41 #64 A10 3 1 1 editors, guest Eurovision leftfrom right: to Besnik Aliaj of and co-founder (Rector Kristo Saimir POLIS University), and Manager (Curricula Architecture of Director Dhamo and Sotir Week), and co-founder (Administrator of POLIS University) 2 POLIS University Campus, Albania Tirana, 3 The Pyramid of of the ceremony Awards Competition Lost Architecture Pyramid of inside the Tirana by organized Tirana, Week Architecture EUROVISION: ALBANIA EUROVISION: 2 4

- University Tirana Architecture Week (TAW) is a biennial (TAW) Week Architecture Tirana www.universitetipolis.edu.al, www.tiranaarchitectureweek.com www.universitetipolis.edu.al, Info POLIS Tirana & Week Architecture of the is a product in Albania Higher education is alternative sector The private century. 20th decades two last the over reforms of result the transition. POLIS University of post-communist tradition, while such from a clear break aims for Albanian of creative values real the appreciating enriching it heritage, educational and regional contemporarymost the internationof - some with new of this examples leading Two al experiences. Architecture and Tirana POLIS University are drive instalment. editors of this guest the Week, a leading initiated (U_POLIS) POLIS University that policies in 2006 of territorial Albanian school planning, architecture, regarding issues explores - profes and academic of level the at design and scientific applied and Through practice. sional - sci and promotes develops U_POLIS research, Its origin is the and innovation. excellence entific Habitat for establishment of the Co-PLAN Institute and institute as a professional (1995) Development of participatorycivic movement planning and good established a Co-PLAN In early 2000, governance. into which evolved Centre’ and Exchange ‘Training Urban & of Architecture School ‘POLIS, International is insti- The school in 2006. Policies’ Development since accredited tutionally and programmatically programmes with various in 2013 and again 2009, and levels, and doctorate master, in bachelor, partnerships international with HIS/Erasmus with of Ferrara (NL), University of Rotterdam University US), and (Michigan, University (IT), Tech Lawrence States. and the United in Europe universities other - knowl international promote that aims to event as as well among professionals, edge exchange art, and in architecture, interest public enhance - contemporary urban devel to design, with respect of POLIS philosophy the strong by opment. Inspired - architec for platform a local in creating University work lectures, organize we tural and urban debate, The aim is to events. and public shops, exhibitions, radical undergone cities that have Balkan reactivate in diverse changes, resulting and economic social With great development. uncontrollable and often their recognizing and also their history, to respect give to desires TAW development, future needs for and professionals, opportunities students, young to ideas and clearer generate to the citizens of Tirana only not the future, illustrate to in order proposals the cities of the all for also but capital, Albania’s for and struggles common which face region, Balkan The urban and rural fabrics. in their respective issues Future ‘[En]visioning 2014 edition, TAW most recent in- today, upon the challenges of reflected Cities’, tomorrow. spiring growth for

