A winning competition proposal for the redevelopment of Tirana’s Palace of Congresses combines the restoration of one of Albania’s most recognisable civic buildings with the addition of a new hotel, office, and public spaces.
Opened in 1986 during Albania’s communist period, the Palace of Congresses was built to host state congresses and official gatherings. It has since become one of Tirana’s main venues for conferences, exhibitions, festivals, concerts, and public events.
Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, leading a consortium of Albanian and international architects, landscape designers, and engineering specialists, was selected to redesign and expand the landmark complex following an international competition.
Rather than substantially reshaping the existing structure, the proposal focuses on a series of targeted interventions aimed at improving how the building functions and connects with the surrounding city.
Redevelopment introduces a hotel and office tower alongside a historic complex
The scheme includes upgraded conference facilities, improved acoustics, a new central atrium, and a public square linking different parts of the site.
New public spaces, landscaped terraces, and pedestrian routes also form part of the proposal, extending the redevelopment beyond the building itself and into the surrounding civic realm.
The most significant addition is a multifunctional tower containing hotel and office space. The tower is positioned along the Palace of Congresses’ central axis, a move the design team says respects the symmetry of the existing building while introducing new uses to the site.
Presenting the proposal, Herzog & de Meuron partner Olga Bolshanina described the Palace of Congresses as an important witness to the history of both Tirana and Albania. She said the project seeks to strengthen the building’s relationship with the city while preserving its identity.
Jury recommends further study of tower design
The international jury described the competition as an opportunity to rethink one of Albania’s most important cultural landmarks through a mixed-use development.
Jury chair Mari Randsborg said the project would contribute to Tirana’s continued development while preserving the significance of the existing building.
Although the proposal was selected as the winning entry, the jury recommended further examination of the tower’s height and positioning within the complex. It also called for additional work on the design of the surrounding public spaces.
The jury’s comments suggest that the design and placement of the tower will remain a key area of focus as the project progresses.
Public realm plays a central role in the proposal
Alongside changes to the building, the proposal introduces a new landscape that steps down towards the main entrance, creating what the architects describe as a palace garden.
The landscape is designed to provide additional space for public gathering while improving connections between the Palace of Congresses and the surrounding neighbourhood.
The wider project team includes landscape architect Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, engineering consultancy Arup, and several Albanian design and engineering partners.
The winning proposal retains the Palace of Congresses as the site’s focal point, while adding new commercial and public functions around it, including a hotel, offices, and expanded public space.
