seating in some areas.

This can transform the central square into an improvised theatre, and the centre of the square is free from trees and urban elements to allow for events.

The area was once crammed with houses, restaurants and parking.

Several existing trees around the edges of the development have been incorporated, and new, small trees planted in open rooms for shade in seating and play spaces. Street furniture and wooden sculptures are incorporated throughout.

The design aims to minimise traffic and encourage walking. A parking zone has been placed at the village’s entrance to inspire this.

The 20,000 square-metre space has been transformed into a pedestrian-oriented square.

The first phase of Albanian Carpet was completed last year, and Casanova + Hernandez say the project, “not only aims to physically and functionally restore Shiroka Waterfront but also rebuild the feeling of belonging and attachment to the public space.”