FLOOD RESILIENT CITY. Relationship between City and Water. The case of Shkoder. 1

FLOOD RESILIEN N TT CC II TT YY

Relationship between city city and and water. water. The The case case of of Shkodër Shkodër

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Politecnico di Milano School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering AUD I Architecture and Urban Design Laurea Magistrale (Equivalent to Master of Science) a.y. 2022/23

MSc Final Examination Project

Supervisor: Prof. Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira

Co-supervisor: Msc (Arch) Luigi Ettore Ricchioni

Author: Alban Kalaj 976259

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ABSTRACT CHAPTER III - Site

INTRO 1. Climate Change and Flooding 2. Why Shkoder ?

3. Scenario 2050

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3.1 Site analisys 3.2 Flood analysis 3.3 Swot & NBS 3.4 Targets 3.6 Vision

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CHAPTER I - Overview 1.1 Historical and cultural insights 1.2 Overview 1.3 Demography

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CHAPTER II - Analysis 2.1 Shkodër location 2.2 Discovering the origins 2.3 City historical development 2.4 Exploring the domains 2.5 Built-up 2.6 Infrastructure 2.7 Open space 2.8 Water systems 2.9 Biodiversity 2.10 Synthesis

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CHAPTER IV - Project 4.1 Strategies 4.2 Design concept and Masterplan 4.3 Flood scenarios 4.5 Transects 4.5 References

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CONCLUSION SOURCES Bibliography Websites List of images

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A B S T R A C T I cambiamenti climatici che caratterizzano gli ultimi decenni sono strettamente correlati alle città in cui viviamo.

Nonostante occupino solamente una bassa percentuale della superficie terrestre, sono responsabili della maggior parte delle emissioni di carbonio, causa principale del riscaldamento globale.

La rapida espansione delle aree urbane attraverso un continuo consumo del suolo agricolo e un incessante fenomeno di deforestazione, sono i motivi principali che provocano i dissesti idrogeologici come alluvioni, frane e valanghe. Le città sono diventate un pericolo per la biodiversità, l’ambiente e il territorio che le ospita.

Attualmente il territorio e l’ambiente viene modificato, creando ingenti danni all’ecosistema, per fare spazio alle cittá e alla loro espansione, diventando così il motivo principale dei cambiamenti climatici e dei seguenti disastri naturali. È arrivato il momento di adattare le città alla “natura” con lo scopo di contrastare l’irrefrenabile cementificazione del suolo e di impedire il fenomeno della deforestazione, entrambe cause principali dei dissesti idrogeologici quali alluvioni, frane, valanghe ecc.

Possono città-natura coesistere ?

Per rispondere a questa domanda ho svolto inizialmente una ricerca letteraria analizzando le problematiche del cambiamento climatico legate al dissesto idrogeologico e poi, attraverso una ricerca storico-culturale, ho potuto scegliere come caso studio la città albanese di Scutari.

L'esame della città di Scutari mi ha permesso di analizzare le relazioni tra la CITTA' e il sistema ACQUA circostante, oltre a identificare le maggiori difficoltà e dare una soluzione progettuale che risponda alle suddette minacce.

Per comprendere meglio il dialogo città-acqua, ho indagato lo sviluppo storico della città, studiando i diversi elementi che la compongono, analizzando le tendenze degli ultimi anni e riconoscendo la relazione tra i domini che dà forma al paesaggio.

L'obiettivo della tesi è quello di fornire un progetto che consenta alla città di essere resiliente alle inondazioni introducendo servizi mancanti e ripristinando il rapporto con la natura e l'acqua.

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A B S T R A C T The cities we live in are closely related to climate change in recent decades. Although they occupy only a small percentage of the Earth's surface, they are responsible for the majority of carbon emissions, the main cause of global warming. The rapid expansion of urban areas through continuous consumption of agricultural land and an incessant phenomenon of deforestation are the main reasons that cause hydrogeological instability such as floods, landslides.

Cities have become a danger to biodiversity, the environment and the territory that hosts them.

To make room for cities and their expansion, the land and the environment are currently being altered, severely harming the ecosystem and becoming the primary cause of climate change and natural disasters.

The time has come to adapt cities to "nature" with the aim of countering the unstoppable overbuilding of the soil and preventing the phenomenon of deforestation.

Can city-nature coexist?

To answer this question, I initially carried out a literary research by analyzing the problems of climate change linked to hydrogeological instability and then, through an historical and cultural research, I was able to choose the Albanian city of Shkodër as a case study.

