The Open Parliament of Albania

As the future political center of the Albanian Republic, the Open Parliament of Albania is situated along the main axis of the city in vicinity to the major governmental institutions. The different functions are combined in a complex compact enough to allow for a vast public forum and park between the parliament and the neighboring facilities of the Prime Minister. The fundamental democratic values, such as openness and transparency, and the simultaneity of competing political concepts within a democratic society, are translated into the design concept: several building elements coexist in one building ensemble, with their distinct shapes clearly visualizing their respective functions and meanings. A common plinth building forms the base for the complex; a separate office block with five floors is elevated on four cores above the base, winding around a courtyard. In addition the project contains two sculptural shapes: the main entrance is designed as a massive concrete cone acting as the counterpart to the parliamentary hall, which is located at the core of the building complex and is covered by a glazed conical structure. A wide public stair leads from the public forum to the landscaped roof of the plinth, from where the public is able to look down into the parliamentary hall, whose transparency serves as an expression of the legislative process.