Green Infrastructure 2014 Group D - Case Study 3

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Name	Tirana big park and artificial lake
Country	Albania
City	Tirana
Authors	Marklen Nakuci

Rationale: Why is this case interesting?

Please explain in short why this site has green infrastructure potential and what makes it special (150 words approx)

• The zone chosen for study is Tirana big park and artificial Lake. Tirana is a city that does not have many green spaces. This park is the main park and is very important for it and for the community. During the week especially in weekend many persons visited it.This site has green infrastructure potential because can offer many possibility in different aspects. In the are are not done the necessary interventions and the zone especially in the south of the lake is in bad conditions. I think that with a well organized study and a serious work the south lake area can be converted in a zone with many potential related green infrastructure. There can be developed an environment containing many attributes like multifunctional, sustainable, health, economic etc.

Author's perspective

what is your professional/educational background and your relation to the site?

• I have studied Architecture at Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism (FAU) Albania.I have a Master of Science degree in Architecture. Historically the Big Park at the Artificial Lake has been a focal point for residents of Tirana and the cites nearby. I have lived for 5 years in Tirana during my studies and visiting the park and the lake was very common for students.

Landscape and/or urban context of your case

• Biogeography, cultural features, overall character, history and dynamics
• Illustrations: maps; sketches; short descriptive analyses

• Biogeography

The Big park of Tirana is a 230 hectare public park situated on the southern part of the city. It includes an artificial lake and many Landmarks such as the Saint Procopius Church, Amphitheater,a zoo,a botanical garden, memorials of well known Albanian personalities...The park was built between 1955-1956 based on a Bulgarian plan.It was built by a voluntary work of many peoples. The park is located 122 m above see level. The park is one of the main attractions of Tirana, the capital of Albania.

• Cultural Features

There are many Landmarks in the park, around the shore of the lake containing cultural features.There is a church in the north side of the lake called the Saint Procopius Church. It had very impact on the park because it is known too as the Park of saint Procopius. Near it few meters away in the east there is an Amphitheater. It is an antic monument that was built many years before Christ during Illyrians period.There various cultural activities occur especially in summer months.During the 13 years of the reign of King Zog in the park was the memorial of the queen. It was an architectural work that today we can see it only in some photos because it was destroyed during the Communist period.In the internal parts of the park can be found the memorials of 45 British soldiers fallen during World War II.The park includes the Presidential Palace of Tirana, which stays on the side and close to the Elbasan Street. The palace, whose building was started by Zog of Albania, is now a government residence, and has served as a Royal Palace only once, for the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III during his only visit to Albania in May 1941 as King of Albania. The palace had also served vicegerent Francesco Jacomoni and later the Fascist general Alberto Pariani.The park also notably includes the tombs of the Frashëri brothers: Abdyl Frashëri, diplomat, politician, writer, and a distinguished leader of the National Renaissance of Albania through the League of Prizren, Naim Frashëri (national poet), and Sami Frashëri writer, philosopher, and playwright. Also, in 1998 the remains of Faik Konica, former Albanian minister to Washington, and publisher of the Albania magazine were brought from the United States and put in a tomb located at the park.

• Overall character

• Illustrations
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  your visual

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Analytical drawings

• Please use analytical drawing for visualising the conflicts/potentials of your site

• Analytical Drawings
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  your drawing

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  your drawing

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  your drawing

Green Infrastructure benefits for this site

Look again at the multiple benefits of green infrastructure - what could be achieved in your site and which are most relevant?

• The case study is suitable for a Green Infrastructure development.Many aspect of it can be achieved like creating a Sustainable Environment, Health Environment and Economic Environment.
• Sustainable Environment

Three pillars of sustainability (Economy, Society and Environment) can be improvement and achieved.

• Health Environment

The climate in this area is suitable. The 4 seasons exist.Human aspects like Physical, Physiological and Community can be improve.

• Economic Environment

A touristic zone can be achieved offering Income, Employment, Living and Working conditions.

Potential for multifunctionality

Green infrastructure has typically multiple functions. What could be achieved for your site in this respect?

• Multifunctional Environment

Different functions can be created like areas with historical and cultural potential (already exist a church and an amphitheater).Recreational spaces offering different possibilities like walking and playing in the park, open spaces, expansion of Biodiversity, walking along the shore of the lake, making picnics with your family, swimming, fishing, doing sports like Football, Basketball, Tennis... can be achieved.There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in the park, for a quick coffee stop in the shade. It is a nice place to escape the stress, noise and the heat of the city. Multiple functions will characterized this area.

Projective drawings

• How would you like this case to change in the near future? (in 1-2 years)
  • Currently only the north part of the lake is frequented by the residents of the city or persons from other cites too. The south part is almost nonexistent.I want that in a 2 year period all the perimeter of the lake and the areas around it become vital.

• And how could it look like in 10-15 years?
  • I hope that after 10-15 years the lake and the park surrounding it will become a very frequented space by the residents of the city and more. It will be a focal point of the city which will connect different part of it. It will offer different functions where someone can relax and enjoy the environment.

• Projective Drawings
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Summary and conclusion

• 100 words approx.
• The project which is prepared for the future of Tirana provide the city with multiple centers. Tirana city is growing in different directions and south is one of them. There are many inhabitants in this zone that connect with the other part of the city through the west side of the city.The development of the south side of the lake will create new bridge connections into the city. The all perimeter of the lake will be frequented and not only the north part which is the current situation today. The shore of the lake will not be divided into two parts anymore. Connectivity will be the main focus of this project.

Image Gallery

Please add further images/photos here

• Image Gallery
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  Pedestrian road in the park

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  Shore of the lake

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  Park view

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  Swimming in the lake

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  Pedestrian road along the shore of the lake

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  Picnic near the lake

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  Fishing in the lake

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  Tennis playing near the lake

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  Jogging in the park

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  Coffee drinking near the lake

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  Lake view

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  Swimming pool in the park

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  Kids playing in the park

References

• please add your references here
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirana
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirana_Park_on_the_Artificial_Lake
• http://www.tirana-online.de/vizita.shtml
• http://www.latlong.net/place/tirana-big-park-and-artificial-lake-rruga-herman-gmeiner-tirana-albania-1440.html
• http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294446-d317754-Reviews-Grand_Park_Parku_i_Madh-Tirana.html
• https://www.google.de/maps/uv?hl=de&pb=!1s0x135030e6a0aae9cf:0x62f73c8d20168d97!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/103265534527483484101/photos?hl%3Dde%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5sbig+park+tirana+-+Google-Suche&sa=X&ei=Cpl5VIf-Mo7vOeOHgaAP&ved=0CJkBEKIqMA4
• http://highhamptoninn.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/diving-float-kids.jpg
• http://modernreston.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Lake-Audubon-trail-tour-11.jpg
• http://static9.depositphotos.com/1374437/1139/i/950/depositphotos_11390432-Family-on-the-picnic-near-the-lake.jpg
• http://www.fourwindsre.com/activities/Fishing_at_the_lake.jpg
• http://schaffersmill.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/sm-millbuzz-tennis-642x335.jpg
• http://www.texasoutside.com/images/ladybirdtrail2.jpg
• http://placesmikewouldlike.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/38946_419545958913_5568980_n.jpg
• http://www.northerncomfort.com/photos/rental/192-687JackLakeCottage0066.JPG
• http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/37902055.jpg

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