Urban Catalysis - A theoretical framework for the urban development in Albania

ENGLISH

The city and the concept of public space has been evolved during the last centuries. Most of the successful public spaces of today are made, envisioned, designed, and realized not as sole entities, but as integrative components of an organism. The notion of what makes a successful public space is a topic worth investigating in the urban framework. What can this describe the present, even about future urban space? As architects we need to go beyond movement to think about what growth, expansion, and contraction can influence the urban tissue. According to Attoe and Logan, the notion of Urban Catalyst is an attempt to reopen the debate on strategies and tools to activate and rethink urban space and city development. This research would attempt to examine the significance of the urban catalyst as a means of urban revitalization. Bohannon, (Bohannon, 2004) states that the urban catalyst theory can be linked to place through the study of contextual factors in urban design. These factors include morphological, social, functional, perceptual, visual, and temporal points of view. For the urban catalyst to respond to its setting, it also must possess a strong sense of place and authenticity. The intent of this research is to serve as a prototype for demonstrating and testing the position and design process in the case of catalytic interventions. The methodology that will be applied has as an analysis point a serious of public spaces in the city.