Eco Park Durrës
From an aerial view, a pattern resembling a crop circle emerges in Durrës, Albania. This expansive area features various circles and spiral shapes, creating a mysterious yet playful design that leaves one guessing its purpose. However, this is actually an eco-park built atop what was once an open landfill, a site that posed a severe environmental threat to the city. The design team ingeniously incorporated the region’s rich historical legacy into the park’s concept, drawing inspiration from the famous ancient Roman mosaic "The Beauty of Durrës." The abstract form pays homage to this classical relic while symbolizing the transformation of the Durrës Park into a vibrant and rejuvenating public space for recreation and environmental education, shedding its previous negative associations.
The park not only offers the local residents a vast area for leisure, exercise, social interaction, and a chance to reconnect with nature but also primarily aims to address the environmental crisis while thoughtfully considering how to create public spaces in the city and raise ecological awareness among the population. The designers skillfully utilized the existing conditions of the site, where gently rising mounds are actually composed of compacted waste. These mounds are topped with lush vegetation integrated into artistic patterns, while winding paths ensure that visitors can walk across the entire landscape.
At the entrance, the eco plaza houses park facilities and a permanent exhibition. The park's nine thematic eco-pavilions are located atop the hills, guiding visitors and students through interactive experiences that strengthen their connection to the environment and reinforce the educational role of the park. Additionally, one side of the largest hill features the tallest climbing wall in the Balkans, designed to host international competitions. This eco-park not only revitalizes the area but also demonstrates innovative approaches to fulfilling environmental responsibilities.
➤ FORMER SITUATION
Building Area : 144,000 m2
Location: Durrës, Albania
