Quality of Public Open Spaces in Tirana

Abstract

With the fall of the communist regime and the start of land privatization, Tirana went through a period of rapid urban expansion that generated an unprecedented explosion of informal settlements and the loss of public/collective spaces. This transformation is reflected in urban form and spatial configuration/perception of the public spaces. To measure the performance of public spaces, it is important to avoid on-size-fits-all, as Carmona states, while pointing out principles for public space design. This research investigates how public spaces succeed in creating a sense of belonging and, thus, creating places. To address this research question, we highlight the qualities of Tirana’s public space through a proposed model of analysis. It develops from the attributes of placemaking with theoretical reference to Kent and GPTs. Attributes are composed of entities measured or quantified to be used as indicators of the quality and livability of public spaces. Compare the four case studies with each other to frame public spaces in relation to their spatial configuration, confronting the project proposal both for its design and the state of livability. The results of this evaluation process will serve as a basis to address future improvement intervention for the community and for the planning practitioners.