Municipality
News Archive (26.11.2008)
Tirana's Diary
De Architekten Cie dhe Gigantes-Zenghelis Architects, winners of the International Competition for the Towers in the northeast of the train station.
The Municipality of Tirana has organized the International Competition for the best project-idea for two important objects(the towers) in the center of the city, in the north-east of the train station.
These objects were foreseen by the Masterplan of the Center for the City of Tirana ( aka the French study). The Mayor of Tirana, who also holds the position of the Chairman of the Jury which is composed by famous names in the field of European and world architecture, said for the media: “Tirana has become the station where many important events happen, these events have to do with new ideas, projects and extraordinary ambitions of people that work together without borders.
Albanian entrepreneurs and foreign architecture studios that write the history of contemporary developments in Europe and elsewhere in the world, are together in Tirana again in order to work on new objects, which tomorrow together with others shall be a reason to be proud of the European and modern dimension of our city”. Three studios competed in this competition,, amongst which two were foreign and one was Albanian.
Below you can find a brief explanation of the project-ideas presented:
DE ARCHITEKTEN CIE –Netherlands
The idea of this studio is to create a combination between the imagination and the reality. In its plan, De Architekten Cie has attempted to include the city. A new environment shall be created. The towers are conceptualized as guides for the external part of the city. The tower has a hotel, offices and residences that will combine in the horizontal plan. It is worth mentioning that it is aimed to maintain the same DNA for the area, i.e. the start point shall be the same. The area will have the same functions. De Architekten Cie tries to make an external link of the city with the city itself and aims to maintain the tradition. The plan will preserve its average altitude. The towers are generic and have something specific as far as the distribution of the functions is concerned. The parking place is combined with a square nearby. It is also thought to present a small piazza which gives life to the first floor. The construction is initially simple, but it later gets more dynamic and complex. Behind the park there stands the level of the first floor with entrances to the shops,etc. De Architekten Cie has tried to link the park with the buildings. In the center of the piazza it is thought to build a small musical tribune.
This studio pays attention and aims to increase the quality of the public spaces, by complementing in this way the public spaces for the future of Tirana.
“We will try to complement the public spaces, we will try to create a public zone with public spaces” – has said the representative of the studio “De Architekten Cie”. For the Dutch, the two towers make are a contribution to the life of Tirana.
GIGANTES-ZENGHELIS ARCHITECTS (Greece)
The studio Gigantes-Zenghelis Architects conceptualizes the planning for the Block as a whole. They have thought of creating a central Park which has been considered as an important element in the project, by taking into consideration the density and the altitude of the trees as well. For Gigantes-Zenghelis Architects, the train station is considered a new element of the city. This studio conceptualizes the two towers as simple. Fasades will be blue. The concept-idea developed by the representatives of the studio has used a simple language. In this exact same way, they see the project as an open issue which leaves room to be developed further. Being from the Balkans, takes on board of their conception some importance. Indeed, these are things that make the difference. In the square there have also been conceptualized summer cinemas, bars, shops, etc.
DEA STUDIO-Albania
The Albanian studio considers the building of the towers as an important and huge step for the development of the city. It also appraises the position of the towers next the train station and it aims to scan the project in the urban context of the city. The place is conceptualized as an integral part that creates a link with the other part of the town. The altitude though of is 85meters. Dea Studio has attempted to deepen the concept of the urban context. This project is an integral part of the town. The vision of Dea Studio is to create fluid buildings with interconnections by bringing the analogy of Central Park in New York. In the project of this studio, there have been included all the public functions. The tower has been thought to serve as a lamplighter of the city during the night. This studio has also considered the French Plan of the Center by taking elements off it. Another proposition in this concept-idea is the creation of mini-squares for social interaction and for an increase of urban functions. A innovative element has been the creation of the Center of Art which in turn means integrated public spaces.
This project has also aimed at creating communicative functions with the public, be it at night or day. The 20th -21st floor is conceptualized as a panoramic dialogue. Public functions are utilized as much as possible.
In regard to the second tower, Dea Studio has attempted to go further:
“We have three common elements for the two towers:
• the proximity with each other
• the same constructor
• the concept.”
The construction is conceptualized in accordance with three principles, i.e. simplicity, seriousness and monumentalism. For them, the empathy towards art is of a prominent role. The aim of the studio is coherence. This project has also aimed to create a new important zone in the center of Tirana. The second tower can be distinguished due to its simplicity and geometry. The materials used for each of the towers are different.
The ideas were judged by an International Jury of 7 members (foreign and domestic architects). At the end, the jury announced two project-ideas as the winners for the perspective of the development of these objects. DE ARCHITEKTEN CIE will build the north tower whereas GIGANTES-ZENGHELIS ARCHITECTS will build the tower in the south. The investor is “Tirhino” Ltd., Tirana, Albania.
26.11.2008
