berdenesh hills: NOA plans ‘contemporary citadel’ along albania’s southern coast

noa unveils terraced homes on the mediterranean

Berdenesh Hills by NOA in Saranda, Albania, is a residential and hospitality development set along the southern Mediterranean coastline, where hillside terrain and sea views guide the project’s architectural logic.

The project occupies a sloping site within a quieter rural landscape outside Saranda. Approaching the area, the road traces low hills marked by scrub vegetation and exposed stone, with the sea appearing intermittently before opening fully toward the horizon.

NOA distributes the program across a group of terraced volumes that step with the topography. The ensemble reads as a compact development, shaped by the slope and oriented toward long views across the water and the distant outline of the Greek island of Corfu.

visualizations © Aleksey Mokhov (unless otherwise stated)

a clustered neighborhood for a new ‘citadel’

In designing its Berdenesh Hills project, the architects at NOA keep in mind the context of Southern Albania, which carries a layered architectural history. Here, remnants of castles and fortified settlements are scattered across the landscape. These structures often occupy elevated positions, their forms shaped by defensive logic as well as by the terrain.

The new development draws from this legacy through the idea of a contemporary citadel, interpreted as a clustered neighborhood rather than a closed perimeter.

Buildings are arranged around a central piazza that acts as the social and spatial core of the project. From this shared space, paths extend outward toward homes and gardened terraces. Meanwhile, the perimeter remains visually porous to maintain views of the surroundings.

Berdenesh Hills occupies a sloping Mediterranean site along the coast of southern Albania

the stepped architecture of berdenesh hills

The architecture of NOA’s Berdenesh Hills relies on stepped roof planes and varying building heights to mirror the slope of the site along the coast of Albania. Volumes rise and fall in section, creating a rhythm that feels closely tied to the terrain. From above, the roofs form an articulated surface that blends into the hillside, while from below, the terraces emphasize horizontality without dominating the view.

Facades are finished in warm, earthy plaster tones that echo the colors of the surrounding soil and rock. Subtle projections and recesses animate the surfaces by catching light differently throughout the day. This modulation reduces the visual weight often associated with multi level residential construction in Saranda.

the project organizes housing and hospitality as a compact hillside development

private terraces for sweeping sea views

Outdoor space plays a central role across the development. Each apartment includes a private terrace, designed as an extension of the interior living area. Along the edges of the buildings, these terraces widen, offering large exterior rooms oriented toward the sea. Parapets are lowered and detailed with slender metal elements to maintain open sightlines from inside the apartments.

At the center of Berdenesh Hills, the main square unfolds across multiple terraced levels, accommodating circulation, gathering, and a small community pavilion. A Mediterranean park weaves through the site, planted with species adapted to the coastal climate. Together, these shared spaces reinforce a sense of collective life while preserving privacy within individual dwellings.

Preliminary design approval has been secured and construction is planned to begin in 2026.

terraced volumes follow the terrain and preserve long views toward the sea

a central piazza structures movement and shared life across the site

warm plaster facades respond to light, stone, and plantlife

project info:

name: Berdenesh Hills

architect: NOA | @we.are.noa

location: Berdenesh, Saranda, Albania

local architect: Atelier 4 | @atelier4studio

status: preliminary design approval

visualizations: © Aleksey Mokhov, © NOA

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