TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN January 2023

I THINK I AM FALLING IN LOVE WITH ALBANIA

WHITE RAVEN SKYBAR & LOUNGE

Budapest from its best view

Mikkel Frost

Save the Date: On March 28th, 2023, the HOTCO hotel investment conference will be staged in Vienna for the first time

HOTCO, the leading hotel investment conference for the CEE region and beyond, is moving from Budapest to Vienna on March 28th, 2023. Three hundred participants will discuss trends, success stories and future tourism investments. Mag. Susanne Kraus-Winkler, Austrian State Secretary for Tourism, will officially open the conference.

TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE and TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN will be among the media partners of HOTCO 2023. The top-class event after five successful years in Budapest is moving to Vienna. The focus is on hotel real estate and project developments in the CEE region, which are particularly interesting for investors, owners, bankers and developers. Three hundred participants from 40 countries are attending HOTCO. Order your tickets at https://hotconf.com/. Trailblazing Magazine readers can purchase their tickets for the conference on a discounted fee of 10% compared to the present-day prices.

The founder of HOTCO, Marius Gomola, Managing Director of Horwath HTL in Hungary, member of Horwath HTL the world’s largest tourism consultancy firm. Mr. Gomola emphasizes that Vienna is the perfect city for the conference, “especially because the Austrian business community has been known and respected for its leading role in developing and financing the region’s hotel industry over the last 30 years”, Vienna, as the “Gateway to the East”, is the ideal venue for HOTCO: “It is important to welcome a hotel investment conference for the CEE region in Vienna.”

Successful projects

On March 28th, 2023, the conference will meet in style at the Hotel Andaz am Belvedere Vienna, where the Austrian State Secretary for Tourism,

Mag. Susanne Kraus-Winkler, will make the official opening. The event focuses on developing, financing, and asset management of hotel projects. In addition, to news and analysis about success stories from regional hotel investors, owners and brands.

On March 27th, 2023, Vienna’s newest hotels can be toured by participants, followed by a networking welcome reception that evening, to meet stakeholders and professionals from a cross section of industries contributing to financial activities in the hotel real estate sector.

Key Industry Leaders

Rupert Simoner, CEO of Lombard Estate Capital and owner of the Vagabond Club Hotel and President of the HR Group Advisory Board, will hold this year’s HOTCO keynote. Among the top-class speakers are Oliver Bonke, CEO, Deutsche Hospitality; Heribert Gangl, Director of Hotels & Tourism of the Erste Group; Martina Maly-Gärtner, COO and Member of the Board, UBM Development; Tomislav Popović, CEO of Maistra Hospitality Group; Otmar Michaeler, CEO, Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group; Milan Arandelovic, Head of Hospitality, Cerberus Global Investments; Mindee Lee, Corporate Strategy and Board Secretary, CPI Property Group; Matthias Huber, Industry Lead for Real Estate, Raiffeisen Bank International AG and Prof. Dr. Christian Buer, Managing Partner, Horwath HTL Germany and many more.

Vanas & Partners Vienna, a regional partner of Crowe Global, proudly supports this leading industry event.

Contacts: Marius Gomola

Mobile: +36 70 778 5912

Email: MGomola@HorwathHTL.com https://hotconf.com/

Lőrincz Norbert

HOTCO

Mobile: +36 70 557 5924

Email: Norbert@hotconf.com

In 2023, our leadership will be vision, clarity, agility and adaptability

We will thrill to succeed in our business environment. We will embrace changes and cultivate mindset growth. We will leverage influence and inspire meaningful change and impact. We will master innovation and reinvention. We will prepare for the future by embracing diversity. We will invest in human capital to meet the rising need for growth and development.

Rudina Hoxha Founder

www.linkedin.com/in/rudina-hoxha-33580136

Co-Founder

www.linkedin.com/in/jose-pinto-35596548

CEBRA aarhus

Vesterbro Torv 3, 2nd floor, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark +45 8730 3439 | cebra@cebraarchitecture.dk

CEBRA copenhagen

Flæsketorvet 75, 3rd floor, 1711 Copenhagen V, Denmark +45 8730 3439 | cebra@cebraarchitecture.dk

www.cebraarchitecture.dk

Photo: Al Hosn landscape, Abu Dhabi, UAE

EPO BUILDING IN THE HAGUE

On June 27th 2018, the European Patent Office (EPO) inaugurated the new main building on its site in Rijswijk, near The Hague, in the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands during a ceremony hosted by the then EPO President Benoît Battistelli. Designed by renowned architects Ateliers Jean Nouvel (Paris) and Dam & Partners Architecten (Amsterdam), the landmark building unites bold contemporary architecture with a modern, sophisticated infrastructure. It has been constructed by a Dutch consortium from the Group TBI, composed of the companies J.P. van Eesteren and Croonwolter&dros.