Examining the city of Shkoder allowed me to analyze the relationships between the CITY and the surrounding WATER system, as well as identify the major difficulties and give a design solution that meets the aforementioned threats.

To have a better understanding of the city-water dialogue, I have investigated the historical development of the city, studying the different elements that compose it, analyzing the trends of recent years and recognizing the relationship between the domains that gives shape to the landscape.

The thesis aim is to provide a project that allow the city to be flood resilient by introducing missing services and restoring the relationship with nature and water.

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INTRO

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING 2

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Human activity is responsible for recent climate changes, which have an impact on many parts of our world and our life. Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, sea level rise, ecosystem changes, and other effects are all significant.

Heavy rain and flooding are caused by climate change, including increased frequency and intensity of rainfall, which can contribute to increased flood hazards. Climate change causes more intense storms and more rainfall, which can overflow drainage systems and bodies of water, increasing the risk of floods.

Urbanization can lead to the loss of natural floodplains and wetlands, which act as natural buffers against flooding, as the construction of buildings, roads and infrastructure can alter natural drainage patterns, reduce water uptake in the land and increase runoff.

There are flood-prone zones all throughout the world, and specific flood-prone regions may vary depending on local geography, climatic patterns, and other variables. The Netherlands is the most impacted country in Europe, and the only other European countries in the top 20 by percentage of population at danger are Austria (18th with 29%) and Albania (20th with 28%).

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In Albania the area most affected by flooding is the region of Shkoder, located in northwestern Albania, is prone to flooding due to its proximity to Lake Shkodër and the Buna River. The region experiences frequent flooding, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall that happens during the winter season.

Image 1. Most relevant European countries by percentage of flood risk Image 2. Map of flood risk in Albania Image 3. Plumbi Mosque during flood, 2021 Image 4. Shkoder, Bulevardi Zogu I during great flood in 2010 Image 5. Shkoder, entrance of the city during great flood in 2010

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W H Y S H KO D E R ?

Shkoder is a town in northern Albania, not far from the Montenegrin border. When travelling into Albania by land, this is the first city you encounter.

Due to its strategic location, it has developed into a significant commercial hub that links Albania with Europe by two routes: Muriqan custom, which is primarily utilised for tourists and Hani I Hotit custom, used by trucks and is flanked by the railway for the sole commercial purpose.

The region has a significant and intricate water system that is made up of both natural (which includes the above-mentioned components) and artificial (which is generated by rainwater drainage systems and irrigation channels for agricultural land) components.

Four significant waterways encircle the city: the Buna river, which discharges into the Adriatic Sea on the west, the Kiri and Drini river on the east, and the homonym lake on the north and west. This water system plays an important role as it generates floods and floods that plague the area every winter.

Shkoder is regarded as the capital of northern Albania, having a significant influence on Montenegro and Kosovo. The city has a rich history and culture, and from 1945 until 1990 it served as a stronghold for the anti-communist resistance. The city is consider as the birthplace of Albanian culture; it hosted the first public school in country history, and followed by many other records such as the introduction of photography and bicycles at the beginning of their inventions.

Image 6. City key aspects

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SCENARIO 2050 The surrouding water bodies, were used as protection to deter invading forces from attacking the city. Other than thas these elements were largely used to transport goods and fishing.

With the continuing expansion of the city, the use of waterways as commerce channels was abandoned, in favor of the construction of mobility infrastructures such as highways and railways.

The growth of urban areas has caused the loss of riparian vegetation in order to facilitate the construction of factories and dwellings.

This un-stopped expansion can be seen as it has severely harmed the ecology and the root cause of the area’s hydrogeological instability. The further construction of hydroelectric plants has caused the construction of artificial banks along rivers, preventing the natural flow of water, and consequently causing an increase in the danger of floods and hydrogeological instability.

Nowadays “water has become an enemy rather than a salvation”, these waterways are what regularly produce floods and inundations that harm the populace, infrastructure, houses, and crops.

The city has seen multiple floods; by examining the time periods in which they happened, it was possible to estimate their potential prevision in the future. The two most significant floods—the big flood of 2010–2011 and the flood of 1962–1963—occurred around 50 years apart.

It is expected that climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events, including an increase in flood incidents, for this reason the year 2050 was chosen.

Scenario 2050 tries to project the city into the future, representing the next "great flood" that could affect the city of Shkoder .