- - evolution Albania’s examine , we edition of Eurovision In this planning culture in an environment where not only residents, but even only residents, not where even but in an environment culture planning - develop such from excluded architectsfeel urban and planners may transit middle of a major European ments. is situated in the Tirana and closely East, Near the with Europe Southern corridor connecting harbourcity nearby the to geographically economically and connected economic country’s of the main driver of Durrës. This situation is the into expanding is continuously area and the and cultural development, metropolis. a super-regional ambitions to in as it aspires capital’s on the ary focusing process, un- to It is an attempt metropolis. Balkan a competitive become and ex innovative this to lead points generative that derstand the perimental ‘island’ in a territorial ‘sea’ of ex-communist nations of ex-communist perimental ‘island’ in a territorial ‘sea’ shadow hidden in the remaining change and thus denying are that past. of the Once known for strict, government-controlled spatial planning, planning, spatial government-controlled strict, for known Once EUROVISION: ALBANIA EUROVISION: TEXT: SAIMIR KRISTO, SOTIR DHAMO, BESNIK ALIAJ, JOANA DHIAMANDI JOANA ALIAJ, BESNIK DHAMO, SOTIR KRISTO, SAIMIR TEXT: After centuries of isolation and suppression under one of the harshest the of one under Afterand suppression centuries isolation of efforts dictatorships, great Albania has made communist in opening nation faces the modernization Although and freedom. up towards them way it deals with the to similar difficulties its neighbours, many iden- to itsrespond to a new In order is different. and create problems original solutions, for Albanian capital is searching of Tirana the tity, rational where and bizarre a place elements and has become coexist, on always permanent, rather is not but generating an identity that portrait of a city a mosaic-like This to leads that of change. verge the time setting same architects often, more dare to the while at provokes its before monumental ruins. them been have Balkans Western cities the in communist former many After years 30 urban growth. uncontrolled feverish, by transformed spatial a new create to a way is still region looking for of transition, the Projecting Albania’s future Albania’s Projecting After 30 years of transition, Albania still aspires to a new culture of spatial culture a new to still Albania aspires transition, of years After 30 notions in resulted have far thus Itsplanning. strategies planning main offeringa city’, ‘archipelago and city’, ‘informal city’, ‘vaporized the like up until developed main citieshave Albania’s how into clear insight rather architects partici international to invite While politicians repeatedly - now. architects Albanian realized, ever hardly are projects in prestige pate that pop-up deal with to of answers a rich palette developed meanwhile have focus instalment, we In this city plots centre. in the peripheries and leftover a fascinating Albania into recast have projects and ambitions that on the laboratory urban of concepts.

