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International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The world's most renowned architects gather in the heart of Tirana

2025-06-06 07:54:00, Aktualitet CNA

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

Historic! Albania has opened its doors to the International Architecture Festival “Bread & Heart” under the motto (Bread and Heart/ Bring some salt, please!)

For the first time in history, an important event related to the field of Architecture is being held in Albania.

A festival of hospitality, architecture and dialogue on the future, where global visionaries and local perspectives meet, exchange and inspire.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

This first edition of the "Bread and Heart" festival "Bring some salt, please", is an event that combines Albanian hospitality and its development, appreciates its architectural achievements and encourages critical reflection on the past and present to shape a better future for our cities and environment.

Bread & Heart Festival is more than just an event. This extraordinary event, taking place for the first time in Albania, brings criticism, self-reflection, and open dialogue.

“Bread & Heart” is a rare opportunity to connect with the world, to bridge the gap between foreign architects shaping Albania and the local audience.  The aim of this grand event, which will last for 4 full days, from June 5-8, is the direct exchange of ideas.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

Currently, around 150 international architectural teams are contributing to projects throughout Albania.  More and more architects are showing interest in working in Albania, also collaborating with local teams.  This festival, organized by the Territorial Development Agency, under the auspices of Prime Minister Edi Rama, is a historic event for Albania.

Everything is organized under the direction of Adelajda Roka, General Director of AZHT. This event will culminate today, as it will be the Open Day of the Festival that will start at 08:00 until 23:55.  The event will take place at the “Book Building” in the center of Tirana, on “Skënderbej” Square.

“BREAD & HEART” FESTIVAL DETAILS

According to details revealed by CNA, the festival's open day will be divided into four sessions, where exhibitions will be opened, conferences will be held. There will also be artistic performances at this festival.

Yesterday evening, a welcoming ceremony by Prime Minister Edi Rama took place at the Prime Minister's Office, while today will be the festival's open day, where each of you can become part of this event with a ticket.

CNA reveals that today will be filled with a series of interview activities, discussions, exhibitions, and artistic performances.

FIRST SESSION

The event will begin with the opening of the Garden Models exhibition. There will also be a discussion on the topic: “Changing a Culture: Towards an Established Practice”.

A group of renowned international architects will be present in the heart of Albania for this extraordinary event.

One of them will be urban planner and curator Michiel van Iersel, who will also give the opening speech of the festival. After him, Prime Minister Edi Rama will take the floor.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

After this, two of the most renowned architects, Freek Persyn and Reinier de Graff, will be introduced to the audience.

Architect Reinier de Graaf is also the author of books, one of which, titled "The Words of Architects", was presented in Tirana.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

Afterwards, the four architects Carme Pigem, Steven Holl, Kengo Kuma and Chris Precht will give a short presentation on the topic: "What comes next for Albania and Tirana in terms of architecture and spatial development, and how to work towards a more design-based practice in Albania?"

American architect Steven Holl will be the one to build "Expo Albania", a multifunctional center where meetings, events, concerts will be held, but there will also be accommodation units. Holl was announced the winner a few months ago.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

Spanish architect Pigem is one of the most influential architects in contemporary architecture.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

An interview will be held with curator Anneke Abhelakh, Albania's curator in participation in international biennials.

SECOND SESSION

Topic: “First Impressions: Working in/with Albania”.

This session will feature presentations by two renowned architects, Winy Maas & Stefano Boeri. Dutch architect Maas is the author of the reconstruction of the Pyramid.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

The presentation will be followed by another presentation, that of 4 architects Johan Anrys, Elora Hardy, Christian Kerez and Beat Huesler.

During this presentation, reflections from foreign and local architects will be heard on design in Albania, what challenged and surprised them, and how this reshaped their way of thinking.

The panel consisting of architects Benedetta Tagliabue, Xaveer de Geyter, Sonila Abdalli, Sam Chermayeff and Jose Selgas will develop a discussion of different perspectives, expanding the stories shared on stage into a broader and well-thought-out exchange.

THIRD SESSION

Topic: “Second Guesses: Lessons Learned”

Architects Alejandro Aravena and Anupama Kundoo will present key points of the presentation. Afterwards, the panel consisting of Amanda Levete, Emre Arolat, Marco Casamoti and Andrea Caputo will share personal stories of failures, near-failures, and misunderstood goals, shared with honesty, "humor and reflection."

An interview will be held with Albanian architect Irida Shupo. The Albanian architect was part of the Pyramid restoration project.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The
Irida Shupo, architect

The panel of architects Camilo Rebelo, Wilfries Kuehn, Denada Veizaj, Olga Bolshanina and Kersten Geers will discuss different perspectives, expanding the stories shared on stage into a broader and well-thought-out exchange.

FOURTH SESSION

The topic: "Future Desires: Looking Ahead", will begin with an interview with architect Elena Reygadas.

Then Minsuk Cho and Mikkel Frost will present the key points of the discussions. Architect Frost is one of the winning architects for the Korça stadium project.

International Architecture Festival "Bread and Heart" / The

The panel consisting of architects Pier Paolo Tamburelli, Robert Edward Grant, Falma Fshazi, Winka Dubbledam and Amin Taha will develop a discussion with different perspectives, expanding the stories shared on stage into a broader and well-thought-out exchange.

After 4 presented sessions, today's event will be closed by architect Michiel van Iersel and Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Afterwards, attendees at this event will be able to enjoy the project "Elements" by director Davide Rapp.

The project features a 32-minute collage that reimagines architecture through over 500 film clips, revealing how everyday building elements shape our experience of space.

This will also be the closing of the Bread & Heart event, one of the international festivals that has brought together the best architects from around the world and gathered them right in the heart of Albania, in its capital city of Tirana./ CNA





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