BORN FROM THE ROCKS, FRAMING LLAMANI’S LANDSCAPE
OODA Architecture: Carved into the rugged coastline of the Albanian Riviera, The Concave is a premium boutique hotel that merges with the natural contours of Llamani Beach. Set within a 56,000 sqm plot, the development spans 10,835 sqm and features 63 keys, a 460 sqm wellness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, leisure areas, restaurants and bars, and private indoor parking with additional outdoor spaces for beach accessibility.
This project is an exercise in precision, where form, shadow, and materiality respond to the environment, absorbing and reflecting the surrounding landscape. Designed for an immersive experience, the hotel carefully integrates leisure spaces—pools, lounges, and wellness facilities—ensuring a fluid dialogue between built and natural elements.
As part of a broader masterplan, the intervention redefines the waterfront, establishing a cohesive architectural identity that respects the site’s raw authenticity. A thoughtfully designed parking system enhances functionality and landscape continuity, providing adaptable spaces for cultural and social interaction.
Llamani Beach is a geography of contrasts—gravel shores meeting crystalline waters, framed by verdant hills. The architecture does not impose but adapts, following the site’s natural rhythms. Prioritizing sustainability and spatial intelligence, the project incorporates solar energy, water conservation strategies, and the preservation of native flora, reinforcing the equilibrium between nature and the built environment.
The bold, sculptural topography demands an architecture that is both adaptive and respectful. Ecotourism, low-impact development, and deep landscape immersion define the design approach here. Rather than dominating the scenery, the architecture frames and amplifies it. An elevated access road to Llamani Beach dictates the visitor’s first impression—the hotel and its masterplan are first seen from above. As such, the roof becomes the fifth façade, where architecture dissolves into the terrain. This aerial perspective informs material choices and volumetric composition, ensuring full integration with the landscape.
Situated within the Himara region, near the historic Port of Palermo, the site is shaped by layered histories—Venetian fortifications, Ottoman relics, and modern interventions. Rather than replicating the past, this project extends its narrative, responding to the site’s geological and cultural depth with contemporary sensitivity.
ABOUT OODA
OODA (Oporto Office for Design and Architecture) is a dynamic studio founded by Diogo Brito, Rodrigo Vilas Boas, and Francisco Lencastre, later joined by João Jesus and Julião Pinto Leite. With over 50 architects in Porto and Lisbon, the studio is known for innovative, contextually-driven designs across diverse project types, from residential to large-scale developments. Inspired by the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act), the studio emphasizes collaboration and cutting-edge technology, blending hand-drawn sketches with advanced digital tools. OODA is internationally recognized for its sustainable and forward-thinking approach.
