Herzog & de Meuron to Expand Tirana’s Palace of Congresses with Multifunctional Tower

Herzog & de Meuron won the international competition to renovate and extend the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. The project introduces a 255-meter multifunctional tower and a new rooftop level to the Brutalist-era landmark. Originally completed in 1986 by architect Klement Kolaneci, the architecture of the existing palace draws inspiration from traditional Albanian housing forms, including the kulla of the north and the vernacular dwellings of Gjirokastra and Berat.

The design strategy limits direct intervention within the original buildings, applying changes only where necessary to improve operational capacity. A significant portion of the program shifts to a massive new skyscraper flanking the palace. This 840-foot structure will house a hotel and office spaces, significantly exceeding the height of nearby developments in Tirana’s rapidly evolving skyline. The architects describe the tower as an entity shaped by vernacular logic that integrates with both the historic palace and the surrounding urban neighborhood.

Vertical Expansion and Interior Reconfiguration

The proposal adds an entire roof level to the existing palace structure. This addition changes the building’s symmetrical profile and creates new interior design opportunities for outdoor gatherings. Inside the tower, a large staircase functions as a tiered seating area for lectures and leisure, while the main lobby features updated seating arrangements to accommodate large crowds. The project maintains the primary stage area while enhancing the surrounding circulation to meet modern event requirements.

The renovation occurs amid a period of rapid urban planning changes and political debate in Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who presided over the competition jury, recently faced public demonstrations regarding separate luxury resort plans on Sazan Island and the Narta Lagoon. During the winner’s announcement, jury chair Mari Randsborg urged the design team to carefully consider the tower’s height and its relationship to the surrounding public realm, emphasizing the need for better integration with the city’s shared spaces.

Landscape Integration and Public Realm Strategy

A new “palace garden” replaces the existing hardscape on the plaza leading toward the complex. This landscape strategy introduces dense plantings and trees to the threshold of the building, creating a softer transition between the street and the monumental pylons of the entrance. These pylons frame the entryway, mirroring structural elements found in classic mid-century labor halls. The new greenery aims to improve the environmental quality of the site while providing shaded zones for visitors.

The technical team includes several specialist consultants to manage the structural and environmental demands of the high-rise addition. Arup and LDK provide engineering support, while Michel Desvigne Paysagistes leads the landscape design. Together, these firms will refine the tower’s location and the “informal” upper spaces noted by the jury to ensure the project contributes effectively to Tirana’s civic infrastructure.

“The jury calls on the team to consider the height of the tower, its location with everything around it, as well as the space above, which seemed a bit informal and small.”

Mari Randsborg, Jury Chair