Image 7. Visualization of future great flood in 2050

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CHAPTER I - Overview -

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H I S TO R I C A L I N S I G H TS Shkoder is one of Albania's oldest cities, founded around the fifth and fourth centuries BC, while it is thought to have been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Throughout its long history, the city has been ruled by a variety of empires and states, including the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans. Each of these times has left its mark on the city's architecture, culture, and traditions, resulting in a mixture of many cultures and civilizations.

In 1912, Shkoder passed to the Principality of Albania, and was then controlled by Montenegrin and Austro-Hungarian soldiers before being freed by the Entente army in 1918. King Zog I established the kingdom in 1928, that ended in 1939 with the fascist invasion, which was followed by the German invasion.

In 1944, German soldiers withdrew, and a new communist dictatorship led by the Labour Party's leader, Enver Hoxha, was established. The key changes of the regime that deprived citizens of all goods, where everything became the property of the state, were state atheism, agrarian reform, and the collectivization of private property.

Migration from outside the country was outlawed, and to limit internal ones, the so-called yellow borders were implemented, which stopped people from moving from the countryside to the cities. The new regime's strategy intended to uproot the city's political and cultural tendencies, as well as its relationships with the rest of the world and its traditional economy. The regime gained control of cultural and religious organisations, altering them to conform to the new worldview. Everything was done to destroy the city's identity.

The fall of Enver Hoxha's bust and the proclamation of Democracy mark the end of Communism. The post-communist years (1991-2000) were distinguished by a generic anarchy, significant waves of emigration, and hostility for everything that reminded of the totalitarian regime, resulting in a process of privatisation and unauthorised construction. In the previous two decades, the city has undergone significant changes in an attempt to reclaim the splendor taken away by the communist regime.

Image 8. Collage of historical places, figures and buildings

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P R OV I N C E OV E R V I E W Shkodra is bordered to the north by the Municipality of Malësisë së Madhe, to the west by Montenegro, to the east by the Municipality of Tropojë, to the south by the Municipality of Vau i Dejës, and to the west by Montenegro. The urban centers are located around the city of Shkoder, which serves as the administrative center of the entire region.

Shkodra's geographical location and climatic characteristics provide advantages in the development of agriculture and tourism. The province offers ideal natural conditions for beach and lake tourism, mountain tourism, cultural tourism and agro-tourism. Natural resources, proximity to Montenegro, and longstanding ties with the population over the border all contribute to Shkodra's social and economic development.

We can find three important protected areas, with a high concentration of biodiversity: - National Park of Thethi - Lake Shkodër Nature Reserve - Buna River-Velipoja Protected Landscape.

These areas welcome major waterways which are important for power production. The province of shkoder alone hosts four hydroelectric plants that are part of the Drin cascade: Fierza, Koman, Vau i Dejes and Ashta 1 and 2. This cascade accounts for almost three-quarters of overall power capacity in the country and 90% of domestic electricity production.

The province is really affected by floods, that are one of Shkodra's key challenges, causing substantial damage in the majority of the new town. The issue of resolving this problem through interventions in the Buna river and the construction of embankments in the Drin and Kir rivers is now in front of the Municipality.

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Shkodra lake Protected Landscape

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City of Shkodër

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The province of Shkodra has seen important infrastructure development in recent years, as well as important investments such as the Buna Bridge, the Muriqani border point, the Shkodra-Hani i Hoti motorway, the completion of the city ring, and the creation of pedestrian walkways.

Image 9. Skhodra Lake photo Image 10. Shkodar city aeral photo Image 11. Hydropower plant aeral photo Image 12. Highway aeral photo Image 13. Schemes of Shkoder about biodiversity, built-up, open spaces, infrastructure and water system.

Image 14. Key map of the Skhoder region location in Albania

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Vau i Dejës hydropower plant

West Bypass

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DEMOGRAPHY In the last twenty years, the Albanian population has decreased by 15%, from 3.10 million inhabitants to 2.85 million.

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“The population of Albania began to decrease since 1990, as a result of a mass emigration. During the years 2011-2021, it is estimated that an average of 42,000 people immigrated each year and 23,000 people immigrated on average each year. (Population pyramids).

The main reasons for emigration are related to better opportunities for work, education and health care.”- instat. gov.al, POPULLSIA E SHQIPËRISË.

In the last twenty years, the population has increased in urban areas, probably due to two factors: - internal migration, the population moved from the rural areas into urban; - external migration, the population moved from outside the country From 2011 to 2021, there was a decrease in births and a considerable increase in deaths in 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As regards Net migration (obtained by subtracting individuals who emigrate from those who immigrate) it can be said that there is an increasingly growing trend linked to emigration abroad.