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A10 EUROVISION affairs. state of a single national strive to to strive European European a range of country or 40 the current current the insight into insight into give deeper give by a leading a leading by Guest edited edited Guest architectural themes, they they themes, region. Within Within region. organization in organization 42 Metropolitan Albania ↓ Crowds down bring the ofthe statue former dictator, Enver Hoxha, for oftransition ofaperiod Albania. the marking start ↑ Lengthening ofRruga andRruga eDurresit eKavajes inthe (image mid-20th taken from Skanderbeg century Square) to influence thecreation ofanew social reality. A Architecture andurbanplanning were called upon significant changesoccurred inthecity’s structure. From 1944to 1991, underthecentralized economy, logue betweenthegeographicandhuman scales. in thisplanasacentral element,mediatingadia- all plansthatfollowed. Theboulevard was included referenceThe 1942planserved asanimportant for Tirana based onthecombination ofringsandradials. plan establishedazoningstructure andtheshapeof planfortory Tirana in1942.For thefirsttime, this neer Ferdinando Poggi formulated the first regula- still clearlyvisibleintoday’s urbanfabric. monumentality separated from thesocial reality – is the extreme south ofthe extended boulevard – a occupation (1939–1943). The new centre, located at significantly intensified duringtheperiodofItalian Armando Brasini. These kindsofinterventions were the central axisoftheboulevard, firstdesigned by several mainavenues, such asRruga eDurresit, and ernment buildings, theopeningorstretching of of thisperiodistheceremonial complex ofthegov to organized urbanplanningwere initiated. Typical chy, thefirstattempts to move from spontaneous from thebeginningof’20s, underthemonar- was declared thecapital ofAlbaniain1920. Starting planning decisions.Itremained asmalltown, untilit teraction betweenspontaneous developments and and has since beenshapedby thecontinuous in- Tirana began asanorganic century, inthe17th city to greater metropolis Tirana: From organic city A10 Florentine architect Gherardio and engi- Bossio #64 EUROVISION: ALBANIA - physical ofurbanizationthrough limits green belts around newly created poles;thestabilizationof combinedthe city withapolycentric visionbased This strategyunits. proposed the compacting of ropolitan area comprising eleven local government developments intheGreater Tirana Region, amet- Tirana in2001 projected (SPGT) thecoordination for creation of‘visions’. TheStrategic Plan for Greater that thecentral government began to formulate the cremental approach. It was only a few years later planningandanin- hoods based onparticipatory (1995), adopting schemes to upgrade neighbour- ed thefirstinterventions in Tirana North Periphery were- lagging behind, NGOs such as Co-PLAN start less, andmore unstable. Whilestate institutions a return to theorganic but city bigger, more shape - expandedcity five-fold. This‘informal city’ was like gradually reduced through progressive infill,andthe controlled urbanizationofTirana. Public space was of the1990s was thecatalyst for therapidandun- prised 55percent oftheAlbanianeconomy. urban areas, whiletheagricultural sector stillcom- cent oftheentire nation’s population was livingin around 250,000 although inhabitants, only 35 per el. By theendof1980s, Tirana’s population was supposedly be the incubators for a new social mod- five-storey standardized buildings, which would free space for the construction of low-cost, four- to old bazaars,andreligious centres was executed to massive erasure oftraditional neighbourhoods, The decay ofthesocialist project atthebeginning ↓ Tirana in2010 ↓ Tirana in2007 ↓ Tirana in2000 ↓ Tirana in1995 ↓ Tirana in1960 ↓ Tirana in1937 which were developers’ satisfying needsratherthan plans. This plan determined new building intensities, of thecirculation schemes proposed by manyother proposals consisting mostly ofthereconfirmation officially approved, which contains a series of vague in between. Only in 2012 was a plan a green heart fusion oftwocitiesinto anew, singlemetropolis with on alarger scale: Tirana andDurrës asaneventual used asatool to thinkabout the metropolitan region natural features. Following asimilarlogic,‘Durana’ is ous urbanpatterns, alongwithmonumental axes and toidentity theexistingtogether sprawl,tying vari- centre.outside the city A parallelringaimsto give as anarchipelago, centralities withcomplementary fered by Institute theBerlage in2004. isseen Thecity never fully approved. between local andcentral institutions, thisplanwas of Metropolitan Authorities. Due to disagreements administrative measures such as the establishment and most importantly,the centre and the airport; and landpreservation;twolightrailconnections to ↑ Tirana’s skyline, with the TIDTower designedby 51N4E inthe centre ↑ Tirana Central Area Masterplan by Architecture Studio Tirana Metropolis isanother strategic visionof Northern Boulevard↑ Northern andTirana River Extension Competition by KCAP - won by WinyMaas ofMVRDV. Cancelled icons Studio. Also under construction is‘Urban Complex’, 51N4E (see#57); A10 thesecond was given to Archea centre.city Thefirst was won Belgian studioby the however, like thecompetition for twotowers inthe issues), andso on. ofthecentralibility axes (one ofthemostdebated Central Park, aseries oftowers to increase thevis- sectors alongthecentral axes, thecreation ofTirana , the pedestrianization of some proposals ofthisplanincluded anew designfor group. Among others, some ofthemostimportant Masterplan, won by Architecture Studio, aFrench national competition was the Tirana Central Area inter- international architects. The firstimportant the Eastern Bloc, became an arena for numerous years, Tirana, one of the most forgotten cities of new toy: international competitions. Withinafew and associations have criticizedthisfact. public interests. Many independentprofessionals Some international competitions were realized, Meanwhile, thegoverning bodieshadfound a ↑ New Parliament ofAlbaniaby Coop Himmelb(l)au (competition winner) ↑ Aerial view ofhow Skanderbeg Square today inTirana appears New↑ The Mosque andMuseum ofReligious Harmony by Bjarke IngelsGroup as envisioned. ity, to and craftsmanship actuallyrealize the design hasthe professionalcity experience, political stabil- outdoor culture. Itremains to beseen whetherthe the parkthatwould reflect Tirana’s Mediterranean sequences of‘livingrooms’ alongtheboulevard and overall area. Grimshawproposed thecreation of lometre riverside park,covers afifthofthecity’s metre boulevard andtheorganization ofaseven-ki- area, impacted by theextension ofthethree-kilo- tion was won by GrimshawArchitects. Theproject Speer andPartners, andDAR Group. Thecompeti - Architects, West8, CinoZucchi Architetti, Albert among others, KCAP,participated; Grimshaw Tirana international Boulevard. studios Important mension to thecity, like theextension ofthemain focused onthose projectsthatcan give anew di- by BIGisstillunderdiscussion. Wolf Prix ofCoop Himmelb(l)au. TheNew Mosque by MVRDV) andtheNew Albanian Parliament by include Rocks’ ‘Tirana (a ratherpreposterous design During the last two years, attention has mainly EUROVISION: ALBANIA A10

