Luca Dini Design & Architecture have announced 5 iconic projects along the coast of Albania, where the studio is helping develop high level tourist marinas, exclusive resorts and luxury villas. This work is the result of years of experience in integrating, nautical and urban design and architecture, together with the desire to respect the surrounding environment.

A refined style in line with the Albanian coast

Albania, a rapidly growing Mediterranean destination, represents a singular opportunity for innovative and sustainable development. The Florence-based studio wants to be at the heart of this process through the construction of sophisticated spaces that integrate perfectly with the surrounding landscape and enhance the local urban fabric. Experiences along the coast have been re-imagined to provide seamless connections between land and sea. At the same time, each piece is a work of art inspired by Italian identity and the Florentine Renaissance, which harmoniously brings together tradition and modernity, classic elegance and contemporary style. In this manner figurative points of reference are created that pay tribute to Italy’s rich cultural heritage.

“We chose – explains Luca Dini, CEO and founder of the studio – to expand our scope of practice by including architecture and urban planning, in addition to yacht design, in line with our philosophy based on ‘looking at the land from the sea’. This distinctive approach, which has allowed us to create and develop singular and innovative designs, reflects our values of excellence, sustainability and a profound respect for the environment, ensuring that the expansion of the Albanian coast is aesthetically refined and ecologically responsible.”

Colosseum 339: a metaphysical fusion between tradition and modernity

Inspired by the metaphysical Cities by De Chirico, Colosseum 339 is a tower with rounded arches of different sizes located in different places. The building embodies a union of tradition with modern dynamism, harmoniously blending together interior and exterior spaces. The design translates metaphysical concepts into a functional aesthetic structure, that places humans at its heart. The architectural language is inspired by Albanian fortifications and Medieval Italian towers, reinforcing the cultural ties between Albania and Italy.

Tirana Villas: harmony between nature and art

This luxury residential complex blends the buildings into the natural landscape, creating a singular living experience. The villas have been built using a hypogeal approach, meaning building partially or completely underground. At the same time the containment was evoke the geometric dynamism of a Kandinsky painting, transforming the landscape into an open air piece of art.

Durres Tower: a new point of reference for Albania

The Durres Tower, a 30-storey multifunctional skyscraper, will redesign the urban lifestyle of the historical seaside town of Durres. Developing over a surface area of 4350m2, the tower will become the nerve centre for housing, commerce and hospitality. The façade is covered in recycled slats and a special resin created directly on site using 3D printing. The skyscraper also integrates a “green canyon”, an ecological corridor that improves air quality.

Pine Residences: a modern fortress inspired by Durres

Pine Residences are a new estate inspired by the ancient ruins of Durres, reinterpreting the architectural elements of the past in a contemporary manner. The plan includes a residential area, a cultural amphitheatre and a panoramic bastion with a breathtaking view of the Adriatic.

Skalitur Tower: a sculptural vision of architecture

Inspired by the incomplete “Prisons” by Michelangelo, Skalitur Tower represents the battle between material emerging from a lack of shape. The design, with a sinuous design, reflects the balance between solidness and movement. The design, which uses material extracted from Albanian caves, presents itself as a tribute to transformation and territorial continuity, a combination of history, art and architecture.

by Arianna Gurreri