LOCUS: Urban Residences is our proposed entry for an international design competition for 4.2 hectares of dense mixed-use development, initiated in 2024 by a joint venture of private investors Agullimi A & Bel Group sh.p.k in Prizren, Kosovo. This proposal aimed to intertwine a sustainable urban solution, contemporary architecture, and cultural and natural heritage values of the place. It is planned as a reference point for the new part of the city and aims to set a new standard of urban development with a focus on people and community, in contrast to the existing, car-oriented developments.
The urban development plan for the vacant lot is designed to be pedestrian-oriented, with vehicular movement limited to the perimeter or placed underground. The green areas exceed significantly the local urban codes. The overall development is divided into two main areas: the active area consisting of commercial and housing, and a quieter area planned solely to housing.
The proposed morphology of the overall buildings is inspired from the local nature heritage, more particularly the hills and mountains in the background and the river as an important element of the city. The geometries and patterns from local cultural and architectural heritage are used as inspiration for the material patterns of the façade and throughout the development.