Image 15. Population percentage in each albanian region Image 16. Albanian population in age groups Image 17. Albanian interal immigrational routes Image 18. Shkoder municipality inhabitant percentage Image 19. Skhoder Province inhabitants by age population Image 20. Map of Shkoder region and percentage of inhabitants Image 21. Diagrams on the albanian population

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ALBANIAN POPULATION IN AGE GROUPS

ALBANIAN INTERNAL MIGRATIONS

DEMOGRAPHIC TREND - LAST 20 YEARS

“On January 1, 2022, it turns out that about a third of the population lives in Tirana county - the most populated county in the country, followed by Durrës and Fier counties, with about 10 percent of the population each.

The district of Gjirokastra has the lowest percentage of the population, with about 2.0% of the total population, followed by the district of Kukes, which has 2.6% of the total population. Only the district of Tirana has recorded an increase in population for the period 2021-2022.”instat.gov.al, POPULLSIA E SHQIPËRISË.

POPULATION PERCENTAGE IN EACH REGION

ALBANIAN POPULATION

NATIONAL POPULATION LIVING IN URBAN AREAS

NATIONAL POPULATION BY AGE

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SHKODËR MUNICIPALITIES INHABITANT PERCENTAGE

SHKODËR PROVINCE INHABITANTS BY AGE GROUPS

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SHKODER PROVINCE AND MUNICIPALITIES The population of Shkoder county decreases by 15%, same intensity of entire Albania.

Only the district of Tirana has recorded an increase in population for the period 2021-2022.”- instat.gov.al, POPULLSIA E SHQIPËRISË.

SHKODER REGION POPULATION DECREASE

SHKODER REGION MIGRATIONS

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CHAPTER II - Analysis -

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C I T Y O F S H KO D Ë R : LO C AT I O N 23

Region

Province

Municipality

The county shares borders with the counties of Lezhë, Kukës, and the country of Montenegro. It is comprised of five municipalities: Fushë-Arrëz, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shkodër, and Vau i Dejës. In 2016, the county had a population of over 215,000, making it the sixth most populous county in Albania and the second most populous county in the Northern Region. Ethnically, the county is homogeneous and predominantly inhabited by Gheg Albanians.

The population is mainly concentrated in the Mbishkodra plain, where the largest city, Shkodër, is located. Shkodër serves as the cultural and economic hub of the county.

A multitude of attractions characterise the entire area. There is a wealth of natural beauty, spanning from high mountains to the Adriatic Sea's Mediterranean coast, from the shores of the Balkans' largest lake to the rocky peak of Rozafa Castle. With a diverse ecosystem (Lake Scutari, the Buna, Drin, and Kir rivers), close proximity to the Adriatic Sea, and serving as the closest transit point to the northern Balkan Peninsula. The province of Shkodër possesses all of the attributes of an important commercial and transit area, part of the European Union market (via road and rail), as well as an important economic and industrial centre in Albania.

The city of Shkodër is situated on the eastern edge of Lake Scutari, in close proximity to the Drin, Buna, and Kir rivers.

The city is surrounded to the west and north by the southern foothills of the Dinaric Alps.

It is also located near two border crossings with Montenegro which help to play a prominent role in trade.

Shkodër shows a rich cultural heritage and has been the birthplace of famous individuals such as writers, poets, photographers, painters, musicians, and artists. The city is home to several archaeological sites and numerous monuments.

Image 22. Satellite view of Shkoder Image 23. Location of the city

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D I S C OV E R I N G T H E O R I G I N S

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Shkodër, the Ottomans' last Albanian conquest, survived the siege in 1478-1479 and grew to become an important Ottoman province centre.

Shkodr had two primary portions during the early Ottoman period: the residential quarters and the bazaar. The fortress served mainly military purposes, while the residential area grew on the slopes to the north and east of the citadel.

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The city's gravity centre shifted northward as more streets opened up in the upper plain as a result of internal block subdivision and the spread of peripheral streets to the west and east.

The city grew up around the intersections of mediaeval roads and canals, as well as existing mediaeval settlements. By the mid-18th century, the upper plain suburbs had grown to the point where the city was divided in two by marshes.

Following the city's growth to the northeast, the new centre emerged between Parruc and Gjuhadol, rather than further west at Rus, where the two Venetian era routes diverged. The evacuation of Muslims from the old quarters following the diversion of the Drin in 1858, as well as the construction of Catholic quarters on the eastside, accelerated the new city's urban densification and expansion.

