The territory of Vjosa River in Albania gathers a unique collection of landscapes. The inland river beds, the mountain ranges, and the valleys, offer extreme geological conditions and diverse habitats that closely coexist. The architecture of the place here is defined by the environmental actions of wind, water, sand, land shifts, etc. which have sculpted the landscape through centuries. 

 

On this semi-urbanized land, inhabiting its basin and hills, we develop the “Vjosa Museum”. These artistic and landscape interventions take you on a journey along the valleys and the banks of the Vjosa River. Our project begins in Kaninë near Vlorë, at “Qyteza e Kulturës” (The Cultural Citadel), up in the castle nestled within hilltops. With a series of cultural programs distributed throughout the castle premises, we expect high footfall for the area and commence the narrative of the landscape. We then get closer to the river at Tepelenë, where we seek to develop an “Immersive Museum” that would serve as a sculptural landmark and an art infrastructure along the valley of the national park. We then proceed to Përmet, closer to the river edge developing the “Floating Museum” - a landscape bridge that also serves as a sculptural intervention. Together they create a narrative museum that travels along the river. Our goal is to enhance the historical and cultural significance of the different regions that are closely interconnected to the river and the national park. The project becomes a gateway of the Mediterranean in Southern Albania that shares art and architecture with the rest of the world to create a contemporary tourist destination.

 

These interventions blend with the ground and express the materiality of the site to enhance their integration. The masterplan seeks to create strong attraction forces for both visitors and locals alike. In dance with these existing landscapes, our vision introduces new destinations and energies in consonance with the ongoing efforts to develop the area.