Pyramid in Tirana,
design: MVRDV
Tirana's Pyramid, one of the most recognizable buildings in the Albanian capital, has undergone a transformation as designed by Dutch studio MVRDV. Built in the 1980s, the building, originally associated with communist heritage, has been transformed into a modern cultural center.
Pyramid in Tirana - bird's eye view of the structure
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
history of the changing facility
Opened in late 1988, the pyramid originally served as a museum dedicated to Enver Hoxha, Albania's longtime leader and secretary of the Albanian Labor Party. The project was designed by Pranvera Hoxha, the dictator's daughter, and her husband Klement Kolaneci, working with architects Pirro Vaso and Vladimir Bregu. After the fall of the communist regime in 1991, the building underwent numerous functional changes. It served as a conference center, and in the 1990s it housed, among other things, a disco. During the Kosovo war in 1999, the pyramid was temporarily occupied by NATO and humanitarian organizations. In the following years, however, the building gradually fell into disrepair, and its technical condition deteriorated. Despite its neglect, the pyramid became a meeting place for Tirana residents. The building's characteristic sloping walls were used as a place for climbing and resting, making the structure an important element of urban space.
Pyramid in Tirana - bird's eye view of the colorful modules
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
symbol of victory over dictatorship
In 2018, the city authorities announced a competition for the revitalization of the building and its adaptation to new functions. The project was made possible with the support of the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) and the Tirana city government. For many Albanians, the Pyramid is a symbol of triumph over the former regime. MVRDV's project was to transform it into an open cultural center that integrates the historic structure with modern spatial solutions. The initiative has given the building a chance for new life as a space that fosters education, creativity and community development.
Pyramid in Tirana - stairs and colorful modules were placed on the sloping walls of the building
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
transforming a brutalist icon
into a social space
The architects, drawing on years of experience of Tirana residents, designed the facades to allow for safe use. The concrete pyramid structure was transformed into a form that harmonizes with the surrounding park. The sloping beams, previously used informally for climbing, have been replaced with cascading stairs, allowing visitors to climb to the top of the building - a symbolic "passage" through the former regime monument. An elevator was installed on the west side to provide access to the top level for people with limited mobility. The building is accessible from various sides - the entrances are at ground level. An observation deck has been placed on the roof, which offers a panoramic view of the city. What's more, on the outer walls and inside the pyramid, multicolored box-like modules have been installed to perform various functions.
Pyramid in Tirana - a view of the building's body
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
The first time I saw young people climbing the Pyramid, I felt the profound symbolism of the moment and an incredible optimism. At a time when the building was the communist state's most costly investment, the Albanian people lived in poverty. Our transition removed the symbols of the dictatorship, but we kept the details that remind us of the building's dark past. Now the Pyramid has become a monument to the people and their ability to overcome difficulties
- says Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV.
Pyramid in Tirana - diagram of the staircase layout
© MVRDV
colorful modules
with a variety of functions
Some of the colorful modules are occupied by the non-profit institution TUMO Tirana, which offers free classes in programming, robotics, animation, music and film to young people aged 12-18. TUMO, which was founded in Armenia in 2011, now operates throughout Europe, providing education that counters the "brain drain" in economies like Albania's. Other modules are open to the public and serve commercial functions - housing cafes, restaurants, offices, studios and exhibition spaces, supporting local entrepreneurship and culture.
Pyramid in Tirana - the staircase is a symbolic "passage" past the former dictator's power monument
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
sustainable approach to revitalization
The Pyramid of Tirana revitalization project by MVRDV demonstrates how to successfully transform historic Brutalist buildings into spaces suited to contemporary needs. While preserving the original concrete structure and applying circular economy principles, the use of new resources was minimized while avoiding the generation of unnecessary waste. The newly added modules were designed with energy efficiency in mind - requiring only minimal heating and cooling, significantly reducing their environmental impact. The project also contributes to social development, offering educational spaces that support the development of skills and creativity of the next generation.
Pyramid in Tirana - cross-section of the facility
© MVRDV
The transformation of the Pyramid of Tirana is an example of a thoughtful approach to revitalization, in which the architectural past is harmoniously integrated into modern features. The result is a space that is open, flexible and prepared for future challenges.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of MVRDV studio.
