Balkan News

The pyramid in Tirana from the socialist period in Albania has been transformed into a technology hub

08 november 2023

In Albanian In Bulgarian In Macedonian In Romanian In Serbian

A new cultural space has opened within Tirana's once iconic pyramid, which was originally built as a museum dedicated to communist leader Enver Hoxha, BalkanEnigeer.com has learned from Intellinews.com. After a dramatic redesign by Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, which preserved the existing concrete structure, the pyramid was reborn as a large-scale technology center.

The pyramid first opened as a museum in 1988 and has since undergone various incarnations, from radio station and nightclub to conference venue and NATO base.

The building's future was long uncertain, but a 2015 poll revealed that most Albanians oppose the structure's demolition. In 2017, the government, in cooperation with the Albanian American Development Foundation (AADF) and the Municipality of Tirana, decided to turn the pyramid into a cultural and technological space.

Today, the Pyramid becomes accessible to the public and is being completely transformed. The project was designed by the Dutch company MVRDV, whose specialists decided to turn the roof into a panoramic platform and the walls of the former museum into a 20-meter slide. The building gets a makeover, keeping the brutalist style but adding green and colourful elements.

The renovation also focuses on building additional facilities around the Pyramid. Most of these will be used for educational purposes, such as the non-profit TUMO Tirana Institute, which provides free training in areas such as programming, artificial intelligence, robotics, graphic design, animation, music and film. Other areas are being used for cafes, restaurants and offices for start-up technology companies.

Photo source: canva.com

Job Offers BalkanEngineer N. Macedonia

12/18/24

Master Schedule Planner

Place of work: Бугарија, Севлиево

Company: Hitachi Energy Bulgaria
12/18/24

Quality Engineer

Place of work: Ботевград, Бугариjа

Company: Integrated Micro-Electronics Bulgaria
12/18/24

Quality Assurance Specialist

Place of work: Бугарија, Севлиево

Company: Hitachi Energy Bulgaria
12/17/24

Production Development Specialist

Place of work: Бугарија, Севлиево

Company: Hitachi Energy Bulgaria
12/17/24

Data Base Expert

Place of work: Бугарија, Софија

Company: Cetin Bulgaria
12/17/24

Senior Linux Administrator

Place of work: Бугарија, Софија

Company: Cetin Bulgaria

Job Offers BalkanEngineer Serbia

12/18/24

Quality Engineer

Place of work: Ботевград, Бугарска

Company: Integrated Micro-Electronics DOO Bulgaria
12/18/24

Quality Assurance Specialist

Place of work: Бугарска, Севлиево

Company: Hitachi Energy Bulgaria
12/18/24

Master Schedule Planner

Place of work: Бугарска, Севлиево

Company: Hitachi Energy Bulgaria
12/17/24

Data Base Expert

Place of work: София

Company: Cetin Bulgaria
12/17/24

Production Development Specialist

Place of work: Бугарска, Севлиево

Company: Hitachi Energy Bulgaria
12/17/24

Senior Linux Administrator

Place of work: Бугарска, Софија

Company: Cetin Bulgaria

Balkan News

18 december 2024Logistics company Nelt Group invests 100 million euros in its bases in Serbia and the region

Serbian logistics company Nelt Group has announced the launch of the largest investment in its history - €100 million. The sum will be directed towards upgrading logistics infrastructure and introducing new technologies in Serbia, as well as in other key markets such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Zambia, BalkanEngineer.com has learned from SeeNews.com.
16 december 2024Albania launches major street surveillance project with UAE help

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will provide financial support for the construction of a state-of-the-art national street surveillance system in Albania, BalkanEngineer.com has learned from a statement by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
16 december 2024Bulgarian startup URBIX Hub wins the EIT Jumpstarter early-stage support programme

Bulgarian startup URBIX Hub was awarded a winner in this year's edition of the EIT Jumpstarter - an early-stage support program for startups organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, BalkanEnginner.com learned from Economy.bg. The programme aims to turn innovative ideas into successful businesses.
13 december 2024OMV Petrom to transfer 50% stake in Bulgarian offshore gas exploration block Khan Asparuh to an Israeli company

OMV Petrom, the largest oil and gas company in Romania, has announced that it will transfer 50% of its stake in the Bulgarian offshore Khan Asparuh block to NewMed Energy Balkan, a subsidiary of Israel's NewMed Energy, BalkanEnginner.com has learned from a publication of the Romanian company. The company will retain its role as operator of the project.
11 december 2024Shell enters the Albanian market: first branded petrol stations to open by 2025

The world-famous Shell brand is entering the Albanian fuel market in partnership with local leader Kastrati Group. This follows the signing of an agreement between Shell's Greek licensee, Coral, and the Albanian conglomerate. BalkanEngineer.com has learned from an official Coral announcement on LinkedIn that the first Shell-branded service stations in Albania will open by the end of 2025.
05 december 2024Serbia plans talks with Azerbaijan to build gas power plant in Nis

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has announced the country's intention to start negotiations with Azerbaijan to build a 1 GW gas power plant in the city of Nis.

see all »

Balkan Events

17 december 2024North Macedonia launches tender for the construction of 30 MW solar power plants

The Electricity Company of North Macedonia (ESM) has launched a tender for the construction of two new photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of 30 MW, BalkanEngineer.com has learned from an official company announcement. The project, announced in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), will include the construction of a 10 MW Oslomej 2 solar plant in the area of an abandoned coal mine in the REK Oslomej complex and a 20 MW plant near the Bitola thermal power plant.
13 december 2024Japan's Toyo Tire is moving its European management functions from Germany to Serbia in 2025

Japanese tyre maker Toyo Tire has announced that it will transfer the management functions of its European headquarters in Germany to a new subsidiary in Serbia by the end of 2025, BalkanEngineer.com has learned from a company announcement. The company will establish Toyo Tire Sales and Marketing Europe in December as part of a restructuring of its business in Europe. The new entity will begin sales operations in Europe in January, Toyo Tire said.
11 december 2024Kostal Macedonia launches 50 million euros investment cycle that includes 250 new jobs

German automotive parts manufacturer Kostal has announced the launch of an ambitious investment project in northern Macedonia that will expand the company's production capacity in the country and create 250 new jobs by 2028. A total of 50 million euros will be invested in this new stage of growth, Balkanengineer.com has learned from a statement by Viktor Mizo, managing director of Kostal Macedonia.
06 december 2024Bulgarian furniture elements company Rosi invests 15 million leva in a new base in Sofia

The Stara Zagora-based company Rosi has started the construction of its largest retail base in the capital's Druzhba 1 district.
04 december 2024Vetex (North Macedonia) exported 4.2 million euros worth of yarn and thread in the first 9 months of 2024

The North Macedonian company Vetex from Veles managed to achieve impressive success, exporting 4.2 million euros worth of yarn and thread in just nine months
29 november 2024Serbian ICT sector reports 19% growth in exports, reaching 2.9 billion euros in the first 9 months of 2024

Serbia's Ministry of Information and Telecommunications has announced that in the first nine months of 2024, exports of products and services in the ICT sector reached 2.9 billion euros.

see all »