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Albania Metropolitan 43 44 Future Albania ah (2011 – Basha second istheproject ofthecurrent mayor, Lulzim Edi Rama, now Prime Minister ofAlbania,whilethe project oftheformer mayor ofTirana (2000 will continue tofuture. impactits Thefirstisthe trends inTirana during thelastfifteen years, and fromcity; ‘Tirana’ to ‘Durana’; andfrom smallto big. fromcity’; asolely spontaneous to entity adesigned boulevard; from concentric ringsto the‘archipelago small organic town to theurban‘cosmic axis’ ofthe movingcity betweendreams andreality – from the on amid- to long-term vision.Tirana, however, isa implement projectsandguarantee continuity based or ideas,but rathertheconcrete actionsneededto isnotand urbanization.Thecity lackinginprojects has become visibleinTirana’s construction industry From 2010untilpresent, amore moderate trend for the21st century Planning anAlbania Riviera Competition↓ Riviera winnerLot 2(Himara)by Burea Bas Smets, Vadim Vosters, Transsolar, Erik deWaele, Son Engineering & Construction A10 At leasttwopolitical projectshave impacted #64

2015). EUROVISION: ALBANIA –

2011),

extending boulevard themaincity towards informal included new strategic infrastructural projects,like and anatmosphere conducive to business. Italso ducing low taxes, andencouraging self-employment ter aprocess offormalizing extra-legal assets,intro- the collapse ofcentralized economy, af got started proach. Hisregulatory planofthecity, thefirstsince for applyingamore holisticandsystematic ap- gave citizensnew hopeandconfidence. internationally. Hischarismatic,top-down approach Biennial(TICAB),andbrandingit International Art life through ofthecity tural andartistic theTirana ishing informal settlements),encouraging thecul- ening streets, bringingbackgreen space, demol- (e.g. ofthecity projects) andupgradingparts wid- tification andmodernization (e.g. facade colouring The present mayor, Lulzim Basha, isrecognized As mayor, Edi Rama, hadfocused onurbanbeau- - government elections. during the2013 parliamentary pecially following thepolitical changeinthecentral extreme politicizationsofAlbanianpublic life, es- available. But realization remains burdened by the andthecore financingisalready already started, public space. Theimplementationoftheproject has mizing real estate andinfrastructure whilerestoring by GrimshawArchitects mediates betweenmaxi- terms ofdecision-making.Thefinalwinningproject al ‘educational’ event, andademocraticexercise in main boulevard served asagoodpublic/profession - litical positioning,thecompetition to extend Tirana’s Despite in affirmingahighlydividedcity termsofpo- Boulevard extension system.transport green park, and an integratednative public northern andanewring,analter city - settlements to thenorth CityForster, PolyLester, SymbioticA CompetitionRiviera winnerLot 1(Saranda) by OpenFabric, ↖ Riviera Competition↑ Riviera winnerLot 1(Durana)by Piovene Fabi, Yellow Office, StefanoGraziani, ArchiSpace, Vladimir Myrtezai a massive population expansion inthemetropolitan ducted in2001 by ofTirana, theMunicipality showed ‘Strategic Planning for Greater Tirana’, a study con- Fusing two cities despite thelow interest, nitty-gritty fights. in Albania.Itisachangethinkingandpractice, for therationalandgoodgovernance ofour cities capital of Albanians. This is already a mental jump by establishingamodernTirana, thereal European a heroic phase ofurbanandnationaldevelopment, operations undertaken by Zog I, the former king, in have a magnitude andimpactsimilarto theforceful indeed events thathappenonce inalifetime. They boulevard ofTirana andimplementationthereof are project, andthecompetition for thenew northern the Lanëriver, thetram andmultimodal station Yet, theurbanregeneration ofpublic space along focus of studies moved outside of Tirana for the first Together withtheDuranaCompetition (2014),the region Riviera inbetween. green heart tual fusion of the two into a new metropolis with a larger scale: Tirana andDurrësaneven asonecity; - a tool to thinkabout themetropolitan region ona been identified.The concept of‘Durana’ isused as to improve urbanconditions alongthiscorridor has large revenues to thecountry. Presently, theneed gion hasbecome aneconomic corridor thatbrings There- cities andlinkingthemboth to theairport. main circulation axes, connectingtwolargest its the Albanianpopulation. It is one ofthenation’s uation. Today thearea accommodates onethird of just30kilometrescity away, creating achaotic sit- region encompassing Tirana andDurrës, aharbour This newThis tower Boulevard and by Grimshaw Competition is part ofthe is part Tirana River Architects. Northern Northern proposal → Architects by Grimshaw Competition Tirana River Boulevard and the Northern proposal for Masterplan ←

