Submitted by WA ContentsAlbanian Pavilion will explore the theme of "Building Architecture Culture" at Venice Biennale Albania Architecture News - Mar 12, 2025 - 22:41 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The Albanian Pavilion has revealed the theme and details for at the 19th International Biennale in Venice in 2025, in which their project entitled, "Building Architecture Culture." The exhibition, curated by Anneke Abhelakh, will emphasize the reciprocal relationship between architecture and society.The 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale will take place fromMay 10 to November23 November 2025 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and various venues in Venice, Italy.Albania is a young democracy that is going through periods of rapid growth, much like an adolescent trying to figure out who they are. With the Adriatic and Ionian oceans connecting Southern Europe and the Balkans, the nation, which is home to three million people, is situated in the center of the Mediterranean. Its location across from Italy, with the Albanian Alps to the north, has long influenced both the built environment and cultural contacts.People battled against regime-era structures and public areas after the totalitarian system fell in 1992, causing a rift with the past.Edi Rama, Tiranas mayor from 2000 to 2011 and now Prime Minister, described this re-appropriation as a reclaiming of individualism: "It was a space to be regained by people deprived of private property and self-expression. The first ten years were about reclaiming private space and abandoning public space. Returning to individualism was very traumatic."Composed image in association with: 51N4E, Skanderbeg Square (2008-2019), Tirana; Kengo Kuma & Associates, Butrint National Park (2023-ongoing); Oppenheim Architecture, Hotel Jali, Himar (2020-ongoing)Three decades later, Albania remains in transitionculturally, socially, and architecturally. This ongoing renewal has placed architecture at the center of national discourse.In Albania, the architect's function has deviated from international standards. Here, architects have a unique artistic freedom that enables them to experiment and propel cultural change, unencumbered from the restrictions of both strict regulations and a totalitarian background. However, this freedom also entails a significant obligation to the environment.The rivers and mountains are living systems that require integration rather than dominance; they are not just resources. Development and tourism in Albania must take sustainability into account as the country's pristine coastlines garner more and more attention from across the world. Architects in Albania must strike a balance between their creative freedom and a dedication to the common good, in contrast to many other places where they work within strict restrictions.In Albania, where new development models are still being developed, this advocacy role is essential. Architects have a rare chance to determine how architecture engages with the nation's changing character without being constrained by international standards. Their work goes beyond design; they must balance conflicting interests and bring long-term perspective to an industry that is frequently motivated by immediate profits.A new book on Albanian architecture will be released in October 2025, marking the culmination of a public initiative. The Albanian Files, compiled by Anneke Abhelakh and published by Lars Mller Publishers with graphic design by Linda van Deursen, provides an enormous collection of architectural works produced in Albania from the early 2000s onward. The book examines how architecture has emerged as a defining factor in the country's self-reimagining, providing an unparalleled overview of both finished and upcoming projects.The editor interviewed more than fifty architects for the book, exploring their experiences and reasons for working in Albania. Additionally, a film essay commissioned for the Albanian Pavilion at La Biennale Venezia di Architettura is based on these Zoom-based discussions. The movie looks at the agency of architects, how public and private space are changing, how architecture and politics are intertwined, and how architecture is influencing Albania's developing identity. It also looks at how architects move through and evolve their professions in this ever-changing environment.The Albanian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, titled: Building Architecture Culture, emphasizes the mutually reinforcing relationship between architecture and society. Beyond practice, the field is present in academics and the general public, where concepts related to space are discussed, exchanged, and considered.Ideally, this third sphere acts as the profession's conscience. This area is temporarily represented by the Albanian pavilion and its public program, which discusses and displays Albania's changing architectural identity. In order to ensure that individuals who are unable to attend in Venice may still participate in these discussions, a podcast that was developed in partnership with Koozarch will carry on after the exhibition.The exhibition was commissioned by Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation.Team:Curator: Anneke AbhelakhCuratorial Assistance: Eva Marie Pobeda FerrandGraphic Design:Linda van DeursenSpatial Design: Samuela Hidri & Guust Selhorst CoordinationPublic Program:Adonel Myzyri & Andi Arifaj Communication: Wolfgang HockenjosFilm:Konstantin Konopinski icw. Anneke AbhelakhProject Manager: Alessandra BiscaroThe top image in the article: Composed image in association with: XDGA, waterfront promenade (2014-2016), Vlora; Kengo Kuma & Associates, Butrint National Park (2023-ongoing); MVRDV, Pyramid of Tirana (2021-2023).> via Albanian Pavilion