Commissioned by the European Investment Bank, the Shkodër Museums Master Plan defines a cultural and urban strategy for the centre of the Albanian city, organising the Museum Quarter as a network of institutions, public spaces, routes and services. The aim is not simply to locate new museums, but to build a system that creates relationships, attracts visitors and generates lasting opportunities for the community.
The project begins with an analysis of the existing heritage, urban flows, accessibility and the potential of individual sites, from the Castle to the municipal library. The restoration and upgrading of historic buildings are combined with new uses and connections, while squares, gardens, pedestrian routes and cycle paths become collective infrastructure that supports the region’s tourism potential. The plan is phased, with flexible scenarios and achievable priorities, allowing it to adapt to available resources and future change without losing coherence.
At the urban scale, Studio Lauria applies the same context-sensitive method used for individual buildings: listening to stakeholders, responding to local characteristics and integrating architectural, economic, museological and communication expertise. Lasting quality encompasses management, accessibility, mobility, heritage reuse and social impact. The Museum Quarter thus becomes the heart of an elastic and permeable city, where culture, daily life and tourism support one another. The project confirms the practice’s ability to manage complex international processes, translating a strategic vision into coordinated actions that create value.
Aware of the challenges of globalisation, we draw on Italian creativity to develop projects that respect and enhance local identities and cultures.
