Hotel in Vlora
Vlora, Albania
Located on Albania’s southwestern coast, Vlora is a city of exceptional geographic and cultural significance. As a gateway between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Vlora offers a rare blend of natural beauty and strategic importance. The landscape features a vivid contrast: a flat coastal plain on one side and rugged mountains—including the Shashica Hills and Llogara Pass—on the other. This topographic diversity not only defines the city’s character but also creates a dynamic canvas for architectural innovation.
The Mediterranean climate—marked by hot, dry summers and mild winters—further enhances Vlora’s appeal, offering over 290 days of sunshine annually. Sea breezes contribute to a clean, pleasant atmosphere that supports outdoor living and a strong connection to nature. Ecologically rich areas such as the Vjosa River delta and the Narta Lagoon offer additional value, supporting biodiversity and informing environmentally sensitive design strategies.
Amid this stunning context, a new hotel in Vlora has been conceived as a landmark of sustainable and culturally rooted architecture. This project embraces the city’s layered geography and Mediterranean lifestyle, offering guests an immersive experience that celebrates both nature and community. The hotel’s design responds to its setting with panoramic views, terraced structures that echo the mountainside, and a material palette that respects the surrounding environment.
Culturally, Vlora is deeply influenced by Mediterranean traditions—family, food, music, and social connection are central to daily life. These values are integrated into the hotel’s public spaces, from open-air dining areas to communal courtyards that foster interaction and relaxation.
Historically, the city also holds architectural legacies from Albania’s authoritarian era, particularly in the form of government villas built during the mid-20th century. These structures, characterized by their isolation and control, stand in stark contrast to the open, inclusive vision that guides the new hotel in Vlora. Where past architecture emphasized separation, this project invites connection—with people, place, and nature.
With its fusion of ecological awareness, cultural sensitivity, and contemporary design, the hotel in Vlora sets a new standard for hospitality in Albania, reinforcing the city’s role as a growing hub for sustainable tourism and architectural innovation.
Location
Vlora
Albania
Area
4,154 sqm
Client
Albanian Investment Corporation
Distinctions
Third prize
Open competition
Architecture
PRÁCTICA
Barclay & Crousse
Local architects
Tharm Architects
Landscape architecture
RSR
Engineering
Fatjon Saliu
Developer
2A Group
Hotel operator
Swiss Diamond
PRÁCTICA team
Jaime Daroca
José Mayoral
José Ramón Sierra
Biel Bauzà
Raúl Brito
Joel Salamero
Juan Luis Vela
Renderings
Kelvin Ho