stefano boeri architetti to build three community-focused public schools in tirana

stefano boeri architetti (SBA) has been chosen to build three new public schools in tirana. dedicated to pre-university education, the buildings form part of a larger masterplan in the north-west quarter of the albanian capital. between them, the three new buildings will contain five schools that will be open every day of the year, 24 hours a day, and for students of any age. ‘the school must be open to a new rhythm of life,’ explains stefano boeri. ‘it must be an active place in all the hours of the day, every day of the year, for everyone, at all ages: grandparents, young people, local associations, creative enterprises, institutions.’

all images courtesy of stefano boeri architetti

located in the districts of don bosco, kodër-kamëz, and shqiponja square, the project reflects SBA’s particular vision of the education system’s social and cultural function. ‘the open school is the heart of our society, that beats together with the life, that flows in and around it,’ continues boeri. ‘the new school hosts meetings, discussions, dialogs for associations without head offices. it opens the doors to those seeking a space to start a social and cultural venture. it welcomes book clubs and organizes courses to explore the most intriguing, bizarre and extreme depths of knowledge.’

the new institutions have been designed to serve the entire community

the project extends over a total surface area of 29,609 square meters. it is composed of: the don bosco school complex, with nursery, pre-school education, middle school and high school (9,812 sqm); the kodër-kamëz school complex, with nursery, pre-school education, middle school and high school (11,898 sqm); and the shqiponja school complex, with nursery, pre-school education and middle school (7,898 sqm).

the schools will be topped with photovoltaic panels

‘the three new schools of tirana will have façades in red brick and white bases in cement (a combination of materials that hearkens back to the tradition of italian architecture in tirana) and will function as a local epicenter, as a new reference point of the public life of the area,’ explains francesca cesa bianchi, project manager of SBA. ‘our schools will be the true urban squares of the neighborhoods, used by students during school hours, and by the community on weekends and holidays.’

the buildings cater to students of different ages

elevations (click for larger version)

project info:

location: tirana, albania
client: PPP agikons construction company – municipality of tirana

stefano boeri architetti —
partner: stefano boeri
project director: francesca cesa bianchi
project leader: carlotta capobianco, jacopo colatarci, julia gocalek,
team: jona arkaxhiu, orjana balla, daniele barillari, moataz faisal farid, yulia filatova, paolo russo, mario shilong tan, elisa versari