The area around Tirana's Artificial Lake, once a green and peaceful space, is rapidly transforming into an area filled with high-rise towers.
One of the projects that symbolizes this change is the "United Towers of Tirana", a 25-story tower that has begun to rise opposite the Olympic Park below the lake's dam.
Conceived by Italian architect Marco Casamonti with local office X-Plan Studio, the tower envisages around 72 thousand square meters of construction, of which around 50 thousand will be above ground area.
It is being built on a 4,628 square meter plot where three 2023-2-story villas were located until 3. According to the construction permit, approved in August 2023 by the government, the project uses 60.3% of the plot area and has a construction intensity (10.9) significantly above the norms previously foreseen by the local general plan.
The small coefficient of 29.7% left for roads and public spaces raises concerns about the impact on the environment and future development projects that the area will have.
The project was commissioned by the company “Unico Construction”, owned in partnership by Pëllumb Brari and Armand Lilo, the latter as a shareholder of “Armaar Group”. Lilo is a well-known figure in the construction sector, often rumored for close relations with the government.
Read more about the series "Tirana Vertical"which explains the construction in the capital.
In 2019, his company “Arlis Ndërtim” acquired, through a controversial procedure, 30,000 square meters of land in the area of the former Mechanical Factory in Tirana. This space was developed into the residential complex “Square 21”, occupying the former factory’s garden and building – part of which was used as offices for the Municipal Police.
Urban interventions around the Artificial Lake have radically changed the identity of the area. From a peaceful and green space, it has turned into a deeply urbanized area with luxury buildings and expensive apartments.
According to the General Local Plan of the Municipality of Tirana, the Great Lake Park is part of the structural unit TR/2, which extends over an area of 255.75 hectares. However, this park does not have legal protection status.
The majority of construction is concentrated in the areas around the lake, or below the dam (TR/169, TR/592, TR/35, TR/34 and TR/42), where the “United Towers of Tirana” is currently being built. According to the master plan, the maximum height allowed in these areas is 9 floors, a limitation that has clearly been exceeded with government intervention.
Lake Park has undergone significant shrinkage in recent years. According to reports "Baselines for the protection and development of Tirana's park", the park's surface area has been reduced by 40-45 hectares, a loss that contradicts the principle that requires the expansion of green spaces in the face of population growth.
Another big project, "Lake View Residences", is built opposite the Artificial Lake, occupying an area of 129,000 square meters. These large developments have raised concerns about the impact they have on public spaces and the quality of life in the city.
As Tirana continues to expand, dilemmas over balancing urban development and preserving green spaces remain more concerning than ever.
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He completed master's studies in Investigative Journalism at the Department of Journalism at the University of Tirana. She has been working as a journalist for five years, where she previously covered issues of politics and parliamentary activity, in print and online media. She is currently a journalist at Citizens.al, where she covers various social issues related to the transparency of institutions. At Citizens.al, she leads the podcast "The Unheard" and is engaged as a manager of projects related to the support of investigative journalism.
