OODA studio redefines the urban space by breaking up two volumes, encouraging the connection between the street and the building. The plaza created between the two towers becomes an urban oasis illuminated by a reflective water surface and surrounded by vegetation that blends in with the surrounding streets and balcony gardens.
The first floors of the towers are intended for commercial spaces, while the upper floors feature a mixed programme. The volume facing Myslym Street houses a luxury hotel and a series of apartments, while the volume facing Pitarka Street is intended for offices and lobbies, as well as housing apartments.
Constructively, the façade is made up of perforated metal sheets that regulate the entry of light, and lattices that provide privacy to users. The balconies, thanks to the vegetation specifically selected based on the orientation of the building, are integrated into the urban landscape, ensuring the incorporation of green elements into the environment.
Ndarja by OODA. Rendering by Plomp.
Project description by OODA
Two similar, fragmented volumes align along their narrower facades, creating a space that invites visitors into a square, a sanctuary to gather and disconnect from the frenetic pace of the city. It is located on Myslym Street in the historic center of Tirana. In a place where old and new converge, the Ndarja building, designed for residential, hospitality, office and retail use, adapts to the transformation of the urban landscape. Surrounded by lush vegetation and illuminated by a reflective water surface, this space softens the solidity of the structure and allows the architecture to breathe.
The break between the two volumes of the structure, achieved through a rotational design, redefines the urban space and encourages a fluid connection between the street and the building. At its core, a transparent water mirror acts as a portal, bringing natural light underground and unifying the exterior with the interior. This open space integrates the vegetation of the surrounding streets, the square and the gardens on the balconies, creating a pleasant microclimate for the neighborhood. The square, once just a passage area, is transformed into a true urban oasis. The ground and first floors house commercial spaces that benefit from proximity and visibility from the street, while the upper floors are intended for a mixed-use program.
The volume facing Myslym Street offers a variety of apartment types and a luxury hotel with stunning views of the city on the upper floors. The volume on Pitarka Street is also intended for apartments, with additional office spaces and independent lobbies for each use.
The façade, in a palette of earthy tones, integrates the building into the visual continuity of the city. Lattices and perforated metal sheets regulate the entry of light and provide privacy for the occupants, while reflecting the activity on the balconies towards the city and integrating the urban environment. Inside, vegetation has been carefully selected based on its location in the building, with species chosen for their resistance to wind and sunlight. This ensures the creation of healthy green spaces and encourages a harmonious integration of nature into the urban environment.
