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ALBANIAN ARCHITECTS : ALBANA KOÇOLLARI
A brief description of you, where you work, how many years of experience you have and your area of expertise:
After a journey of studies and work experiences in several design studios, as an architect, in different European countries, in 2016, Albana Koçollari establishes her studio, ANK Architecture in Tirana.
After completing my studies in Parma (Italy) and Madrid (Spain), my career as an architect started at the Aurelio Cortesi architecture studio in Parma, in 2005, to learn about the values of architecture and urbanism in relation to ratio, order and the atmosphere; on analysis, history values, memory and conservation.
I moved in 2006-2007, to Madrid to continue my professional growth and exploring new societies, with a different mindset and approach to architecture, to the Ruiz Barbarin Arquitectos studio. The philosophy of the intervention of architectural works in various urban, natural and historical contexts, by Spanish architects, left traces in me for the courage and expressive force both in composition + program + material and the unique emotion or feeling it creates in the context and the public; through Spanish architects like Moneo, Fuensanta Nieto, Mansilla + Tuñón Architects, RCR Arquitectes, etc.
Rationalism, functionality and minimalism in architecture was another very curious and complex attitude about the history of the process when they were born in art and architecture since the first half of the twentieth century, after the Second World War.
This attitude focuses on technological materials, iron, glass, concrete, etc, following the philosophy that form should follow function and reject ornaments. Free plan, the structure that often becomes the protagonist in architecture, the purity of the original material, the minimum necessary in form, etc, were these habits of modernist architecture, brought by architects such as Mies Van Der Rohe, Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier, and later with Peter Zumthor, which awaken in me the curiosity about this philosophy and attitude in the history of architecture and the desire to understand it more closely, in this society that has developed and applied it in the way of contemporary design even today with its evolutions.
Renovation, addition of service building and offices "Pajtoni Center"
For this reason at the end of 2008-beginning 2009, I started to work as an architect in Berlin, in the studio Zvi Hecker architects.
In 2010, I would work as a lecturer at the private university in Tirana, Polis University, the subject of Design Laboratory, 3rd year.
Research on the phenomenon of urban problems, or extra-urban ones and evaluating the way of intervention or proposing a concrete solution, have always been in the focus of my work as an architect. Studying the details of local architecture and proposing or designing new concepts that can improve the processes and programs of our society, have been the daily inspiration of my work and the constant desire to participate in international competitions on various architectural and urban topics.
From 2011- the first half of 2016, I worked as an urban architect in drafting several local coastal plans in Albania. I also had the opportunity to be part of the drafting of the plan and responsible for managing a group of international experts who collaborated on the preparation of the Integrated Cross-cutting Coast Plan 2030, at the National Agency for Spatial Planning (Ministry of Urban Development).
Why did you choose architecture? What was the spark that led you to this profession?
In my case, it was not just 1 or 2 reasons that oriented me to continue my studies in architecture. It has come naturally into my life. Cultural, educational context, how I grew up in relation to art, history, travel recognition, beauty, etc; different life experiences up to the age of 17, my sensitivity to details in design, art and architecture; to social phenomena; emotions for important architectural works, imagination to create something new, otherwise, through drawing, sculpture and modeling-collages from an early age, have always increased my desire to get even richer in this field and more specifically in the profession of architecture.
Residential project with patio, in Tirana
How do you think of architecture and which is the project that best represents you?
Architecture is one of the most beautiful professions, and demanding at the same time, for the various programs it has to realize, the comfortable and exciting atmosphere for man, and the respect for the environment, the cultural and historical context of the country.
To be an architect, you have to be at the same time a sociologist, a doctor, a teacher, an engineer, a lawyer, an economist, a biologist, a historian, etc. It is a multidisciplinary profession and you have to be in constant search in all these fields.
All the projects done to date, represent my character as an architect; for each project, I dedicate myself through many researches and initial evaluations, for the idea to be unique, and to come naturally from the first phase, as well as to generate an organic relationship in that territorial, temporal and cultural context. All works have their character, the reason for such stay in the location where they are.
I will probably mention those objects that are in the implementation process today; and as a stage of bringing the work to life, you have a little more weakness until it is finalized with its completion.
Renovation, addition of service building and offices "Pajtoni Center"
What advice would you give yourself at the beginning of your career, valid even for young architects or those girls/women who want to become architects?
As the choice for this profession has come naturally as an inner and necessary desire, to express and act technically and artistically through this "medium", designing for the needs of society; you have to work, search, analyze, evaluate the most optimal proposal, which best meets the conditions of social, urban, historical, environmental context, for a sustainable architecture.
All this must be done with a lot of responsibility and personal attitude, because every trace that is placed in the territory has a very significant impact on the environment, time, place and the context of society there.
