Gijrokastra Regeneration Through Smart Technologies

The paper explores the use of digital tools in urban regeneration, the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, and the role of technology in co-living spaces. It is the evolution of previous research developed in 2021 and completes its original strategic picture with further considerations. The research question is how to reactivate Gijrokaster’s economy and development by leveraging existing resources, applying modern smart technologies, and focusing on a holistic perspective driven by the urban design and planning of the city. The results of the research are the definition of realistic urban planning and design strategy that could be applied to Gjirokaster. Other results are the application of smart technologies into an urban development or recovery strategy, and the creative and adaptive use of existing buildings and space to introduce new factors in city development. Future results could be the abstraction of the used methodology to define a general approach to identify space for improvement or recovery in crumbling cities. The methodological approach of the paper starts from the analysis of the Gjirokaster urban context, its history and its potential, and provides a strategy to generate a virtuous loop that leads to Gijrokaster rebirth, leveraging both traditional resources (like tourism and agriculture) but also leveraging other local resources (university, hospital, industrial area, natural resources, …) to create a synergy capable to start, in a sustainable and manageable way, the rebirth of the city. In this approach, the urban layout and its adaptation to the strategy is a key element, but also how to gather starting equity and maintain an economic flux is another.