Landscape master plan for the Butrint National Park Visitor Center

Butrint National Park, located in southern Albania, is home to the ruins of the ancient city of Butrint, one of the most important archaeological sites in the country and a breathtaking treasure in the Balkans. The extraordinary wonder of the site lies in the unique pairing of invaluable historical monuments with a stunning and untouched natural setting: Butrint is both a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a park protected by the Ramsar Convention for the preservation of wetlands of international importance. Here, 85 hectares of green, rocky hills overlook 2,500 hectares of lagoon and wetlands. The visitor center, at once a landmark and a space for orienting visits, increases the legibility and accessibility of this vast park while allowing better control over visitor numbers. Our design amplifies the spirit of the park and archaeological site in line with archaeologist Richard Hodges’ vision, weaving architecture with nature through a structure that blends into the landscape. Visitors can choose from multiple paths connecting the Epirot Theater, Roman Forum, and early Byzantine Baptistery, their journey throughout the site designed as an immersive rite of passage in this Ancient Greek landscape. Our design highlights the sweeping views, while heightening landscape legibility among the terraced olive groves and shepherds’ paths along the hills.