en.Wedoany.com Reported - Recently, the design proposal by Herzog & de Meuron won the international competition for the redevelopment of the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. The Swiss architecture firm will be responsible for the comprehensive renovation of this iconic building in the Albanian capital. The project is designed by the firm in collaboration with Julian Beqiri, Marsela Demaj, Michel Desvigne Paysagistes (MDP), ARUP, LDK, Gentian Shkurti, SUEB Industries sh.p.k., The Space Factory Ltd, MBBM, and KLAR sh.p.k.
The Palace of Congresses (Pallati i Kongreseve) was built during the People's Socialist Republic of Albania and inaugurated in 1986. It was originally used for official events such as the congresses of the Albanian Party of Labor. Its main hall seats approximately 2,100 people, along with several smaller halls, and it has long served as a venue for conferences, festivals, exhibitions, ceremonies, and concerts. This international competition, organized by the Albanian government, called for a comprehensive renovation of the building while preserving its historical identity. The design proposal needed to address severe infrastructure issues and bring the Palace of Congresses up to contemporary standards in terms of technology, functionality, and spatial quality. Through the renovation, the government aims to transform it into a new destination for tourism, culture, and social life in Tirana, consolidating its role as a hub for public events and daily life in the capital. The design proposal must reorganize the internal layout and reshape its image to make it one of the most symbolic public spaces in the capital.
According to the design description by Herzog & de Meuron, the renovation will only intervene where necessary within the existing building. The firm describes the existing building as an important witness to the history of Tirana and Albania, and the renovation aims to enhance its public function rather than alter its identity. The project site covers an area of 4,760 square meters, with a total building area of 55,000 square meters. The new design adds a multifunctional tower combining office and hotel spaces, and a new Palace of Congresses Garden at the building's entrance for public gatherings. This is the 15th international competition organized by the Albanian government for new construction projects, as the government continues to promote iconic projects designed by international firms to establish Tirana as a destination for architectural tourism.
Concurrently, the second edition of the Bread & Heart Festival 2026 is taking place in Tirana, bringing together international architects such as Francis Kéré, Jeanne Gang, Ma Yansong, and Sumayya Vally to exchange ideas with local practitioners and the public. Recent progress on other architectural projects in Tirana includes: Casanova+Hernandez Architects advancing the renovation of the Albanian National History Museum, Rojkind Arquitectos, Pedro Reyes, SON Architects, Motus Holdings, and ASAB being selected to redevelop the Zyber Hallulli plot, and MVRDV designing a spherical landmark for the Asllan Rusi Sports Palace.
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