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By the end of the Ottoman period, the new city had grown, having absorbed all administrative and military duties from the citadel, as well as a portion of retail functions from the old market. The original mediaeval quarters had been farther separated from the new quarters and had become rare in the new city's remote suburbs. The spatial study of the new metropolis demonstrates the greatest integration and intelligibility of any historical stage.

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The two world wars impeded the city's development, due to the multiple occupations that occurred in the first half of the twentieth century, the city expanded organically without effective planning after independence and the foundation of the Kingdom of Albania.

The city witnessed significant changes with the arrival of communism; in fact, the totalitarian regime impeded the city's organic growth by using development plans. Following the flood of 1962, the banks of the Kiri river were consolidated, and a railway link was created connecting the country's remaining cities up to the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. The city's main axes were realigned, and the cardo, which connects the Kiras neighbourhood to the train station, was built. During these years, the industrial sector was built, giving the city a diamond shape. The rural grid around the city is also being rectified. Bacalleku new bridge were builted to facilitate land transport.

During post-communism, the city underwent massive changes, extending northwards. The main interventions were the construction of the new Buna's bridge and the construction of the West-Bypass following the 2010 flood, which turned out to be the most disastrous ever recorded. Rural sprawl has taken place in peripheral areas of the city, implying high land use in rural and waterfront areas.

Image 24. City development during Ottoman Empire Image 25. City development during the last century

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Image 26. City view of rozafa Castle in1900 Image 27. City view of rozafa Castle in 1940 Image 28. City view of rozafa Castle in 1987 Image 29. City view of rozafa Castle in 2022

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1987

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Image 30. Buna bridge view, (1940 left, 2022 right) Image 31. Taraboshi hill view, (1913 left, 2023 right) Image 32. rovaza Castle view, (1901 left, 2005 right) Image 33. Bacalleku bridge view, (1900 left, 2022 right)

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H I S TO R I C A L D E V E LO PM E N T The development of the city has been influenced by different factors, such as political, economical, social, environmental, which have led to its transformation up to the present day.

During the communist regime, which based the entire country's economy on agriculture and collectivization, were implemented policies that prevented people from moving from the countryside to city. Through a zoning process, the urban limits of Albanian cities, known as the yellow line, were designed. It could only be built with permits and it was forbidden to build on the outskirts of cities.

Within the city limits, various changes have occurred, including the rectification of major axes, the introduction of new infrastructure such as the railway, and the building of the industrial district.

As result, the city’s rise was slow and gradual, through urban planning, following the policies and ideology of the totalitarian regime.

Following the collapse of communism, in1991, and the transition to a democratic government, there was a period of "post-communism" marked by socioeconomic instability and the privatization of everything memorable of the dictatorship. The lack of policies and controls, during the last decade of the last century, has led to the problems present today in the area.

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COMMUNISM - COLLECTIVIZATION PROGRAM

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POST COMMUNISM - PRIVATIZATION PROCESS 35

RURAL URBANISATION PHENOMENA: (1990 - on going) - no public functions

This has resulted in the phenomenon of "rural urbanisation", or the unauthorised spread of cities into nearby rural areas, as well as the phenomenon of "ribbon development", representing the development of residences and commercial/industrial buildings along road infrastructures.

OLD NUCLEOS (SATELLITES): (1900-1944) - ribbon development housing - common element: mosque or church and primary school - no public parks or squares - no commercial or industrial activities

These phenomena have also impacted the marginal areas of the main watercourses, causing soil erosion and a loss in riparian vegetation, and so becoming the cause of the area's various floods.

THE CITY: - main different public and private functions - public parks public squares - public buildings - sport and leisure

Image 34. Urban development map Image 35. Synthesis map Image 36. Historical development map

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NEW RIBBON DEVELOPMENT AXIS: (1990 - on going) - it comprends also commercial and industrial functions - no public activities or public parks

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SATELLITE NUCLEOS

Image 37. Google Map views

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RURAL URBANISATION

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COMMERCIAL /INDUSTRIAL RIBBON DEVELOPMENT

GREENHOUSES DIFFUSION

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E X P LO R I N G T H E D O M A I N S 38

The area of analysis ​​ is very complex, it has numerous facets in fact the position, the morphological conformation, the presence of the numerous elements that compose it, make it difficult to define its areas.

To define the areas of the city, it was necessary to identify the domains that make it up: - Urban, dense and high rise built-up, high variety of functions and activites, relevant activities concerning commercial and administrative, rare open spaces green; - Peri-Urban, medium density and low rise built-up, medium variety of activities, relevant industrial activities, few open spaces green; - Rural, low density and low rise built-up, low variety of activities, relevant activites related to agriculture and production, more open spaces green; - Natural, no built-up, cradle of biodiversity, wildlife habitat, totally green open spaces.

