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Shkolla e Mesme “Partizani”
Shkolla e Mesme “Partizani”
Location:Tirana - Albania
Typology:
Educational
Author|s:Loft Architects
Year of realisation:2023
Collaborators:Lorenxa Molla , Fatjon Molla, Klaudio Curmaku, Liliana Vllamas, AGRI CONSTRUCTION ,Engineering Consulting Group" Sh.p.k
Loft Architects approaches architecture as a process of exploration, where form, material, and space evolve through a continuous dialogue with context and the way people live. Founded in Tirana in 2015 by Lorenxa Cakuli and Fatjon Molla, the studio develops projects in architecture, interior design, and product development, following an integrated process from concept through realization. Careful analysis, creative experimentation, and close attention to material expression form the foundation of the studio’s design methodology, shaping a contemporary architectural language in which functionality and the identity of place are organically intertwined.
The renovation of “Partizani” High School was conceived as an opportunity to redefine the role of the educational institution within the life of the city. More than the restoration of an existing building, the project sought to create an open environment for community use, where education, culture, and social life coexist within a single structure. Located in a dense urban area characterized by a lack of public spaces and greenery, the project places nature at the center of its concept by integrating green elements into courtyards, terraces, and interior spaces, creating an environment that promotes well-being, creativity, and social interaction.
The architecture is developed around the principles of flexibility and multifunctional use of space. During the day, the building functions as a contemporary educational environment, while after school hours it transforms into a community center, where the library, laboratories, sports hall, multifunctional halls, and outdoor spaces become active parts of neighborhood life. Alongside this functional transformation, the structural intervention strengthens the existing building through contemporary seismic-resistant technologies while integrating the new structural elements into a safe, functional, and sustainable whole, ensuring contemporary standards of performance, resilience, and longevity.
For Loft Architects, “Partizani” High School represents a project in which architecture transcends the physical dimension of construction and becomes an instrument of social transformation. It demonstrates that an educational institution can simultaneously serve as a place of learning, a community space, and a catalyst for urban regeneration. This intervention embodies the studio’s philosophy that architecture should not be measured solely by the quality of its form, but also by its ability to create meaningful experiences, strengthen relationships between people, and provide the city with spaces that remain vibrant long after their original function has been fulfilled.
