Building Architecture Culture

Curated by Anneke Abhelakh.
Commissioner: Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation

Albania is a young democracy, experiencing growth spurts much like a teenager in search of its identity. Home to three million people, the country sits at the heart of the Mediterranean, with the Adriatic and Ionian seas linking Southern Europe and the Balkans. Positioned across from Italy and framed by the Albanian Alps to the north, its geography has long shaped cultural exchanges and the built environment.

Following the collapse of the dictatorial regime in 1992, a rupture with the past emerged as people rebelled against public spaces and regime-era buildings. Edi Rama, Tirana’s mayor from 2000 to 2011 and now Prime Minister, described this re-appropriation as a reclaiming of individualism: “It was a space to be regained by people deprived of private property and self-expression. The first ten years were about reclaiming private space and abandoning public space. Returning to individualism was very traumatic.”

Three decades later, Albania remains in transition—culturally, socially, and architecturally. This ongoing renewal has placed architecture at the center of national discourse.

The role of the architect in Albania has diverged from global norms. Freed from the constraints of both a totalitarian past and rigid regulations, architects here enjoy a rare artistic freedom, allowing them to experiment and drive cultural evolution. But with this liberation comes a profound responsibility toward the landscape. The mountains and rivers are not merely resources but living systems that demand integration rather than domination. As Albania’s unspoiled coasts draw increasing international attention, tourism and development must be considered with sustainability in mind. Unlike many places where architects operate within rigid frameworks, those in Albania must balance their creative freedom with a commitment to the collective good.

This advocacy role is crucial in Albania, where new development models are still taking shape. Without constraining global norms, architects have a unique opportunity to define how architecture interacts with the country’s evolving identity. Their work extends beyond design, requiring them to navigate competing interests and introduce long-term thinking into a sector often driven by short-term gains.

A new book on Albanian architecture will be released in October 2025, marking the conclusion of a public program. The Albanian Files, edited by Anneke Abhelakh and published by Lars Müller Publishers with graphic design by Linda van Deursen, presents an extensive collection of architectural works produced in Albania from the early 2000’s onward. Offering an unprecedented overview of both completed and forthcoming projects, the book explores how architecture has become a defining force in the nation’s reimagining of its identity.

For the book, the editor conducted over 50 interviews with architects, delving into their motivations and experiences working in Albania. These conversations, held via Zoom, also serve as the foundation for a film essay commissioned for the Albanian Pavilion at La Biennale Venezia di Architettura. The film examines the agency of architects, the evolving relationship between public and private space, the intersection of architecture and politics, and the role of architecture in shaping Albania’s emerging identity. It also explores how architects navigate and develop their practices within this dynamic context.

Titled: Building Architecture Culture, the Albanian pavilion at the Venice Biennale highlights the reciprocal relationship between architecture and society. The discipline extends beyond practice to academia and the broader public sphere, where spatial ideas are shared, debated, and reflected upon. This third sphere ideally serves as the conscience of the profession. The Albanian pavilion and its public program act as a temporary version of this space, on display and discussing Albania’s evolving architectural identity. These conversations will continue beyond the exhibition through a podcast, created in collaboration with Koozarch, ensuring that those unable to attend in Venice can also engage with these dialogues.

Team
Curator: Anneke Abhelakh / Curatorial Assistance: Eva Marie Pobeda Ferrand / Graphic Design: Linda van Deursen / Spatial Design: Samuela Hidri & Guust Selhorst / Coordination Public Program: Adonel Myzyri & Andi Arifaj / Film: Konstantin Konopinski icw. Anneke Abhelakh / Project Manager: Alessandra Biscaro.

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