THE LEAVES

Vlore, the jewel of the Albanian Riviera, is a place where land, sea, and sky converge in a landscape of extraordinary energy. Nestled between the hills and the Mediterranean, it faces the setting sun, watched over by distant mountain peaks that rise like the Earth’s own breath, shaping the coastline in an ancient, undulating rhythm. Water has carved deep grooves into the terrain, where fertile terraces emerge, allowing nature to take root, offering both sustenance and beauty.

Building in such a place is more than an act of construction—it is an act of recognition, a response to the deep forces that define the land. This project does not impose itself but grows from the site, reconnecting architecture with nature, the city with the landscape, and people with their surroundings. The natural contours of the land converge at this site, creating a place of remarkable energy and harmony. Here, the folds of the earth meet, shaping a terrain that feels both powerful and intentional—an ideal foundation from which a new form can emerge, like a tree of life taking root.

Nature has always been the soul of art, inspiring humanity’s greatest creations. Yet, despite our reverence, no human endeavour can truly match the effortless beauty of the natural world. This setting, framed by towering cliffs that descend into the Mediterranean, is a landscape of dramatic intensity—at once raw and breathtaking. It is a scene shaped by time, where the elements have carved an environment that engages all the senses. Unlike the uniformity of standard construction, which often overlooks its surroundings, this place speaks through its very essence: the shifting light on stone, the scent of salt in the air, the caress of the sea breeze, and the distant cries of seagulls. Here, architecture must not compete with nature but exist in harmony with it.

The building is composed of two interlocking volumes that rotate and shift, capturing and reflecting the Mediterranean light. The façades, sculpted with a three-dimensional geometric pattern, serve as both artistic expression and function. These surfaces hold a living tapestry of planters, allowing greenery to weave through the architecture like branches reaching toward the sun. Protruding elements reflect natural light, echoing the leaves of treetops, the refraction of light and shaded parts—marked not by diagonals but by horizontals and verticals—deconstruct the volume, making it permeable and lightweight.

The material palette is drawn directly from the landscape. Prefabricated concrete panels, tinted in five natural shades, mirror the seasonal tones of Vlore’s hills and cliffs, embedding the structure within its surroundings. Sustainability is not an afterthought but an intrinsic part of the design. Deep overhangs shield interiors from the summer heat while inviting warm sunlight in the winter months—an intelligent, elemental response to place, harnessing the wisdom of Mediterranean architecture without reliance on excessive technology.

At its core, the building is structured around the perfect geometry of a square—an anchoring force within the undulating topography. This ordered framework serves as a pivot for the movement of the volumes, evoking a spiral, a helix, a growth pattern found in nature. It is an architecture that feels both timeless and alive, as if it has always belonged here.

This is more than a building; it is a symbol of place, a mark of understanding and reverence for the land. Once built, it will feel inevitable, as though it had always been part of this landscape—a presence that speaks to the poetry of nature, the power of history, and the joy of living between the mountains and the sea.

With love,
DMA