Speaker
Description
The covid-19 pandemic of 2020 hit Albania just three months after the earthquake of 29 November in the Durrës area, with 54 victims and hundreds of buildings damaged. The two crises reshaped the terrain of the political agenda toward the territory in terms of both more centralizing planning policies and the decision-making processes of rebuilding and renewal. The author believes that, for urban renewal and regeneration projects to work successfully, we need to design plans that takes into account the social, cultural, and historical background of the neighborhood or the area under rebuilding.
The research underscores the importance of comprehending tensions generated during urban planning and the rebuilding process in Albania. It delves into the complex interaction between urban regeneration, urban planning policies, and the instruments used by the government and the center. Using theoretical frameworks based on urban regeneration experiences, the complex landscape of conflicts within the territory, stemming from the transformation of technical disputes into political discussions, was examined.
The study chosen for this research article, is a case study-research, located in Tirana, Albania. Identified as the "Tirana riverside" project by Stefano Boeri, which involves a 29-hectare urban regeneration plan of a new "green neighborhood" as a response to the earthquake. The new neighborhood is designed to be self-sufficient, equipped and designed as a smart city that will be able to cope with both seismic and pandemic emergencies. The project aims to create a resilient urban environment that reflects the diverse needs of its residents while fostering a sense of community and connection to nature, including the Tirana River as an integral part of it.
This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative data from empirical research to elucidate the intricate relationship between technical and political instruments utilized in urban planning and renewal. It examines the public policy tools applied during the urban regeneration process, as demonstrated in the case study.
The results that come from the juxtaposition of empirical data with those from primary sources (neighborhood residents), and secondary (official documents) reveal not only the complexity of the process of reconstruction and renewal with urban development (social, economic and cultural), but also emphasize the importance of the involvement of stakeholders in the planning process. The tensions generated during the process of expropriation and reallocation of residents, have been the focus of interviews with residents to also address the sui generis conflict for the area under study.
This study adds to the ongoing conversation about urban renewal and regeneration processes, the decision-making models that go along with them, and urban planning policies by using real-life data from Tirana Riverside. In summary, this study highlights the importance of embracing the complex nature of urban planning, positioning these complexities as catalysts for innovation rather than obstacles to progress.
References
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Aliaj, B., Lulo, K., & Myftiu, G. (2003). TIRANA, the Challenge of Urban Development.
Bateman, J. (2021, November 18). Tirana 2030 Design Plan Pits Density Against History. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-18/tirana-2030-design-plan-pits-density-against-history
Couch, C., Fraser, C., & Percy, S. (Eds.). (2003). Urban Regeneration in Europe (1st edition). Wiley-Blackwell.
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Jacobs, J. (1961). The Death and Life of Great American Cities (First Edition). Random House. https://www.biblio.com/book/death-life-great-american-cities-jacobs/d/1270408787
Kadriu, E. (2021, October 27). Nis prishja e shtëpive te 5 maji; Banorët në pritje të bonusit të qirasë dhe kontratës së shpronësimit. Citizens Channel. https://citizens-channel.com/2021/10/27/nis-prishja-e-shtepive-te-5-maji-banoret-ne-pritje-te-bonusit-te-qirase-dhe-kontrates-se-shpronesimit/
Kadriu, E. (2022, January 30). Zëra nga “5 maji” – Podkast nga Citizens Channel. Citizens Channel. https://citizens-channel.com/2022/01/30/zera-nga-5-maji-podkast-nga-citizens-channel/
Moskowitz, P. E. (2017). How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood (First Edition). Bold Type Books.
| Keywords | Urban Regeneration, rebuilding, urban policies, social conflicts, urban planning instruments |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
