BLLOKU TIRANA

Project overview

ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION IN BLLOKU: A MIXED-USE JEWEL IN TIRANA’S URBAN NECKLACE

The proposed mixed-use building in the vibrant Blloku quartier of Tirana seeks to harmonize the area’s dynamic energy and elegance while enhancing the urban fabric. Known as the city’s night life and cultural hub, blloku demands architectural interventions that respect its existing proportions, character, and vibrancy. Our design approach treats new interventions as urban jewels, crafting a sequence of landmarks that form a cohesive urban necklace, enhancing the area’s distinct identity. Respecting contextual volumes and urban flow the building’s proportions are meticulously calibrated to blend seamlessly with the surrounding urban context. By echoing the heights and volumes of neighboring structures, the design fosters a sense of continuity while establishing a distinctive presence. The interplay of massing and voids ensures the building integrates harmoniously, respecting the street lines, sightlines, and rhythms of the quartier.

Challenge

Conceptual Design

1. The office component: Interactive and urban, the office spaces are positioned as an interactive and highly visible landmark, engaging directly with the urban landscape. Large, open façades with transparent glazing connect the interiors with the bustling streets below, encouraging dynamism and activity. The design creates a porous relationship between the city and the building, embodying the collaborative energy of Blloku. The rooftop lounge above extends this urban interaction, with green landscaping and panoramic views forming a social hub that blends leisure with the work environment.
2. The residential component: Intimate and naturalistic in contrast, the residential segment embodies a quieter, more intimate character. Drawing inspiration from natural forms, its façade evokes a carved stone, with textured surfaces that provide depth and individuality. These softer, sculptural elements are designed to foster a sense of refuge, detaching from the city’s frenetic pace while maintaining an urban sophistication. Balconies and terraces integrate greenery, creating a vertical garden effect that softens the façade and enhances privacy for residents.
3. The Ground and Sky: Activated base and green Crown. The commercial ground floor serves as the foundation of the building’s interaction with the public. Its design encourages pedestrian flow, featuring cafés, boutique shops, and small galleries that resonate with Blloku’s vibrant nightlife and cosmopolitan spirit. Open spaces and terraces create an active interface between the interior and the street. At the rooftop, a lush green lounge acts as the building’s “crown,” offering a tranquil retreat amid the urban buzz. Covered with vegetation and designed for social gatherings, this space links the building’s dual souls, blending the professional and residential into a cohesive
4. An Urban Jewel: This mixed-use intervention is more than a building; it is a thoughtfully crafted urban jewel that enhances the elegance of Blloku. By balancing the dynamic, interactive nature of office spaces with the serene intimacy of residences, it reflects the complexity of Tirana’s most sophisticated quartier. Its contextual sensitivity, dual functionality, and green integration contribute to a sustainable and poetic addition to the city’s urban necklace.