By Kayt Sukel
For centuries, Tirana, the capital of what’s now the country of Albania, has been shaped by outside forces. Established in the 17th century, the city’s location along the Ishm River, just a few dozen kilometers from the Adriatic Sea, made it a place of strategic importance for the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the area until 1912. After World War II, Soviet influence took hold. The Ottomans and the Soviets left their mark on the city’s culture as well as its architecture.
Today, Tirana is a rapidly growing cosmopolitan center and an up-and-coming tourist destination. But this energetic and ever-evolving city is no longer relying solely on its past to attract newcomers. Instead, the city has its eye on the future, investing in a visionary urban renewal plan that focuses not just on sustainability, but also on an increase in what the plan’s authors, Stefano Boeri Architetti, refer to as “urban forestry.” Dubbed Tirana 2030, the plan also calls for the city center to grow up instead of out, allowing the area to reclaim parks and other green spaces for the public.
With these goals in mind, Oppenheim Architecture — which has offices in Basel, Switzerland, and in Miami — developed a concept for a 38-story tower to be built on Tirana’s New Boulevard, one of the city’s central arteries. The New Boulevard Tower “anchors itself as a significant landmark ... (and contributes) to the city’s vertical growth while respecting its historical and environmental context,” according to an Oppenheim press kit. Rising above Tirana’s new Central Park, which is in the process of being constructed, the building will connect New Boulevard with an adjacent public square and the revitalized urban green space.
When considering the design, Oppenheim opted to employ “colorful facades to enliven the cityscape and (integrate) sustainable practices such as green rooftops and energy-efficient design.” Of particular note is the tower’s unique facade, which will have “textured surfaces and vibrant hues to create a visual impact that changes with the light,” per the firm.
In terms of purpose, New Boulevard Tower will offer a mix of residential apartments arranged around a central core, according to the press kit. Residents will enjoy unparalleled city views and light-filled spaces, thanks to each apartment’s wraparound balcony. The building not only fits the ideals of Tirana 2030, but it will also — as Oppenheim stated on its website — “(contribute) to Tirana’s identity as a forward-thinking and dynamic capital city, setting a new standard for urban living and civic pride.”
Kayt Sukel is a science and technology writer based outside Houston.
This article first appeared in the March/April 2026 issue of Civil Engineering as “From City to Sky.”