The relationship between these domains is varied, it presents different transitions, notable is the direct passage that occurs along the Kiri river and the source of the Buna river in which one passes from the peri-urban to the natural domain without the rural intermediate.

The appearance of these domains is subject to change over time, in fact what was once rural has now become peri-urban or even urban following changes in the territory.

An area undergoing transformation is the rural domain on which the West By-Pass is located where, it cuts the rural area in two, the side that interfaces with the city may be in future part of the peri-urban area.

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RURAL

PERI-URBAN

URBAN 39

Meaning of the work "domain": "Sector of activity or interest (with reference to abstract things); metaphorical that is common to synonyms: realm, field, ambit, sphere..." - Treccani.com

Image 38. Domains analysis Image 39. Domains identification Image 40. Domains map

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TRANSITION THROUGHT DOMAINS

Image 41. Street view photos Image 42. City domains

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U P

Another distinguishing feature of the city is the presence of the industrial district, a key former area that will be included into future urban plan.

Village-based neighbouring areas can be classified as rural communities with primarily residential functions and productive purposes (mainly in agriculture).

The principal developments of the previous twenty years have been represented by a constant construction process surrounding the city, impacting particularly sensitive places such as areas vulnerable to flooding.

The progressive installation of greenhouses is an additional trend that is changing the landscape of rural areas.

Image 43. Built-updevelopement between years 2000 and 2020 Image 44. Built-up synthesis map Image 45. Built-up main elements Image 46. Buit-up map

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INDUSTRIAL / COMMERICIAL

The size and the density of the built-up distinguish the city's urban centre from the surrounding localities.

It presents areas with a variety of services, such as schools, sports centres, hospitals, museums etc.

The topic of education is significant; in fact, the city accommodates students from neighbouring regions, and as can be observed, the school are many, all of which concentrate in the city centre. The city is the only one on the northern part of the nation hosting a university that provide humanities faculties.

RESIDENTIAL

In the previous twenty years, the city has seen significant changes, resulting in the process known as rural urbanisation.

Nowadays is impossible to define exactly its boundaries, so the area of analysis chosen covers the urban core up to the neighbouring villages that are linked by the phenomena of ribbon development.

The built-up in the analysed area is mainly residential, with productive buildings developing along the road axes.

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SYNTHESIS MAP 44

AGRICOLTURE FACILITIES

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EDUCATION

B U I L T

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Shkodër has a very complex organic fabric defined by different architectural styles that are testimony to the city's history and are inextricably linked to each other. Up to the current day, the architectural style that makes up the urban fabric reflects the political system that ruled it.

The study analysed some architectural styles, such as dwellings and public buildings, and their evolution over the course of the centuries.

From the Ottoman era to the present, the scale of buildings has shifted significantly, from the traditional villas to the massive multi-story structure.

During the Ottoman period, the most prevalent architecture were religious buildings, public baths, and typical villas.

The neoclassical style was adopted to reflect political power following the formation of the Monarchy, with the most prominent works like the Grand Cafè, the Migjeni Theatre, and the Republika Cinema.

Following World War II, communism leads to a total detachment from the past, making the only reference to Soviet prefabricated architecture. During this period, the city underwent important changes: different types of buildings were defined, with a maximum height of 5 floors.ZThe slatted structures are strategically located along the main axes to underline the image and the importance of the dictatorship. The public architecture were factories, hotels, administrative offices, and the railway station.

With the coming of democracy in 1991, the construction typology changes with profit as the sole generative motor, resulting in a process of unauthorised building.

Image 47. Architectural styles in Shkoder Image 48. City built up deep in

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OTTOMAN INFLUENCES

NEO CLASSIC

SOCIALIST

CONTEMPORARY 47

RESIDENTIAL

EDUCATION

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Contemporary

Ottoman Neoclassica

Maria Ndimetare High School

Socialist

Old town

COMMERICIAL

Maria Ndimetare high school Yunus Emre Institute Luigj Gurakuqi Faculty of Foreign Languages

INDUSTRIAL

Zdrale Market

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Former Tobacco Factory

Don Bosko primary school Zoja e Këshillit të Mirë Meshkalla high school

Former Tobacco Factory

Zdrale Market Shopping center

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INFRASTRUCTURE

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RAILWAY

The theme of infrastructures is particularly strong in the area of analysis, which is composed of many elements that define its appearance.

