INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION:
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TIRANA AQUATIC CENTER
(AQUADROMI I TIRANËS)
FIRST PHASE DEADLINE : APRIL 22-nd
The Tirana Aquatic Center and public swimming pools have always been an important part of the capital’s life, serving as a hub for sports, cultural, and recreational activities for the local community and visitors. To revive this valuable space and adapt it to contemporary needs, an international architectural design competition is organized to bring a new vision to the Tirana Aquatic Center.
The aim of this competition is to enable the revitalization of the Aquatic Center, creating an environment that accommodates a variety of activities and visitor needs. The project must be connected to the context while introducing contemporary innovations to this complex.
The competition aims to create a multifunctional space that will serve a wide range of sports, cultural, and recreational activities throughout the year.
The project should consider various uses suitable for all seasons, making the Aquatic Center a vibrant and significant destination for the citizens of Tirana and other visitors.
Manifesto
Tirana is a developing city undergoing continuous transformation to define a new architectural and urban character. In new constructions, the approach to contemporary international architecture and its integration with art allows for a lively and creative city, suitable for younger generations.
Through the reconceptualization of the Tirana Aquatic Center, the goal is to recover a valuable public asset, an important reference point for generations that is closely connected to nature, sports, and leisure time in general.
The reconstruction project focuses primarily on young people: creating conditions suitable for developing their athletic skills and strengthening their sense of community and social connections.
This project also presents an excellent opportunity to rethink not only the architecture of the buildings but also the landscape and public space through innovative solutions that promote flexibility in use beyond the predefined function of the structure.
An essential aspect of this intervention is the updating of the technical conditions of the structure, a challenge that offers great potential in terms of industrial design and the graphic design of the technical elements and sports accessories of the facility.
For a valuable project that best utilizes the creativity and innovation of local and international professionals and gathers the best architectural ideas, an international competition for architectural design ideas is being held.
For these reasons, we invite all interested architectural studios to participate in this competition and contribute with ideas and proposals that will bring a noticeable and sustainable change to this important public space of the capital. Let us build together the future of the Tirana Aquatic Center, creating a space that inspires, unites, and revitalizes our community.
Methodology
We encourage and support the participation of local and international professionals working together, believing that this reciprocal professional relationship best intertwines contextual knowledge and local creativity with international expertise.
The competition can serve as a valuable co-creative process where multiple actors of local and foreign culture, the local community, and experts with technical knowledge and international experience interact.
Purpose of the Competition
This competition aims to generate new ideas and proposals for the complete redesign of the current Aquadrome site, transforming it into a water sports, recreation, and social hub for the capital’s community, in line with modern technical and design standards for similar complexes.
The main focus is on the architectural revision of the Aquadrome’s landscape, including:
- The design of public spaces and greenery
- Pool accessories such as diving boards
- Play areas
- Redesign of pathways and surrounding plazas to create a welcoming oasis between nature and water
A key necessity is the restructuring of infrastructure to enable year-round use of the sports pools.
A fundamental requirement is the inclusion of accessibility elements for people with disabilities in all frequented areas of the swimming complex.
The new swimming pool project must ensure the safety of the pools, water games, and auxiliary accessories.
Designers must also incorporate a sustainable energy system in the planning of technical installations.
Regarding auxiliary functions, the creation of high-quality service areas is necessary, including:
- Entrance/reception areas
- Changing rooms and showers
- First aid and medical facilities
- Dedicated spaces for youth sports education and skill development
From this perspective, the renovation of the Tirana Public Swimming Pools (Aquadrome Complex) presents an excellent opportunity to establish a modern, well-equipped venue for social and recreational activities for the capital’s community.
Key Objectives of the project
The outcome of this competition will be design solutions for the reconceptualization of the current Aquadrome site, integrating innovative yet context-sensitive approaches that align with modern technical standards for similar complexes.
Each competitor is required to address and synthesize the following key aspects during the design process:
- Site Analysis:
- Conduct a thorough study of the competition site and its surroundings.
- Provide an in-depth analysis of the proposed area based on documentation review, expert consultations, and site visits to reflect existing conditions and justify the proposal.
- Architectural and Landscape Design:
- Develop an architectural and landscape proposal that creates a distinctive exterior appearance while ensuring flexibility in both indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate various community gatherings and activities.
- Functional Synergies:
- Explore functional synergies in designing the pool complex layout by incorporating new facilities and infrastructure suitable for indoor spaces that can be used year-round.
- Visitor Comfort and Event Accommodation:
- Emphasize the provision of diverse amenities to meet visitor needs and support various event types.
- Sustainable and Green Energy Solutions:
- Maximize green and renewable energy production to power pool facilities.
- For indoor structures, aim to create a carbon-neutral or carbon-reducing
- Universal Accessibility:
- Ensure accessibility for all through the inclusion of ramps, elevators, and designated spaces that enhance comfort and safety.
- Innovation, Cost Efficiency, and Compliance:
- All solutions should prioritize high creativity, the use of cutting-edge technology, cost efficiency, compliance with Albanian legislation, and the adoption of best practices in the design of such facilities.
