Prishtina Architecture Week 2015

29.June - 12.July

The Office for Urban Regeneration work at the Municipality of Prishtina

During the Prishtina Architecture Week 2014, the Kosovo Architecture Foundation held a joint workshop together with the NY DCP and their senior urban designer Ms. Skye Duncan. The interesting work that came out of the workshops and the case study conducted by the OUD+Architects gave rise to the creation of the first Office for Urban Regeneration at the Municipality of Prishtina.

The Regeneration Office which functions on pro bono bases saw the contribution of more than 40 students and 4 professional architects. The more interesting projects that the OUR initiated and is actively working on are the: Physical and aesthetic treatment of existing streets in Prishtina; the mapping and detailed design of their surrounding for the physically impaired and the mapping of buildings with unique importance in the city of Prishtina.

Kosovo Architecture Foundation would like to take this opportunity and thank all the individuals that have worked so far on different projects of the office and those that have made it possible: The Mayor of Prishtina Shpend Ahmeti, Deputy-Mayor Dardan Sejdiu, the head of the Planning Department Mr. Liburn Aliu, KAF and OUR founders Bekim Ramku, Nol Binakaj, the coordinating architects Linda Spahiu, Mimoza Sylejmani and Fortune Haziri, draft document coordinators: Blerte Aliu and Dea Luma, student contributors: Granit Llumnica, Shqipdon Arifi, Vlora Dalipi, Vlora Kelmendi, Gentiana Demaj, Learta Stavileci, Kushtrim Ademi, Herolinda Berisha, Katriot Nebihu, Rinor Bujupaj, Teuta Kelmendi, Gazmend Krasniqi, Arjeta Vllasa, Besart Mehmeti, Ilirjona Haxhiaj, Bledian Salihu, Jetlir Dermaku, Kosovare Sadiku, Luiza Hoxha, Sevime Kallaba, Benjamin Komoni, Aida Bllacaku, Arbenita Gashi, Rina Bryma, Veronika Palokaj, Deniza Blakaj, Pajazit Sudolli, Kushtrim Thaqi, Liridona Gashi, Adelina Ajeti, Lumturie Bajrami, Besian Beqiri, Fisnik Lushaku, Sylejman Saqipi, and many many more.

Bellow are some images of the work that was produced by the office during 2014 and first half of 2015.

ETH visit to Prishtina

The Kosovo Architecture Foundation was pleased to host a group of ETH Professors, Students and Swiss Artists for a one-day study visit to Prishtina.  The visit was part of the "Debalkanize. A journey to Macedonia & Kosovo" study program under the chair of Prof.Dr. Philip Ursprung.

The visitors, apart from touring the "late-modernistic" landmarks of the city of Prishtina such as the National Library, Ethnological Museum, Youth and Sports Center, the Brotherhood and Unity Monument, etc.  Also met with some heads of some of the key cultural institutions in the capital city.  A short architecture tour of the main historic monuments in Prishtina preceded the visit to the Stacioni - Center for Contemporary Arts where they met the with the Albert Heta and Vala Osmani who head this important independent arts institution.  Later the group visited the National Gallery where the director and curator Erzen Shkololli presented the history and the work being done by the Gallery.  The visitors had a lengthy tour of the National Library hosted by the director Mr. Tefik Mehmeti. visitors also toured the Youth and Sports Center and met with Besa Luci from the Kosovo 2.0 platform, Artist Alban Muja and art performance group "Have it".  The group concluded their study tour in Prishtina with a visit to newly established gallery"Lambda Lambda Lambda" where they had a talk with founders Katharina Schendl and Isabella Ritter. 

The next 3 days the ETH study group visited a couple of cities in Macedonia where they were hosted by City Creative Networks' founders Milan Dinevski and Damjan Kokolevski.