Ionian coast. ning thedevelopment oftheRivieraregion onthe andplan- Albania, redesigning theVlorawaterfront, plemented, including brandingthenew imageof three international competitions are beingim- the Ioniancoast (Southern Albania).Meanwhile, and specificmaster plans for strategic areas like until thepreparation oftheNational Territorial Plan developmentputting itunderatemporary ‘freeze’, the nation’s coastal area to beastrategic corridor, of Tirana. In 2014, the Albanian government declared that hadbeenforgotten after therapidurbanization towards therevitalization ofkey formerly areas rural tion shift.TheRivieraCompetition openedtheway development by bringingbackthisseasonal popula- the tourism season inorder to generate sustainable the southern coastal strip. Theaimwas to extend time with theannouncement of a competition for EUROVISION: ALBANIA A10

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Albania Future 45 46 Current Albania ation with Iproplan. locations for the andoffice buildings.In cooper- regional laboratory been the maindesigndriver for the ofthe strategic study proposed for alltwelve andnationwidemon standard identity has buildings (five detailed by locations twelveSymbioticA).diverse Givinga com- oftwelve project consists The regional andoffices laboratories at new actionby locally based practices such asthese. until thetension andnecessityfor moreapproaches contemporary spurs capital previously standsamidstits vividcolours, whichare slowly fading beginning oftheauthoritarian regime, theturbulent skylineofthenation’s A result oftheisolation thatarchitecture inAlbaniasuffered since the Recent works by local studios NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY ALBANIA, 2010 1 A10 #64 plan-consult andIproplan. AwardRohe in2015,der anddeveloped van with incooperation Mies the for nominated was It kind. isplanned to bethe of its laboratory The mosttechnologically advanced and important CENTRAL VETERINARY LABORATORY OF ALBANIA, TIRANA, 2010 1 EUROVISION: ALBANIA that adds apublic square, public space creating avital for the city. readaptation ofthe project isanarchitectural The existing structure DEMOCRATIC PARTY HEADQUARTERS EXTENSION, TIRANA, 2014 2

urban fabric.urban with Incooperation Xaveer Architects. deGeyter a system that the connects and the new waterfront existing proposalThis tries to control the city’s informal growth by creating WATERFRONT, VLORA, 2014 (1ST LOCAL OFFICE PRIZE) 2 a ground floor for shops. holds, each having a floor of 125 m holds, each having afloorof in Tirana, apalazzetto funded by sixhouse- YellowThe Palace is asmallandintimate facility YELLOW PALACE, TIRANA, 2005 4 area ofex-Bllok. architecture into theof rational mixed dense andtypologically aninteresting attempt project abreath represents toThe bring ‘AKADEMIA’ HOUSING UNIT, TIRANA, 2008 its own architecture.its space,functional astrong andconstitutes for enzyme generating building gesture, uses aminimalistic expands its apartment This THE TWINS, TIRANA, 2010 4 3 2 , andwith