Design Program
The purpose of this competition is to redefine the functions of the Tirana Public Pools (Aquadrome), transforming them into a multifunctional entertainment and relaxation complex for the entire community. The design program is structured according to key functional areas that the new complex is expected to accommodate:
Function 1: Swimming Pools
- Indoor Olympic-sized sports pool
- Outdoor Olympic-sized sports pool
- Outdoor recreational pool with water play features (for children aged 8+ and adults)
- Outdoor sports pool with a diving platform
- Outdoor recreational pool for children aged 4-7
- Outdoor recreational pool for toddlers aged 1-3
- Green or shaded relaxation areas for visitors
Function 2: Support Services
- Facilities for the indoor pool (toilets, showers, changing rooms, etc.)
- Facilities for outdoor recreational pools (toilets, showers, changing rooms, etc.)
- Facilities for children’s pools (toilets, showers, changing rooms, etc.)
Function 3: Wellness & SPA
SPA area (sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, etc.)
Function 4: Café / Bar / Restaurant
Function 5: Gym
Function 6: Administration & Reception
Administrative offices, main entrance, and reception
Function 7: Parking
Open-air or underground parking
Required Interventions Based on Spatial Standards & Existing Conditions
- New construction for the indoor pool → 6,300 m²
- Reconstruction of outdoor pools → 3,134 m² (total surface area of pools)
- New support structures for outdoor pools → 626 m²
- Includes entrance, ticketing, changing rooms, showers, and restrooms.
- New indoor bar/restaurant → 600 m²
- Underground parking facility → 5,177 m²
- Redesign of outdoor spaces → 23,846 m²
- Includes pedestrian infrastructure, access roads, landscaping, children’s playgrounds, diving platform redesign, and additional water play features.
- (Total area allocated to outdoor pools: 25,072 m² – Closed structures: 626 m² – Restaurant: 600 m² = 23,846 m²)
Competition procedure
Candidades will find the required information about the competition in the following link:
https://www.app.gov.al/njoftimi-i-kontrat%C3%ABs-s%C3%AB-shpallur/
Competition process
1
Phases of the process
Phase 1: Short-listing. In the qualifying phase the studios must fulfill a set of criteria
– must not be in bankruptcy process
– has not been convicted of a criminal offense, according to the provisions of the legislation on the criminal liability of legal entities
– has not been convicted by a final court decision, related to professional activity, issued by the National Business Center
– has has fulfilled the fiscal obligations;
– has paid all its obligations social security, issued by tax administration
– historical extract of the studio, where it is defined the object of its activity
– certificate proving that they have a minimum of design experience in the respective field, and similar experiences
– bears legal responsibility for the veracity of the statements in the documentation submitted to competition
Phase 2: Within 30 days from the publication of the list with the ranking, finalists must submit the project-ideas with electronic signature (in digital form on CD) and with panels near the Tirana Municipality, according to the deadlines written in the ordinance. Project ideas must fit the format of projects according to the definitions of articles 9 and 10 of VKM 408, dated 13.05.2015 “For the approval of the regulation of the development of the territory” (amended).
2
Competition Jury
The jury of the competition will examine the submitted projects from the studio solely on the basis of the criteria defined in the design brief. If necessary, the representatives of the studios may be invited to answer questions that the jury will have posed in a report, to clarify every aspect of the submitted projects.
In the conclusion of this process, the jury takes a decision for the final ranking of the projects submitted by the studios, based on: Creativity; Suitability of the proposal with the required function; High applicability factor; connection and impact of the proposal with the context, according to the targeting system defined in the design brief.
Expected results
– Design and Context; Technical issues; Program, Overall Quality of the project; Architectural and Urban design quality;
– Feasibility of Implementation; Quality of multi-disciplinary integration; Innovation etc
– Quality of the project, functional program distribution, aesthetic and symbolic value of the proposed intervention
– Innovative use of building practices and green sustainable measures
Architecture:
Volume/Composition – Flexible structure with compositional freedom; contemporary architecture with special impact in the area; a feasible and rational project-idea in accordance with the technical conditions and new construction technologies.
Built footprint:
To create free spaces and dynamic relationships with both the road network and the public spaces.
– Fees and Awards for design
The jury’s decision for the ranking of the finalists will be published on the official page of the Municipality of Tirana, and on all the other outlets for informing the public.
The first ranked studio is considered the winning one and the presented project will undergo the process of implementation as well as all the further procedures for the procurement for construction permit within the legal framework in force in the field of planning and development of the territory.
The other finalist studios will be rewarded for the participation in the competition according to the predictions of decision nr.354, dated 11.05.2016 of the Council of Ministers “For the approval of the fee manual for services in planning of the territory, design, supervision and validation”.
The expenses for the realization of the competition and the expenses for rewarding the finalists will be borne by the private developer who expresses interest in the realization of the competition, according to the notarial declaration defined in point 3, of article 4, of the regulation.
Application
I. Suitability
The competition is open for international licensed/ accredited companies, in the field of Territorial Planning/ Architecture and COnstruction engineering, in collaboration with local studios. Participating studios must make available their legal, economic and technical capacities, in accordance with the requirements specified in the design brief.
Competitors must be minimally three licensed studios, with international experience in the field of architecture, urban planning, or urban design, and have valuable collaboration with local studios in the moment of application, according to the specific requirement for the realization of an international competition.
The competing design studios must have a minimum experience of five years in design, in the related field, with similar experiences.
Finalists will be rewarded for their work according to the definitions of point 4, subsection 1 of article 4 of order nr 74641, dated, 04.07.2022. Finalists will gain the right of implementation of their project according to the project idea approved in the competition.
II. Evaluation Criteria
Project evaluations will be done by assessing compliance with the development strategy of the approved master plan and the requirements of the design brief.