The Urban Research Institute (URI) and the Municipality of Gjirokastër have officially initiated their collaboration under the SHARE.MedWATER project, following a successful introductory meeting held at the Gjirokastër Municipality offices. The meeting marked a significant step toward advancing sustainable water management solutions in the city, with a strong emphasis on the preservation and revitalization of its traditional water systems.
Strengthening Local Partnerships for Sustainable Water Management
The meeting brought together representatives from URI — Mr. Edlir Vokopola and Mr. Dritan Gorica — and municipal leadership, including Mayor Mr. Flamur Golemi and Deputy Mayor Mrs. Amarilda Lelaj. Municipal authorities expressed strong support for the project, highlighting its importance for both environmental sustainability and cultural heritage preservation, especially in a UNESCO World Heritage city like Gjirokastër.
Mayor Golemi emphasized the municipality’s readiness to facilitate project implementation and acknowledged the relevance of restoring traditional water collection structures, known as “stera”, which form an integral part of the city’s historic architecture and resilience practices.
Selecting Pilot Sites: A Collaborative Process
A major component of the discussion centered on identifying suitable locations for pilot interventions. URI has already shortlisted five historic houses that meet key criteria such as architectural value, restoration feasibility, and demonstration potential. Both parties agreed to expand this list through a broader assessment to include additional houses proposed by the municipality.
The selection process will require:
- Technical verification,
- Ownership coordination,
- Alignment with heritage protection rules.
This inclusive approach ensures that the final pilot sites reflect both technical feasibility and local priorities.
Field Visit to Restored Water Collection Systems
Following the meeting, URI and municipal representatives conducted a joint field visit to observe existing rehabilitated “stera” systems across the city.
The visit offered practical insights into:
- Restoration techniques,
- Functional performance of traditional water systems,
- How heritage-sensitive design can be integrated into modern sustainability measures.
This hands‑on exploration enriched the shared understanding necessary for designing effective interventions under SHARE.MedWATER.
Key Outcomes of the Meeting
The introductory meeting concluded with several important agreements:
- Formal municipal endorsement of the SHARE.MedWATER project.
- Commitment to close cooperation between URI and the municipality throughout the project cycle.
- Preliminary confirmation of five potential pilot houses, pending further validation.
- Agreement to conduct additional assessments for identifying more candidate sites.
- Joint recognition of the importance of revitalizing traditional water systems for climate adaptation and heritage protection.
- Strengthened collaboration through a shared technical field visit.
Next Steps: Formalizing Cooperation and Advancing Assessments
To formalize the partnership, both parties agreed to draft and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining roles and responsibilities in the identification, assessment, and rehabilitation of water collection systems.
Upcoming actions include:
- Signing the MoU between URI and the Municipality of Gjirokastër,
- Conducting technical reassessments of the initially identified houses,
- Exploring additional pilot site proposals by the municipality,
- Establishing clear selection criteria for final site confirmation,
- Preparing technical documentation and feasibility analyses,
- Maintaining regular coordination meetings to ensure smooth implementation.
A Foundation for Sustainable and Heritage‑Led Transformation
The meeting successfully laid the foundations for a productive collaboration between URI and the Municipality of Gjirokastër. With a shared commitment to integrating traditional knowledge with modern environmental practices, the SHARE.MedWATER project is poised to enhance water resilience while safeguarding the city’s unique cultural landscape.
As the project moves forward, the partnership aims to transform historic water systems into model examples of sustainable urban adaptation in Mediterranean heritage cities
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