and state-of-the-art technical details. language inthe ofAlbania,with era transitional highstandards office aclean architectural This and buildingoffers residential RADIO BUILDING, SHKODRA, 2012 5 Info www.arkitekt-bl.com Competition. ofthe latestas part Durana withtion DOGMAStudio, corridor,Durrës incollabora- masterplan for the Tirana- tation project ofthe strategic also working on the implemen- national level, B&L Studio are different at competitions the the city. in part Whiletaking for statements also necessary in the city, with minimalbut language to make adifference through the use ofarchitectural ofarchitecture requirements responsive to the functional mining apure architecture. Itis by practice chitectural deter- cess that ar- actual questions proto- manifest ananalytical architecture, the office aims masterplans andcomplex urban objects, and residential in Albania,with apartments inmanytecture locations B&L in2000. Practicing archi - Bozgofounded Doriana Studio RolandErmal Bleta, Lika, and Info www.metropolis.al practice.tectural allel with research andarchi- andworking inpar- projects, ous andlocal competitions innumer - part Albania, taking of issues for contemporary responds to abroad spectrum ofdifferent scales, it ects architecture, focused onproj- sional coalition’ indesignand versity campus. Asa‘profes - own offices located on theuni- withautonomous partner its University asastrategic but Development of Institute withated the Research & Metro_POLIS hasbeenaffili- establishment, design. Since its andlandscape andurban ture focusedal practice onarchitec - as anindependentarchitectur isregisteredstudio inAlbania Created in2007, Metro_POLIS Info www.symbiotica.net implementation. toproject actual preparation everyduring stage – from development ofallscales and onproject and public clients mediation between private isconsultation and expertise specific Their design projects. plex andurban architectural com- nating, andsupervising cialized indesigning, coordi- spe- andarchitects designers, an officeurban of researchers, er Ulrike Bega.SymbioticA is cording andfound to principal - in the ac Albanianarchitects,’ havingpractices, more faith must begiven to the Albanian sizing that ‘more opportunities scene, considering andempha- dynamic inthe architectural brought anew perspective and studio’sThe work inAlbania the south-west Balkan region. are locatedmain activities in currently based inTirana. Its in Krefeld SymbioticA (DE), is Founded inSeptember 2007 3 2 1 STUDIO B&L METRO_POLIS SYMBIOTICA EUROVISION: ALBANIA POLIS - -

Info www.ec2.it/artanraca Corbusier.’Le Miesvan derRohestand and amongwhich modernists, the to study great opportunity giving methemodernism, munism saved mefrom post- authoritarian regime: ‘Com ­ who was educated the during aspect for Raça, anarchitect Isolation brought apositive inAlbania. lished architects to beoneofthe- mostestab Raça hasprovenstatements, Through hisarchitectural Albanian Union ofArchitects. of the Year Award given by the and won the AlbanianArchitect van derRohe Award in2013, was nominated for the Mies HisYellowmined style. Palace having the ideaofapredeter- from self-referentiality, or and separates hisarchitecture create language the primary answers to concrete conditions tice, based inTirana, where headed hisindependentprac RaçaSince has 1993, Artan Kosovo. not onlyinAlbania,but also public projects function of housing, commercial, and tical, with the realization levels. focus Its ismostly prac on local andinternational ed inTirana, and collaborates the hasalso beenlocat studio - Since 2006, projects. ops its places where the devel studio - emerging at thebranches with (DE), otherStuttgart in started design. Itinitially design,andurbaninterior ofarchitecture,as astudio in 1998 by GjonRadovani plannung design’ was founded ‘Space­ stadt architektur [SPACE] 5 4 STUDIO RAÇA ARKITEKTURA A10