Measuring 107 metres in height, 156 metres in length, and 24.7metres in width, the creation of Jean Nouvel and Diederik Dam is elegant, slim and transparent, with a facade that reflects the sky and blends seamlessly into the Dutch countryside.

The building is the largest steel structure ever constructed in the Netherlands with a design that draws upon the natural landscape of Holland, with its semi-reflective glass surface that mirrors the sky, land and water. The construction is pure and serene and,

The European Patent Office in Rijswijk designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel and Dam & Partners Architecten. Copyright European Patent Office. Photo by Ossip van Duivenbode.

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT THE NEW BUILDING

• Period of construction: 2014-2018

• Budget: €205 million, self-financed

• Dimensions: 156m long, 107 metres high, 24.7 metres wide

• Gross floor area: 85 000m2

• Materials: Built using 100 000m2 of glass and 10 000 tonnes of steel

• Capacity for some 2 000 workspaces

• Environment: To ensure sustainability, a mix of criteria from the Netherland’s BREEAM-NL and the German BNB methods of environmental assessment were included in the requirements for the building

• Solar panels on the roof will supply a source of renewable energy

• 16 000 LED light features will save approximately 430 000 kilowatt hours per year

• An aquifer thermal energy storage system will reduce primary energy consumption and related CO2 emissions

in the right weather, the top floors even seem to merge with the sky. The slender shape of the 27-storey building allows the light to pass through, inducing a sense of transparency as it appears to float effortlessly.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by some 350 local and international guests, among them members of the diplomatic corps, the then 38 EPO member states, international institutions and high-level representatives from local and national institutions and authorities. In a symbolic act to mark the opening of the premises, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the

Netherlands signed the golden guest book of the EPO.

Financed entirely from the EPO’s own resources and built in four years, the new building represents the organisation’s largest single investment in its 45-year history in the Netherlands.

Commenting on the inauguration, architect Jean Nouvel said on June 2018: “I’m delighted to see the completion of the New Main, a building that was created with a shared common vision for innovation. Despite the challenges of constructing a building of this size, today we stand before

EPO President Benoît Battistelli , Diederik Dam, architect, Jean Nouvel, architect, EPO’s new building ©Frank van Beek for the European Patent Office

you in The Hague with this goal achieved, thanks to the amazing efforts of our teams”.

Architect Diederik Dam added “Our mission for the New Main was to combine modern architecture and environmental sustainability. Four years after we laid the first stone, I am honored to see this building become a reality. Every detail of the new building has been taken into account in terms of energy efficient technologies to reuse resources and reduce consumption. In fact, we considered natural components such as plants, water, and light as essentials”.

The building has many special features:

It has a double glass facade that plays an essential part of the building’s climate concept and houses hanging gardens containing 300 different varieties of plants. Vast arrays of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof sky garden provide/serve as a source of renewable electric energy to the main power supply to be distributed throughout the building, and an aquifer thermal energy storage system will reduce primary energy consumption and related CO2 emissions.

The building provides workspace for some 2 000 staff and is equipped with the necessary facilities to host the entire state-of-the-art

technical infrastructure needed to implement the European patent grant process.

With nearly 6300 staff, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO’s centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 44 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world’s leading authority in patent information and patent searching.

With nearly 6300 staff, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna

Last December, the EPO’s headquarter building in Munich was recognised by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments so as a listed building, it is under protection. The EPO Headquarters was one of the first buildings built by the well-known firm gmp.

SHARON FINNIGAN-KILBY: “My Love of Plants Seems to Have Come from Within”

By Rudina Hoxha & Jose Pinto

Sharon Finnigan-Kilby, has been involved in PR and Marketing for 25 years, and also has a great passion for landscape design.

15 years ago in the UK, she trained with the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK, and started to design gardens for private clients and hotels. Sharon was always intrigued by the plants and flowers since she was a child. Later, when she moved to Tuscany in 2007, she met a fabulous gardener called Jean Horton. The rest is the history she generously shared with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN.

Full interview below:

Let’s start with a bit of introduction of yourself to our readers.

I have been running a boutique PR agency for 21 years focusing on luxury properties and hospitality. I also started designing gardens for private clients and hotels 10 years ago because I have always had a passion for landscape design. I adore all aspects of horticulture and creating outdoor living spaces which are filled with multi-level sensory aspects. While I have

lots of hands-on experience I also trained with the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK where I studied design and practical horticulture. Since then, I have been very fortunate to have designed and projectmanaged garden transformations for clients in Tuscany and Umbria.