The main transportation infrastructures are the highways, which connect with Montenegro in the north and the rest of the nation in the south.

Bacalleku Bridge and Buna Bridge provide access to the city and are essential for connecting to the motorway network.

The railway network, which was originally used for internal citizen mobility, now serves only as a goods corridor, transporting goods both inside and beyond the country.

Image 49. Infrastructure historical development maps Image 50. Infrastructure typology Image 51. Synthesis map of infrastructure Image 52. Infrastructure map

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HIGHWAY 2003

2022

2030

SYNTHESIS MAP 51

ROADS

The goal of the new territorial plan PPV2030, developed in 2015, is to build two new By-Pass infrastructures to the east and south of the city by 2030. These new By-Passes will help to alleviate traffic congestion at the city's entry by diverting it outside of the city, and they will also protect agricultural areas from flooding.

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CYCLING PATH

Main infrastructural changes of the area in the last 20 years have occurred after the great flood of 2010: - the construction of a new swing bridge that crosses the Buna bridge (2012); - the launch of EuroVelo 8, a cycling path that begins in Spain and travels around the Mediterranean to Greece (2014); - the construction of the SH27 motorway, which connects the city to the beach village of Velipoje.

- the opening of the West By-Pass, a ring road with two functions: diverting traffic outside of Shkoder's urban centre and safeguarding the city from future floods.

(2019).

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The infrastructure and the mobility have defined the Ccity appearence.

During the Ottoman period, mobility included land transport options such as caravans drawn by oxen, as well as water transport methods such as boats and ships that exploited the waterways.

Later technological advances lead to the arrival of the first bicycles, which were used by the gendarmerie corps, and, after that, the first automobiles.

This leads to the development of the first motorways, which connect the entire country, preferring land transit over marine transport.

During communism, private property was prohibited, as was the use of private vehicles, which forced the introduction of public transportation such as as trains and buses.

The collapse of communism outcomes in a rejection of everything suggestive of dictatorship, causing the population to opt for private modes of transportation over state ones. In fact, today's railway network has been adapted only for the purpose of transporting commodities, and train stations have remained unused for years.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the implementation of sustainable mobility, which lead to the re-adaptation of roadways to accommodate cycle paths.

As far as infrastructure is concerned, bridges play a leading role: they allow the access to the city. The first stone bridges, built in the Ottoman era, collapsed with the great flood of 1880. Later iron structures were built, and finally replaced with reinforced concrete structures to meet international road regulations.

The latest innovation is the introduction of a new infrastructural typology called By-Pass, which acts as a ring road and dam: it diverts traffic outside the city and protects areas affected by floods.

This solution has Shkoder's West By Pass as its first prototype, but is spreading throughout the country, as a main solution to traffic sorting.

Image 53. Infrastructures typologies during centuries Image 54. Schemes of actual infrastructural typologies

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4 LANES ROAD

2 LANES ROAD

West By-Pass

Zogu I boulevard

SINGLE LANE

Hidrovori street

RAILWAY

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Railway near to Kiri river

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m

m

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OPEN SPACE

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WOODS

The area features a morphology characterized by hills, abundant vegetation, and a plain primarily used for agricultural purposes.

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SYNTHESIS MAP 57

PARK

The stretch between the city and the lake has undergone significant changes following the construction of the bypass. The majority of the agricultural fields have been converted into permanent grassland. Additionally, there has been a gradual spread of orchards in this area.

AGRICOLTURE

The entrance to the city is represented by two hills, Taraboshi and Rozafa, upon which the fortress is also situated. The flat area is composed of agricultural fields located to the north and south of the city, identifiable by the rectangular grid pattern created by the orthogonal irrigation network.

An important element in the area is the presence of wetlands, located near watercourses, which serve crucial functions such as water purification, coastal stabilization, and flood protection. They also play a significant role in biodiversity, as they harbor various animal and plant species.

The only parks present, situated within the urban area of Shkodër, are of limited size and scattered.

The main changes over the past two decades have been characterized by the continuous fragmentation of the agricultural area due to the development of new highway connections. The subsequent phenomena of ribbon development along these new axes, as well as rural urbanization and the development of agricultural production complexes and greenhouses, have altered the landscape.

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Image 55. Open space developement between years 2000 and 2020 Image 56. Synthesis map of Shkoder open space development Image 57. Open space typologies Image 58. Open space map

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WETLAND

Compared to 2000, there was a 6% loss of agricultural fields, with 2% being converted into permanent grasslands and the remaining 4% transformed into built-up areas.

