Velika Plaza Master Plan

Ulcinj, Montenegro

2009

 

Velika Plaza (trans- Long Beach) is a 13km parcel at the extreme southern coast of Montenegro on the Albanian border. The brief called for the development of up to 24,000 beds in tourist hotels from 2 to 5+ star quality along with a tourist village and required infrastructure.

 

Design Concepts

The site is organized into the five zones. Two for hotel with direct beach access, two that are mixed use/hospitality and institutional uses required to support the community functions that support the hotels. The final zone is pastoral and incorporates some existing uses including agricultural zones. These precincts are linked by pedestrian paths offering varying degrees of experience from urban to secluded eco-tourist activities. The primary design goal was to minimize site disruption and support the adjacent dune ecology. Our site coverage including the marina is less than 10%.

 

A Totally Integrated Sustainable Master Plan was developed including:

 

Central Multimodal Transportation centers will minimize the use of vehicles and guests will be transferred to hotels by shuttle. Electric shuttles will provide greater access beyond the site.

 

There is adequate Energy for initial development. As the site is built out greater energy demand  will be accommodated from locally generated renewable energy sources. Migratory bird paths make wind energy unviable so PV will become the preferred approach.

 

The Ulcinj Water system that will be re-constructed along with the build out of the site. Non-potable water sources include rainwater gathered, treated and stored on site.

 

A Wastewater treatment facility will be a part of phase one. The facility will be scalable to accommodate later phases. Processed water will be released for wetland recharge. Solid waste will be converted to fertilizer and sold to the local agricultural community.

 

Solid Waste will be collected and processed on site. The recyclable market will need to be developed. Organic material can be composted to provide fertilizer for the local agricultural production.

 

Biodiversity in the surrounding region have a unique ecosystem within Montenegro. Biodiversity stabilization and enhancement of this site is a major design principle. Protection of bird and wetland  habitat and regionally rare or endangered species is a major consideration..

 

Agricultural Uses make up a large amount of the site. The product then benefits the development as the food grown would be served on site. This will include greenhouses for fruits and vegetables and groves of citrus.

 

Social Capital and Opportunity. A college of hospitality, culinary arts and language allied with an established university is proposed as part of our program with the goal of creating professional opportunities here or anywhere else in the world.

 

This project was a collaboration that included Gensler, Denver and Buro Happold Engineering