Mario Cucinella Architects have designed a new mixed-use building for Tirana, Albania, that is inspired by the shape of the nearby Mount Dajti and is wrapped around a central scoop filled with greenery.
The 93m (305ft)-tall, 24-storey Ekspozita Building will house a variety of commercial, residential and public amenity spaces.
Occupying three and a half sides of a square footprint and tapering as it rises, the building will accommodate commercial tenants at the bottom with smaller units more suited to residential use towards the top.
The void at its centre will wrap around a green space at ground level and be used to create a series of curved terraces that will provide a sense of enclosure and protection and will each be abundantly planted with greenery.
The intention of this is to create "a generous new green space" in a capital city where such areas are relatively limited.
Corners will also be cut off the structure to create more public spaces within its rectangular plot.
To keep energy use down, the building has been designed to be highly insulated and to make use of solar shading that will minimise heat gain during the summer.
Work is expected to begin in 2020 with completion expected in 2023.