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The city is surrounded by natural elements, such as wetlands that border the watercourses and host various forms of wildlife, offering opportunities for boat excursions. The hills also feature pathways for nature walks or bike rides, equipped with strategic view points providing panoramic vistas of the territory.

AGRICULTURE: MAIN CROPS 60

Agritourism is gaining significant popularity in the area, as agriturismos offer a full immersion experience in Shkodër's rural landscape.

Corn

Urban

The area boasts diverse cultivations, with the main ones including legumes, cereals, vegetables, and tobacco.

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Vegetables

Potatoes

Legumes

Watermelon

Tobacco

LEGENDA

Agriculture plays a dominant role, evident in the Buna River-Velipojë Protected Landscape along the Buna River. This agricultural park holds national and international significance, being part of the European Green Belt. Additionally, it is designated as an Important Bird and Plant Area due to its support of exceptional threatened and endemic bird and plant species.

Image 59. Section key plan Image 60. Main crops in the area Image 61. Panoramic and aeral photos of open spaces

Cereals

Rural

Water

Wetland

Woods

Agriculture

WOODS

WETLAND

AGRICULTURE

PARK 61

Taraboshi mountain, view from National Park of Shkodra

Wetlands along Drin river

Farmland on the south of Shkoder

Park in oldtown

National Park of Shkodra Lake, view from Lake

National Park of Shkodra Lake, view next to By-Pass

Farmland near to the Castle

Parku i Pazarit

National Park of Shkodra Lake, view from the Castle

Wetlands on the confluence between Drin and Kiri river

Agricultural park of Buna River Protected Landscape

Lulishtja e Shatërvanit

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WAT E R SYST E M S

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The city of Shkodër is surrounded by four major natural waterways: - the Lake, which is located between the state boundaries of Albania and Montenegro.

- The Kiri River, the largest seasonal watercourse in the study area, flows from north to south, touching the easternmost district of Scutari and the suburban areas of the entire floodplain it crosses; - The Drin River, Albania's longest river, houses the waterfall of the Vau i Dej power plants; - The Buna River, emissary of the lake, the rivers Lago di Scutari, Drin, and Kir flow into the Buna, which flows towards into the Adriatic Sea, for a total length of 44 kilometres.

Temperatures in summer are high (hot and dry days), with substantial evaporation, while temperatures in winter are low, seldom dipping below zero (wet and chilly days).

Image 62. Floods recordings through the last centuries Image 63. Seasonal flood diagram Image 64. Synthesis map of Shkoder flooding areas Image 65. Water system typologies Image 66. Water systems and flood risk map

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PRIMARY STREAM 18%

May/October

November/December

January/February

March/April

SYNTHESIS MAP 64

MOUNTAIN STREAM

The most significant occurrence in the recent two decades was the great flood of 2010, which impacted the city's entry and neighbouring territories, extending along the inhabited centres along the Buna river. This flood caused considerable damage, forcing residents to stay on standby throughout the winter.

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IRRIGATION CANAL

Seasonal flooding is widespread in the area from November to March, when the region receives 80-85% of its annual rainfall.

The most damaged areas are those along the lake, near the inflow between the Drin and Buna rivers, the latter absorbing water from the other three bodies of water, causing flooding along its entire axis.

Flooding events cause economic, social, and environmental harm, as well as the loss of life, the municipalities of Ana e Malit, Brdic, Bushat, Dajç, Gur i Zi, Rrethina, Shkodër, and Velipoj are included in a potential danger area in the Shkodër region.

MAIN WATER BODY

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Flooding events cause economic, social and environmental damage and lives loss. In Albania, the rivers constitute the highest flood risk.

Flood risk and vulnerability are increasing due to changes in rainfall pattern, increased frequency of extreme events, changes in land use and development in flood prone areas as a result of socio-economic demand. Human lives, property, environment, and socioeconomics are at increasing risk due to flooding. The vulnerability is a multi-layered and multidimensional social space defined by the determinate, political, economic and institutional capabilities of people in specific places at specific times The latest major floods in January 2010, December 2010 and March 2013 resulted in high economic and environmental losses. Without adequate adaptation to the increased flood risk, social, economic and health damage are likely to increase. One of the main objectives is the minimization of damages cause by floods in the coming years. In general climate change projections for the region show an increase in temperatures as well as an increase in frequency and intensity of floods Summer periods will be dryer, latest figures of the European Environmental Agency predict an increase of heavy precipitation in the winter period between 5-15 %. Especially climate variability will increase and more extreme events are likely to happen

Image 67. Collage with photos of main floods

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