More than a place of shade and rest, the Taulantina Promenade represents a meeting point between the city of Durrës and the Adriatic coast. Architecturally, it mediates between land and sea – through form and materiality – extending 200 metres along the shoreline in a sequence of large porticos.
The geometry of these porticos is derived from the semi-circle, a form historically favoured by classical architects and artists for its natural prevalence and formal harmony. Reinterpreted here in exposed concrete, the shape acquires a contemporary feel while also addressing the practical demands of a coastal environment: resilience to wind, salt, and sea spray.
The repetition of the arches causes visitors the illusion of a barrel vault, creating a guide for their gaze and lending the promenade the appearance of a continuous facade when viewed from either side. This visual continuity extends further: between the structure’s blue pigments and the shifting tones of the sea, and the interplay of light and shadow from both the roof and surrounding vegetation.
At three key intervals, the porticos reduce in size, subtly demarcating stations where informational panels narrate the history, culture, and architecture of both the promenade and the city. These moments punctuate the journey, enriching the visitor’s experience through layered meaning and spatial variation.
