Self-Sufficient Cities and Sustainable Habitats

The challenges of climate change and rapid urbanization are manifold and increasing in intensity and urgency. Although many of the issues are global, small- to medium-scale solutions and micro, local responses can have outsized impacts. These initiatives are often more manageable to implement—and successful in execution—than some larger-scale undertakings and have positive effects on the built and natural environments. This book highlights practices, implementations and lessons that can support sustainable habitats and self-sufficient cities. This volume integrates perspectives and case studies from six countries across the Euro-Afro-Asian supercontinent, drawing together original theoretical and applied research on ongoing practices and proposals for creating sustainable, resilient, healthy, and comfortable urban environments. Contributions reflect the polyhedric and interrelated concepts of self-sufficiency and sustainability, incorporating trans-scalar design fields covering topics ranging from interconnected sustainable metropolises and the regeneration of green neighbourhoods to self-sufficient buildings and place-based, self-sufficient micro-economies. Chapters illustrate how different design approaches and scales in architecture, engineering, and urbanism are evolving in response to changes in urban living habitats. This volume definitively emphasizes the human impact on habitats, highlighting the importance of circular, small-scale, bottom-up approaches that can collectively contribute to an increasingly sustainable future.

Fabio Naselli is an architect with a PhD in Urban Planning and Design and serves as Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture, Epoka University (Tirana, Albania). He completed post-doctoral research at the University of Palermo and was Assistant Professor in Urban Planning and Design at Kore University of Enna. Fabio has lectured at Helwan, Mansoura, Delta and Alexandria universities in Egypt and at Palermo, G. Marconi, Federico II and Foggia in Italy. He has authored numerous international peer-reviewed publications, acted as senior researcher on several EU-funded projects and works as a senior consultant in urban planning for both public bodies and private firms. Scientific interests are co-planning and participatory urban co-design, open spaces co-design, rural and marginal areas development, and integrated relational tourism. Edmond Manahasa is an Associate Professor at the department of architecture at Epoka University, Albania. His research is focused on the themes of built environment psychology, urban identity, post-socialist urban developments, and housing typologies. He has conducted studies on the historical architecture in Albania and Kosovo. He is co-editor of books: Current Challenges in Architecture and Urbanism in Albania; COVID-19 (Forced) Innovations: Pandemic Impacts on Architecture and Urbanism; and Placemaking in Practice Volume 2: Engagement in Placemaking: Methods, Strategies, Approaches. Egin Zeka [PhD] is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Architecture and the director of Center of research and Design in Applied Sciences [CoRDA] at Epoka University, Albania. He teaches courses of “Urban Design” and “Advanced Design Studios”. Furthermore, he does research with master students in the field of urbanism. Zeka received his bachelor’s degree in urban and Regional Planning [2009], Master degree in Urban Design [2012], and PhD degree in Urban and Regional Planning [2020] at Istanbul Technical University, Turkey. His research interests are in urban morphology, vernacular urbanism, bottom-up urbanism, children friendly cities, rural planning. He has won internation prizes of the Projects: `DURANA, International Urban Design Competition, 2nd prize (teamwork), 2014; National Design Competition: “Tourism into Tradition, B&B project, 1st Prize, La Biennale di Venezia, part of the team representing Albanian pavilion in Biennale Architectura [2018]; Team leader in “100+ Villages Academy”. Kreshnik Merxhani is an architect, lecturer, and researcher specializing in heritage conservation and restoration. He teaches Architectural Design, Restoration and Conservation Studio, and Freehand Drawing at Epoka University, where he also supervises research on architectural heritage. Architect M.Sc. graduate of the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Merxhani has led and co-authored numerous restoration projects in Albania’s historic centers, including his tenure as Head of the Technical Sector at the Regional Directorate of National Culture in Gjirokastër. His work with the Gjirokastra Foundation was shortlisted for the Aga Khan Award (2010), presented at the Venice Biennale (2012), and recognized with the Europa Nostra Award (2021). With Cultural Heritage without Borders, he co-directed initiatives awarded the Europa Nostra Prize (2014). He has presented at international conferences across Europe and published on traditional architecture, heritage documentation, and conservation theory. Actively engaged in heritage advocacy, Merxhani has contributed expert interventions at UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee and co-nominated sites to Europa Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered programme, including the Historic Centre of Gjirokastër (2018) and the National Theatre of Albania (2020). His professional and academic work integrates conservation practice, multidisciplinary research, and heritage law to safeguard Albania’s cultural legacy.

1 Introducing Sustainable Habitats and Self-Sufficient Cities.- 2 Urban Regeneration Through System Planning and Multiscalar Approach for a Self-Sufficient City: The Case of Santa Maria Capua Vetere in Italy.- 3 The Urban Project of the Testaccio District in Rome: How a Compact Fabric Can and Must Accommodate Strategic Transformation Initiatives for a Sustainable Habitat Progress.- 4 "Cartographies" of the Landscape of the Interwar Linear Park of Fokionos Negri Street in Athens Through Literature and Art.- 5 Abandoned Factories and Industrial Landscape in Albania.- 6 Tirana - Next: Exploring Potential Strategies for the City's Sustainable Third Landscape.- 7 The Relationship Between Heritage Buildings and Their Urban Unit - Reinterpreting the Role of the Urban Context in Historical Habitats Facing Rapid Transformations, Case of Tirana.- 8 Laic and Religious Areas in the Small Town of Vigonza (Italy). Examples of Urban Mending Projects.- 9 Walking in Vital Space: Timeline of Vitality in the Inner City of Urmia.- 10 How Walking-Streets Promoting Sightseeing; Effect of Walking Routes on the Tourist Places of Hamadan Inner City.- 11 Unveiling the Long-Term Value of Green Buildings for Self-Sufficient Units: A Life Cycle Cost and Budget Analysis in the Albanian Landscape.- 12 Lessons Learned from Sustainable Habitats and Self-Sufficient Cities in the Euro-Mediterranean Context.