A Contemporary Coastal Identity – Avanel Signature Hotel by Zifle Architects

3 Questions for Gentjan Zifle

Q: What ideas or values are central to your architectural practice, and how are they reflected in Avanel Signature Hotel at this stage of your studio’s development?

A: In our architectural practice, we aim to create buildings with a distinct identity. We believe architecture should be recognisable without being imposing; contemporary, yet warm and connected to its context.

These values are reflected in Avanel Signature Hotel through its dynamic architectural expression. The balconies create rhythm and a sense of movement, giving the building a distinctive silhouette and a strong identity. This dynamism is not merely aesthetic; it is also closely connected to the functional organisation of the façade and the hotel’s outdoor spaces.

Positioned directly facing the sea, the hotel opens towards the landscape, making the horizon an integral part of the interior experience. Contrast is used to create balance, materials to evoke emotion, and detail as an integral part of the overall concept.

Avanel Signature Hotel represents an important stage in the development of Zifle Architects. The project expresses our ambition to create architecture with substance, identity, and lasting value.

“We believe architecture should be recognisable without being imposing; contemporary, yet warm and connected to its context.”

Q: How do you see contemporary Albanian architecture today, and which local conditions, traditions or transformations are shaping its development?

A: Contemporary Albanian architecture is evolving amid rapid urban, economic, and cultural transformation. The growth of tourism and the presence of international studios have introduced new standards, technologies, and approaches to design, while creating opportunities to strengthen local expertise.

The challenge is to absorb these influences without losing our identity. The landscape, Mediterranean climate, tradition of hospitality, and Albanian way of life should remain integral to architecture. Its true value lies in combining international standards with local character to create buildings that endure over time, rather than merely producing images of the moment.

“Its true value lies in combining international standards with local character to create buildings that endure over time, rather than merely producing images of the moment.”

“Our ambition is to create an architecture that emerges from the character of its place while communicating through a contemporary and universal language.”

Q: What opportunities and challenges do you believe will define the next chapter of Albanian architecture, and what role do you hope a new generation of practices such as yours will play in shaping it?

A: Albania currently offers many opportunities for architects, particularly in tourism and hospitality, sectors with significant potential for development, as well as in civil construction, which is experiencing rapid growth. Urban regeneration and the creative use of the country’s natural and cultural assets are also opening new possibilities for architecture.

These sectors will also present the challenges of the future: managing urban development, protecting the landscape and local identity, and creating more sustainable architecture. A new generation of practices must be capable of competing internationally while also contributing to the country’s qualitative development. Our ambition is to create an architecture that emerges from the character of its place while communicating through a contemporary and universal language.

About Avanel Signature Hotel

Located in Saranda, facing the sea, Avanel Signature Hotel is conceived as a contemporary hospitality project shaped by its relationship with the coastal landscape. The design seeks to integrate views, natural light, and the horizon into the daily experience of its guests.

The architectural concept is defined by slanted geometric forms and a repetitive vertical rhythm that give the façade a sense of movement. The balconies act as dynamic compositional elements, creating a distinctive silhouette and a strong architectural identity while maintaining their functional role.

Large glazed surfaces open the interior spaces toward the sea, establishing visual continuity between the hotel and its surroundings. The ventilated façade system creates a clean and contemporary appearance while contributing to the building’s technical performance and durability.

The material palette responds to the character of the coastal setting. Microcement is used on the balconies, evoking the tones and textures of the beach, while natural wood cladding applied to their ceilings introduces warmth and balances the mineral character of the façade. Integrated greenery softens the building’s geometry and brings natural elements closer to the guest spaces.

At night, integrated lighting emphasizes the slanted forms and vertical rhythm of the composition, reinforcing the hotel’s identity within the landscape. Avanel Signature Hotel combines functionality, material clarity, and a strong contemporary expression to create an architecture closely connected to the sea and the experience of hospitality.

Gentjan Zifle,
Architect & Founder
of Zifle Architects

Gentjan Zifle is an Albanian architect and founder of Zifle Architects in Tirana. With over 16 years of experience, his work spans residential, hospitality, and commercial architecture and interior design, including private residences, hotels, restaurants, and beach bars across Albania and Europe. He approaches architecture as an integrated whole, where concept, functionality, identity, and execution are inseparable. Combining contemporary design with carefully selected materials and thoughtful detailing, he creates warm, distinctive spaces. His approach is grounded in sensitivity to context, precision in execution, and a commitment to lasting value.