Bofill Taller de Arquitectura has unveiled plans for The Veil, a large-scale residential resort currently under construction in Dhërmi. Positioned between the Adriatic coastline and densely forested mountain terrain, the project introduces a low-impact architectural approach that preserves the site’s natural topography and ecological character.
Set within a sensitive landscape of steep slopes and deciduous woodland, the development avoids extensive excavation. Instead, the studio describes the intervention as a “light or invisible veil” resting gently across the terrain. Accordingly, the structures follow existing land formations and settle onto natural platforms rather than reshaping the mountain through aggressive construction methods.
The project reflects a growing architectural focus on landscape integration and environmental sensitivity, particularly in coastal destinations undergoing rapid tourism development. At the same time, The Veil continues Bofill Taller de Arquitectura’s long-standing interest in geometry, material continuity, and large-scale spatial planning.
Architecture Designed Around the Landscape
The resort spans two separate plots and includes 366 apartments alongside 77 villas distributed across sixteen residential typologies. Rather than organizing the development through rigid urban grids, the masterplan adapts to the mountain’s vertical rhythm through a network of stepped pathways and staircases built from locally sourced stone.
To strengthen the connection between architecture and landscape, the design team developed a custom palette of four paving stone colors based on material samples gathered directly from the surrounding environment. Consequently, circulation spaces visually blend into the terrain instead of appearing imposed upon it.
The buildings themselves share a restrained material language defined by concrete and glazed ceramic tile façades. These surfaces respond dynamically to changing daylight conditions, absorbing and reflecting shadow throughout the day while reinforcing the project’s muted visual presence within the forest.
Communal Spaces and Coastal Views
At the center of the resort sits a communal building housing a social club, restaurant, gym, and several pools. Although much of the development follows a rectilinear architectural language, this structure introduces softer curves through a courtyard organized around a cluster of ancient trees.
By shaping the building around existing vegetation, the project positions the landscape as the focal point of the communal experience. Furthermore, the courtyard reinforces the broader design strategy of minimizing disruption while integrating architecture into the site’s ecological framework.
The overall composition emphasizes horizontal platforms combined with vertical growth, allowing buildings to rise carefully among the trees while capturing panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. Large windows, terraces, and open balconies further dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior space.
As a result, The Veil balances resort-scale development with an architectural language centered on permeability, light, and environmental continuity. The project also signals Albania’s growing prominence within contemporary architecture and hospitality design, particularly along its rapidly developing southern coastline.