Nominator: Gjergji Islami

Nominator's statement

Adonel and Andi are two talented young architects who have recently established aa.arkitektur. They have a theoretical and research orientation while trying to explore architecture from critical perspectives. Their contribution has been noticeable in the Venice Biennale 2025 where they were part of the Albanian curatorial team. They contribute as assistants at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Polytechnic University of Tirana, and are active members of the young architects community.

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CAPELLA PACIS, CEMETERY CHAPEL, PUKA ALBANIA

Positioned at the edge of the cemetery, to the left of the entrance, the chapel responds carefully to the conditions of the site. Narrow and restrained, little more than a passage with a simple bench, it reads as a continuation of the cemetery wall and becomes part of the boundary rather than a separate object. As one enters, the space slowly unfolds while the walls remain close and protective, guiding the body inward as the chapel gradually opens toward the horizon. Light and distant views become part of the experience, allowing the landscape to accompany the moment of pause. Seated inside, between the stillness of the walls and the open view ahead, the visitor encounters a quiet and contemplative atmosphere. Candlelight rests along the sides, flickering softly against the surfaces, while natural light enters from the distant opening, framing the act of mourning or meditation. Some sounds echo gently along the narrow walls while others are absorbed. Between resonance and silence, shifting light marks the passage of time and creates a calm space for reflection, where one can remember those who have departed while looking outward toward the life that continues beyond.

COMMUNITY CENTRE, PUSTEC ALBANIA

The community center becomes one of the few true public spaces in the smallest municipality of Albania, a place where gathering becomes an essential ritual. Its architecture balances many needs within a modest footprint, out of respect for the protected landscape of the Prespa Lakes National Park. What rises is a humble structure, shaped by its surroundings and attentive to nature’s quiet authority. The site itself guided the design. Existing elements on the ground set the rhythm, while the lake remains the constant focal point, its presence felt from every space. A raised plinth supports the main multipurpose hall, offering elevated views toward water and distant mountains. Below, adaptable rooms and essential services are arranged to serve daily life and community events. The building seeks harmony with nearby traditional houses, matching their scale and presence. Only the roof hints at a new chapter, marking the center as a civic landmark without disturbing the village’s gentle character. Its plan follows a clear eight by eight meter square, with staircases and elevator held carefully within the perimeter walls. Inside, mobile partitions allow the ground floor to shift, expand, and contract, responding to the changing needs of the community. Light, too, transforms with each configuration, making the center an evolving space that reflects the rhythm of its people.

Collaborator: HESK
SCHOOL SPORTS HALL, SKRAPAR ALBANIA

The school sports hall emerges from the ground as a compact and restrained volume within the landscape, providing a clear spatial framework for physical activity while maintaining a quiet presence within the school grounds. Clad in a corrugated metal façade, the building reflects the changing daylight and emphasizes the simplicity of its form. A pitched roof spans the main volume, sheltering the large interior space, while high-level openings introduce diffuse natural light, creating an evenly illuminated environment for sports. Inside, the gymnasium forms a clear and unobstructed hall organized around the volleyball court. Changing rooms and auxiliary spaces are integrated into the base of the building, allowing the primary volume to remain open and continuous.The building extends into an athletic landscape composed of a football pitch and a surrounding running track, where architecture and open ground work together to support movement, play, and collective activity.

Collaborator: HESK