A significant cultural heritage site in Albania's capital city has been transformed through an innovative architectural intervention that balances historical preservation with modern accessibility. The Mosaic of Tirana, a precious archaeological artifact offering insights into Albania's ancient past, has received a comprehensive cultural intervention designed by SONarchitects, completing construction in 2025 across a 990-square-meter area.
Located near Tirana's city center, the historic mosaic site has long faced challenges from urban development pressures while requiring both careful preservation and strategic revitalization to serve contemporary cultural needs. The archaeological site contains ancient remnants that provide valuable glimpses into Albania's historical foundations, making its protection and presentation to the public a priority for cultural authorities.
SONarchitects, led by Ilir Bejleri and Erind Bejleri, developed a comprehensive design approach that transforms the historical site into an inviting destination for tourists, researchers, and history enthusiasts alike. The design team, including Rio Kerpaci, Klodjana Demaj Beqiraj, and Olsi Plasa, created a flexible visitor experience that allows people to either explore the mosaic directly or engage with historical narratives through carefully curated information displays and interactive elements.
The visitor journey begins at a thoughtfully designed entrance square, where the ticket office and surrounding architectural elements reflect both the vernacular character of the surrounding area and symbolic references found within the archaeological site itself. This entrance serves as a gateway that prepares visitors for their encounter with Albania's ancient heritage while providing necessary modern amenities and orientation services.
The architectural intervention consists of three key components that work together to create a cohesive cultural experience. These include a modern entrance ticket office that serves as the initial point of contact for visitors, a protective shelter that safeguards the ancient mosaic from environmental elements, and a new two-story building that accommodates essential functions including research laboratories, exhibition spaces, and administrative offices for site management.
The design concept draws direct inspiration from the Mosaic of Tirana itself, particularly incorporating the ancient "flower of life" symbol discovered on-site into the contemporary architectural language. This symbolic motif has been reinterpreted throughout the design, with protective "petals" forming an elegant shelter structure that hovers over the mosaic, creating both physical protection and a poetic connection between ancient symbolism and modern construction techniques.
The ground floor of the new building houses essential public functions, including the main exhibition space where visitors can learn about the site's historical significance and view related artifacts. Supporting technical areas are strategically positioned in the northeast section of the building, while a striking radial staircase provides access to the second level, where office spaces and an open laboratory are located for ongoing research and conservation activities.
The monolithic structure serves multiple purposes beyond housing these various functions, also acting as a counterweight for the protective shelter system, which minimizes the visual impact of the engineering requirements on the historical site. The shelter itself utilizes a lightweight metal framework that has been carefully engineered to provide maximum protection while maintaining visual transparency and architectural elegance.
A distinctive fabric mesh veil wraps the metal framework, creating a filtering system that controls light exposure while generating a dynamic interplay of shadows across the archaeological site throughout the day. This innovative approach to environmental protection enhances rather than detracts from the visitor experience, creating ever-changing patterns of light and shadow that add visual interest to the ancient remains below.
Beyond the physical preservation measures, the project integrates cutting-edge digital and interactive elements designed to enrich visitors' engagement with the site's multiple historical layers. These technological enhancements include virtual tour capabilities that allow for immersive exploration of areas not physically accessible to visitors, as well as interactive displays that provide detailed historical context and archaeological insights.
The comprehensive approach ensures that the Mosaic of Tirana is not only properly safeguarded for future generations but also reimagined as an accessible and immersive cultural landmark that can serve educational, research, and tourism functions. The project, constructed by FUSHA sh.p.k. and documented through photography by Besart Cani, represents a successful model for how contemporary architecture can enhance rather than compete with precious historical sites, creating new possibilities for cultural engagement while respecting and protecting Albania's irreplaceable archaeological heritage.
