A neighborhood in the shape of ancient citadels will be built in the Berdenesh area of Saranda. Called Berdenesh Hills, the project was designed by Italian studio NOA and envisages the construction of 8 buildings next to the sea.
“Although the dominant architectural typology in the coastal city of Saranda today is the tower, for this project we sought to reconnect with the traces of the past. We envisioned the creation of a small new neighborhood in the form of a castle. Like its historical counterparts, this contemporary castle develops around a focal point: the central square. However, unlike ancient Greek, Roman or medieval fortresses - the most famous Albanian example is Gjirokastra - its perimeter walls, formed by a variety of buildings, open outwards in a constant search for connection with the surrounding environment”, explains Andrea Dal Negro, architect at NOA.
The project, which envisages over 60 thousand square meters of construction area, will be built by a trust of 4 companies, including Best Construction of Mond Begas and LTE of Artur Çaushaj. The functional program includes approximately 250 apartments and a hotel spread over 26 thousand m².
At the heart of the development, the central plaza unfolds over five terraced levels and includes a community pavilion. A Mediterranean park, characterized by rich and flowering vegetation, extends across the site, reinforcing the project's relationship with the landscape.
“We were very impressed by the coastline of this region: it unfolds as a coastline that turns inward, marked by continuous bays, large inlets and small coves, all framed by the silhouette of Corfu on the horizon,” says Lukas Rungger, founder of NOA and architect of the project.
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