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Albania Current 47 48 Reactivate Albania mation (preferably exclusive) are vitalto getting in a country were good networks and solid infor - way oflife.’ big projects;thisplace takes upallour time. It’s a ourselves. At thismoment,we’re not working on are onlycomplementary. We didall thefurniture also away to honour history. its Ourinterventions be different. The restoration ofthe1948 building is We want peopleto beaware thatarchitecture can and sleep. Theplace itselfis purposely not finished. anddesignersmeet,work, eat, ter)national artists According to them,‘Our hostel isaplace where (in- to build. chitects are finding new opportunities lenges Albaniafaces. perspectives into solid solutions for themanychal- able to mixregional traditions andinternational POLIS University’s new generationofarchitects, friendship are the obvious They benefits. represent features, areoutality important nights andeternal by thisprivate institute. Experimentandconceptu- innovative, internationally oriented climate fostered and have beenfriendssince being educated inthe night. They are allex-students from POLISUniversity, Destil, andSTIGMA – willlikely show upagain to- The offices present – Studioarch4, Felissia Veliu, in thefinalline-upofa music festival takingplace later this summer. De-Sound, andbandsfrom Albania,Kosovo, andMacedonia willbattlefor aplace archi­ is both acommunity for young creatives, amusic festival, adebate centre, andan chairs beingput inplace. Destil, thehostel where we have gathered for thisconversation, In thebackground are thesounds ofastagebeingbuilt, beverages beingdelivered, Designing forcontradictory realities TEXT: INDIRA VAN KLOOSTER ‘T A10 This self-commissioned approach is quite clever Destil (2014) #64 tecture office order. –innoparticular Tonightisthekick-off ofa newedition of Joana Dhiamandi, Gjergji Dushniku, from left to right: to right: from left The youngThe archi- Edjon Myftaraj, Edjon Myftaraj, tects ofTirana, tects Rezart Struga, Rezart Lorin Çekrezi,Lorin Sonila Abdalli Felissia Veliu, Klaudjo Cari, Renis Batalli, EUROVISION: ALBANIA is anexample ofhow young ar- →

the plansinplace. They must have beeninformed of course, but there’s always oneoffice thathasall three days to prepare and make adesign.Impossible, that’s not always the case. ‘Sometimes we only get but competitions issued by parties, trustworthy Theseabout are theVlorawaterfront. transparent there isoneonstudent housing inTirana, andone in Tirana, another with theentrance tomainpark; its One dealswithanextension ofthemainboulevard and alltheyoung offices present are participating. competitions. At themoment,there are quite afew, is interested incovering architecture.’ A+P architecture magazines (only one, in fact – critique. There are no websites for architecture, no knowledge. ‘We have no climate for architectural They finishedit recently, but thisishardly public Street. We thought ayouth centre would begood.’ to findadestination for anempty building at Kavaja Oneof find clients. our contacts gave usachance It took usquite some timeto find out where we could struction industryisverynon-transparent inAlbania. able to live solely offtheiroffice’s revenue. ‘The con- a new milestone: since a few months ago, they are (2011) has,after four years ofhard work, justreached building commissions in the firstplace. Studioarch 4 Another way in to findprojectsis to participate ), andnonationalnewspaper ormagazine that FORUM mosaic ofoxymoronic things.Thecontext inTirana approaches to architecture. Tirana isaninteresting proach. ‘We’ve beenexperimenting withdifferent Studioarch 4joke. aretural services just an extra,’ the architects from you can paint and do the plumbing; the architec- ing stages.‘You’ll have to convince theclientthat etc., andthenfind subcontractors to dothefinish- the full project, including electric wiring, painting, One is to make sure you get the commission for highly thanwe are.’ something. Even theelectricity manisvalued more tect is low. We are onthe same level as a painter or don’t even have alicense. Thestatusofanarchi- ofquality.all sorts Some don’t have an office, some There are manyarchitects here,is theeasy part. in fore myown office. starting Starting-up, however, Kosovo. ‘It’s agreat way to build upexperience, be- than four years ondifferent projectsinAlbaniaand intheregion.’possible clients ey isusually okay anditmakes our work known to Albanian ones.Even ifwe don’t win,theprizemon- often. Nevertheless,incompetitions we prefer the much earlierthanwe were, whichhappensquite STIGMA (2009) takes amore academic ap- The others recognize this,andoffertheirtactics. Felissia hasworked asanarchitect for more

