en.Wedoany.com Reported - Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron has won the competition to renovate the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania, with plans to build a 255-meter multifunctional skyscraper adjacent to the existing building, featuring office spaces and a hotel.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has recently sparked controversy by promoting several luxury resort projects designed by foreign architects. These include resorts on Sazan Island (a former military base) and in the Narta Lagoon area (a wildlife reserve), developed with involvement from Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and Qatari billionaire brothers Ramez and Mohamad Al-Khayyat. Protests opposing these projects and calling for Rama's resignation have emerged this month.
Against this backdrop, Herzog & de Meuron won the competition for the Palace of Congresses renovation. Originally designed by Klement Kolaneci and completed in 1986, the building was constructed for the Congress of the Labor Party of Albania before the end of communism. The Tirana city government stated that its design was inspired by traditional architecture from Gjirokastër, Berat, and the kulla towers of northern Albania.
The Palace of Congresses is located near Skanderbeg Square, an area already featuring new towers. The building's facade is symmetrically arranged, primarily using glass and stone, with the entrance framed by two columns. Herzog & de Meuron's proposal includes a large skyscraper on one side, which, according to local journalists, will reach a height of 255 meters (approximately 840 feet) and house offices and a hotel.
Herzog & de Meuron stated that the tower will be visible from afar, "shaped by vernacular logic and integrated with the Palace of Congresses and the surrounding neighborhood." The renovation will also create a "palace garden" on the square in front of the building, and a new rooftop level will alter the original building's silhouette, providing space for outdoor gatherings.
The competition jury was chaired by Mari Randsborg, co-CEO of Cobe, with Prime Minister Rama serving as president. Members included Tirana planner Adelina Greca, MIT Dean Hashim Sarkis, Antón García-Abril of Ensamble Studio, among others. Randsborg stated: "The jury called on teams to consider the tower's height, its relationship with the surroundings, and the space above—which is somewhat informal and cramped." She added: "We hope your team can work with the city government to improve and expand the public space."
On June 2 of this month, Herzog & de Meuron partner Olga Bolshanina presented the winning proposal in Tirana. The firm stated in a release that the design "intervenes in the existing building only where necessary." The collaboration team includes Julian Beqiri, Marsela Plyku DEMAJ, Michel Desvigne Paysagistes, Arup, LDK, Gentian Shkurti, SUEB Industries, The Space Factory, MBBM, and Klar/Fabio Beshiri.
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