CHYBIK+KRISTOF’s cascading red concrete tower wins Tirana Culture Hub competition

CHYBIK+KRISTOF has won an international competition for a multifunctional tower in the Albanian capital of Tirana. Located within a wider Culture Hub master plan, the tower seeks to set a “new standard of urban living” with a “cascading silhouette wrapped in red concrete.” 

The 272-foot-tall, 23-story tower will consist primarily of residential units with the bottom three floors dedicated to office and retail. The tower is positioned as an “urban connector” in the wider Culture Hub master plan, connecting upcoming key cultural buildings such as an opera house, art gallery, and culture center with surrounding public spaces.

The tower’s cascading form was a result of the desire to shape high-quality residential spaces inside. The cascading facade forms green roof terraces for several apartments on each floor while also retaining rainwater and mitigating the heat island effect.

In each apartment, shaded loggias are constructed with the aid of aluminum window frames. The loggias serve multiple functions within what the team calls a ‘climate-specific living approach,’ including providing optimal thermal coverage, mitigating against overheating, increasing daylight, and framing views of the distant Skanderbeg Mountain Range.

“This project showcases an extraordinary fusion of innovative design and visionary urban planning,” said Frida Pashako, General Director of Urban Planning and Development at the Municipality of Tirana, about the scheme. “The proposal stands out by its thoughtful consideration of the street articulation/corner of the project, integrating with the urban fabric while establishing an inviting and dynamic connection. It shows an appreciation for the site's context and the rapid development unfolding around it.”

The scheme was developed with the support of landscape architects Marko & The Placemakers, and local consultant Studioarch4. Investments for the scheme’s delivery are currently listed as $12.3 million.