surroundings by ofspaces implementing ahybridity move onto another bar. Maybe we can changetheir can sitfor twohours drinkingcoffee andthenthey used. We have thisculture ofcoffee drinking. People lic spaces. How to create them, how to make them tects need to be involved in the improvement of pub- structure, whichisatechnical problem, but archi- blancheforcarte twoyears? level. Whatwould these architects doifthey had toluxury beableto deal witharchitecture onthat Vice Minister ofCulture. Itseems like anultimate Zef Çuni, an architect by profession whois now the ofstop-and-go.rhythm Earlier thisweek, Ispoke to versa, resulting in a very unproductive construction not likely to continue right-wing projects,andvice building project ispolitical. Left-wing politiciansare public awareness. Amajorproblem isthatevery mission, theclient’s lackofeducation, andpoor ofdifficultiesall types regarding obtaining a com- of beinganarchitect inAlbania,we have dealtwith by thepublic! We have such alongway to go.’ ed asoneofthemostbeautiful buildings inAlbania with pastel colours andkitschfeatures, ed.]was vot- ceive beauty. Amadeus [aneclectic,newly built hotel is usually ugly, but we can influence how people con- 1 Says Destil,‘We have alot ofproblems ininfra- After anhour oftalkingabout thepros andcons tively exclude Albanianoffices because they lack andpoliticians among clients – whosometimes ac- There stillare manyfeelings ofminority, not only clear thatAlbanianarchitects can actually winthem. international competitions inAlbania,itisnot very country. Although there are quite a lot of prestigious laborations, but nooneisconsidering leavingthe of our architecture.’ more openandhonest ways to discuss thequality is nodebate amongprofessionals, either. We need Most ofthearchitecture isanonymous now, so there and ornament.Architects can helpwiththat,too. touches. We should break cleanofmere decoration with modernity, ortraditional designwithmodern ucating too. theclients, They allwant classicdesign Studioarch4 continues, saying ‘Iwould work oned- to getit.’Felissia agrees withthiswholeheartedly. better roads, orbetter public space, thisistheway themselves, because if they want better housing, ofdebatequality andteach peoplehow to express oftheregulartality people. We have to improve the the day.’ transform andhave different functions throughout dressers andmusic stores inbookshops.Spaces that with bike repair shopsandlibrariesincafés, orhair- All ofthemare lookingfor international col- Studioarch working 4‘wouldonthemen- start 3 2 is all-inclusive. bands. Clearly, this generation’s idea of architecture and to talk,but also to andpresent actashosts the tival, thewholegroup isthere. Not onlyto listen and it’s agreat way to test our abilities.’ young age. Thisisnot thecase everywhere inEurope, something thatyou have designedyourself atavery explains Studioarch4. ‘InAlbania,it’s possibleto build de Geytertion with XDGA [Xaveer Architects, ed.],’ by Metro_POLIS, anestablishedoffice, in collabora - VloraWaterfrontp. Competition 46).‘The was won (see the oneinVlora,offerinteresting opportunities ties ofour own country.’ Regional competitions, like international curriculum and we know thepossibili- and outsideAlbania.We’ve beeneducated withinan is theonethatcan make thebridgebetween inside way around to beableto really build. Ourgeneration tracted andcollected locally. You need to know your rials here; allsupplies andknowledge needto becon- to collaborate with.There aren’t manybuilding mate - that allforeign architects inAlbanianeedalocal office litical reality, but we should bemore aware ofthefact ofthepo- competitions were inmostsituationspart tects themselves. international glamour – but also amongthearchi- Later thatevening, whenIvisitthemusic fes- As guest-editor Saimir big Kristo explains, ‘The EUROVISION: ALBANIA 4 competition), Kosovocompetition), by STIGMAprize (2nd Gjakova Central Square 4 by Destil Hostel Albania Denstil 3 Tirana Studioarch4, Youth centre by 2 Felissia Veliu by and DiplomaThesis housing Experimental 1

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