The Pyramid of Tirana

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

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