In the heart of Albania’s capital city, a new kind of cultural hub has opened its doors to the public. The Pyramid of Tirana, originally built as a museum for communist dictator Enver Hoxha, has undergone a dramatic transformation by MVRDV. The concrete structure has been repurposed, with steps rising up its sloping sides, allowing people of all ages to climb to the top of the building.
The atrium and its surroundings have been greened and opened up, creating a welcoming space. A small village of cafes, studios, workshops, and classrooms, used by the non-profit education institution TUMO Tirana, where Albanian youth can learn various technology subjects for free, permeates the site, both inside and outside the pyramid itself.
The Pyramid is expected to become a new hub for Tirana’s cultural life and a platform for the new generation to thrive.
Credits
Architecture
MVRDV
Client
Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF)
Year of completion
2023
Location
Tirana, Albania
Total area
11.835 m2
Photos
Ossip van Duivenbode
Project Partners
Co-architect: iRI Architects; Gent Agolli
