Tirana, Albania
Europe 40 Under 40 Laureates OODA have unveiled Hora Vertikale—their new project in Tirana, Albania featuring residential buildings arranged in a vertical settlement—’ Hora,’ in ancient Albanian.
Hora Vertikale is a response to the city’s swift expansion and modernization.
The project strives to create a new urban centrality with cohesive pedestrian connectivity.
Beneath the tower, there is a vibrant new park, along with various amenities and opportunities for both residents and visitors.
Additionally, the project aims to engage the neighboring local community.
OODA’s tower is conceived as a unique vertical village set amidst a large green city, intended to vertically portray Tirana’s chaotic nature while placing a strong emphasis on sustainability.
Introducing unconventional materials was cautioned against, as it could potentially evoke a sense of unfamiliarity.
Instead, locally sourced materials from Albania are used to minimize the carbon footprint and support the local economy.
The result is a building that leaves a lasting impact on both city visitors and those who live there.
The design integrates urban and rural elements, with the towers expected to become iconic landmarks, offering a visually striking presence and a distinctly local atmosphere.
From a distance, the buildings present distinct elevations and perceptions from different views around the city.
Up close, the concept’s playful interplay reveals its secrets and the compositions step back from the main road towards the park at the rear, creating the most adequate transition in terms of scale.
Employing abstraction and synthesis as working tools, the project seeks to offer a specific interpretation of Tirana’s idiosyncrasies, presenting a distinctive yet substantial and authentic outline.
The entire project is developed using seven different types of cubes, each comprising seven stories—an average height characteristic of most buildings in Tirana.
Each cube embodies a unique concept related to art and is also inspired by the local vernacular.
The initial building phase consists of thirteen cubes, each measuring 22.5m by 22.5m at three different heights, which gives the composition a fluid and dynamic profile.
“Hora Vertikale is a response to the city’s swift expansion and modernization,” states OODA.
“The project envisions to create a new urban centrality with cohesive pedestrian connectivity.”
“We were asked to develop an authentic and genuine residential structure.”
“The directive was to ensure minimal divergence from the existing urban fabric of the capital.”
‘We’re not striving for any automatically recognizable language. In our view, architecture is never generic; it’s an exercise in profound specificity,” continues the architects.
“Every geography holds a distinct array of ingredients—be they cultural or historical—and it’s our task to distill and synthesize those elements into our designs.”
Project: Hora Vertikale
Architects: OODA-Oporto Office for Design and Architecture
Collaborating Architects: LA-III Lopes Associates and Artech Plomp
Landscape Architects: P4-Artes e Técnicas da Paisagem Lda.