Zaha Hadid Architects Unveils New Residential Developments in Tirana

Zaha Hadid Architects revealed designs for Nest and Cascades, a dual-site housing and hospitality development in Tirana, Albania. The project occupies the Kodra e Dielli district, a hillside neighborhood overlooking the Dajti Mountain valley. The design addresses a rising demand for varied architecture and residential accommodation suited for smaller households and young professionals in the capital.

The first component, The Nest, comprises four distinct buildings situated across four plots. The studio utilizes complex digital models to generate the project’s signature sweeping curves and recessed terraces. These cantilevered balconies function as a passive environmental system, intercepting summer solar radiation while allowing low winter sun to penetrate deep into the buildings. This strategy responds directly to the humid subtropical Mediterranean climate of the region.

Modular Construction and Material Palette

The team plans to build The Nest using modular components finished with clay-based building materials. The color palette draws inspiration from the local landscape, featuring fawn-colored cladding on two buildings, a terracotta hue on the third, and a deep red tone on the fourth to reference the iron-rich soil of the adjacent hillside. This material selection anchors the new construction within its specific geological context.

The Cascades development expands the existing Arka Art Hotel through a 120-room hotel wing and a separate residential wing. The design introduces a 60-meter extension to the hotel’s swimming pool along with two landscaped courtyards. A series of cascading garden terraces provides meeting spaces and maximizes views toward the valley for both guests and residents.

Environmental Infrastructure and Public Realm

The project integrates significant climate infrastructure into the public realm. A central community park features native planting, permeable paving, and high-albedo surfaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Furthermore, the buildings incorporate rainwater harvesting systems and rooftop solar arrays to enhance operational sustainability. These elements combine to serve as both social amenities and ecological systems.

For the Cascades extension, the studio selected glassfibre-reinforced concrete (GRC) panels. Workers will cast these modular strips on-site to minimize structural loads and transport distances. The finish evokes the textures of regional geology, providing a durable and contextually appropriate envelope. External solar shading and green roofs further regulate the thermal performance of the expansion.

The design responds directly to Tirana’s humid subtropical Mediterranean climate, with the architecture serving as a passive environmental system.

This development arrives during a period of rapid urban transformation in Tirana. The city currently hosts several high-profile architectural projects that redefine its skyline and residential density. By introducing modular construction and passive cooling strategies, the Nest and Cascades project contributes to the evolving technical and aesthetic standards of the Albanian capital’s housing market.