A "concrete ball" The 20-storey building will replace the “Asllan Rusi” Sports Palace. This is the winning concept of the competition held by the Albanian Investment Corporation (KISH) for "rejuvenation" of one of Tirana's urban and sporting symbols.
The winner, a consortium between Dutch studio MRVDV (Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries) and companies Trema Tech, Albanian Capital Group and BCN Investements, will build a semi-public centre that combines sports with commercial functions and a residential tower: the same logic that the government has followed in other similar projects.
After the "Qemal Stafa" and "Selman Stërmasi" stadiums, as well as the stadiums in Durrës, Korçë and Vlorë, "Asllan Rusi" becomes the latest example of the transformation of public sports spaces into private properties under the guise of "urban development".
KISH competition and competition
The competition for the Sports Palace was held in the premises of the former Hotel Dajti, four months after KISH had opened the call. It aimed to select the most suitable project and investor for the transformation of the building built in 1963 into a multifunctional semi-public center.
As in other KISH competitions, the jury was chaired by Prime Minister Edi Rama, with members Blendi Gonxhen, as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Fidel Ylli as President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee, Elira Kokona from KISH, Adelajda Roka from AZHT and Adelina Greca from AKPT.
Also included were internationally renowned architects such as Manuelle Gautrand, Christian Kerez, Todd Saunders, Simon Battisti and Joao Luis do Rosario Carrilho da Garca.
Six international teams with the participation of Albanian and foreign studios were selected for the final competition:
- Alko Impex Construction with Kengo Kuma & Associates;
- Trema Tech with MVRDV;
- BAMI Holding with Archea Associati;
- BE-IS with Chybik + Kristof and Destil Creative Hub;
- PROGEEN with Sauerbruch Hutton and artist Anri Sala;
- TABI Construction with Perrault Architecture and Enea Landscape Architect.
In the first phase of the competition, 11 project proposals were submitted, which were evaluated with points according to technical and conceptual criteria.
According to KISH documents, two teams – “PROGEEN + Sauerbruch Hutton” and “TABI Construction + Perrault Architecture” – received equal points, sharing fifth place.
This tie added an additional spot to the finalist list, which is usually only 5 competitors and is rewarded with a total of 200,000 euros.
Meanwhile, one of the applicants, who later emerged as the winner, – “Trema Tech” in collaboration with MVRDV – was initially qualified conditionally, due to the lack of audited financial statements.
After completing the documentation, this team was finally accepted into the second phase, consolidating the final list of finalists.
Originally known as Partizani, and after the 90s as the name of the "Volleyball Player of the Century", "Asllan Rusi", the Sports Palace is now expected to finally collapse to make way for a massive concrete building, which according to the MVRVD is inspired by a basketball.
The new project will include a multifunctional sports arena with a capacity of around 6 spectators, VIP areas, media offices, medical treatment areas and training halls for various sports federations such as basketball, volleyball, handball, weightlifting, wrestling, gymnastics, table tennis, boxing and taekwondo. In addition, 26,500 square meters of construction with "mixed function" residential and commercial.
The demolition of the “Asllan Rusi” Sports Palace to be replaced by a 20-story complex marks another turning point in urban policy that "sell" sports heritage for construction interests.
Instead of a space that served the community, Tirana will gain another "concrete monument", where sports "buried" under the facade of modernity.
Meanwhile, MVRVD adds another massive project in Albania to its portfolio, following the master plan for the Artificial Lake Dam area, "Skënderbej" Square, "Niko Dovana" Stadium, Toptani Shopping Center, "Downtown One Tirana" Tower, "Skanderbeg Building" Tower and the revitalization of "Pyramid".
Read also:
- The winning project is announced, the "Selman Stërmasi" stadium with two towers
- Bjarke Ingels in Petrelë: “Faith Park” above the ancient site of Përsqop
- The Investment Corporation's "no contest" and "no account" calls
Erblin Vukaj has completed his studies in “Communication Sciences” and further mastered (MSc) in “European and International Journalism” at the University of Tirana. Since 2012, Vukaj has been working as a professional journalist, gaining experience in online media, print media, radio and television. He has covered various issues such as current affairs, health, environment and sports. In parallel, he has led and been involved in several research projects on the communist past in Albania.
