International architecture studio Archi-Tectonics has unveiled Festival City, a 180,000 square meter mixed-use masterplan designed for Tirana. Conceived within Stefano Boeri’s Tirana 2030 vision, the project reimagines urban growth by combining density, ecology, and community life in the residential neighborhood of Lapraka.
The triplex towers will be built by Concord Investments, Dulak's company. According to the architects, Festival City redefines the conventional city block by combining housing, retail and public amenities into an ecosystem of built and open space.
Archi-Tectonics’ design reinforces this context by introducing three residential towers ranging from 26 to 31 stories along the main street, narrowing the mass as it approaches the smaller-scale environment. This strategy allows the development to seamlessly connect with its context, balancing metropolitan scale with neighborhood intimacy.
At ground level, the plan introduces tree-lined boulevards, playgrounds, and plazas that connect the new complex to the existing structure. “Festival City is designed to integrate rather than impose,” notes Winka Dubbeldam, Founding Partner of the studio. “We see density as a means of urban and ecological benefit.”
By concentrating programming within its towers, the master plan by Archi-Tectonics provides a large amount of open space at ground level. These areas are returned to the community as planted courtyards, gardens, and green terraces that support biodiversity. The project frames these spaces as active shared spaces, aiming to bring residents quiet and shaded places.
Archi-Tectonics applies the principles of the 'sponge city' - an urban planning concept for water solutions - to integrate permeable surfaces, rain gardens and green roofs which will regulate water and support ecosystems. Facade treatments combine shading sheets with glass and pixelated stone, reducing solar gain and improving energy performance.
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