As growing up, was a spark that made you interested in plants and gardening?

My first memory of feeling connected to plants was at school when I was given radish seeds to cultivate. I was about 7 years old and was in awe of how a simple seed could evolve into a plant, then miraculously then into food. Also, around this time I started a small vegetable garden, my dad helped me plant courgette plants, and when they grew, he then carved my name into the fruit and as I watched the courgette turn into a large marrow, my name also magically grew in size. In my teens I worked in our neighbour’s gardens keeping them tidy, I was always impressed at how resilient plants were. Watching a heavily pruned rose bush burst back into life in the spring was incredible. It is fair to say I am always in a happy place when surrounded by nature.

Sharon Finnigan-Kilby bellaterragardendesigns.com

“Images courtesy of Mark Bolton photographer and Borgo Argiano, Siena.

Garden Designed by Sharon Finnigan-Kilby of Bella Terra Garden Designs”

When I moved to Tuscany in 2007, I met a fabulous gardener called Jean Horton who taught me so much about designing Mediterranean gardens and working in harmony with nature not battling against it. I shadowed her on several of her garden projects and learnt by actively doing – the best way to learn. Her passion for plants was truly infectious and her knowledge remarkable, particularly with roses. Thanks

to Jean I am also now in love with roses, particularly scented and climbing varieties. I often include delicate muted shades of roses that add gentle volume and a sense of romance to a garden. My favourites are: New Dawn, Constance Spry, Gertrude Jekyll and the best all-rounder the Iceberg, a hardy white rose that can be found in bush or climbing form. I source most roses from David Austin Roses in the UK or the Rosebarn in Tuscany.

What attracts you most in garden designing? How have you acquired such skills?

A distinct connection with nature brings an innate sense of joy to most humans. Nurturing plants, working in harmony with nature and having respect for the seasons allows one to feel in-sync with our surroundings. While I feel a profound affinity with plants, trees, landscapes etc I always knew that to design gardens professionally I would need to have formal training. 16 years ago, I studied at Bicton college in Devon and completed a course in horticulture and design which gave me the structure and knowledge to pursue a career creating gardens for clients.

Do you have preferred plants or styles that you advise for amazing gardens? What creates a great effect in gardening? Working with clients where I live in Italy it has become abundantly clear that you need to work alongside the climate, location, and its characteristics. Here, temperatures can vary between -20 to +40 therefore resilience is key. I create gardens that function as outside living areas, I study how the space will be used, and how it will work alongside the architecture of a property. I also only plant low-maintenance gardens that are in keeping with the location and its natural elements such as altitude, access to water supplies, wind factor and soil quality.

In terms of style, I’m all for creating gardens that look like they are meant to be there, and that sit harmoniously within the landscape or setting. I use layers of plants and love to underplant creating drifts of colour, texture and scent. For example, here in Tuscany, many existing gardens have ancient olive trees. These can look beautiful when underplanted with white roses, iris, lavender and spreading herbs.

Roses I particularly love to include are

Constance Spry, Gertrude Jekyll, New Dawn and of course the hardy and adaptable white Iceberg Rose which can be used in bush or climbing form.

Also, one of the first elements I look at is lighting as this can bring to life a garden in the evenings. A good lighting scheme is essential and can change the form of plants into something architectural and magical.

Plants I often use to create an elegant Tuscan Garden include: Buxos (Box) shaped into balls, pyramids and formal edging. Lavender works beautifully alongside rustic paths and Cypress trees add a sense of place and height. I also like to add water features where possible as water reflects the light and creates a tranquil atmosphere within the garden. For example, fountains, ponds, flowing streams and small waterfalls add life and interest to a garden.

Sculptural additions also bring focus to a garden, such as stone borders, wooden pergolas, ornate benches, large sundials, oversized terracotta pots, and eye-catching artwork.

Is there anything you’re working on at the moment that you might like to share with us?

Having more recently completed two commercial hospitality projects I’m thrilled to

be working on a small private walled courtyard garden where I am putting together plants that thrive in shade such as hostas and hellebores, while also bringing in some aspects of light by using a contemporary mirrored wall of water. Also, at my home near Volterra, I’m busy taking rose cuttings ready to plant up next year along a small stone bed created from re-purposed local stone.

Were you inspired by your grandmother’s garden or plants? Who do you work with today?

My love of plants seems to have come from within, I have always enjoyed spending time in nature and grew up in the countryside. I have recently designed a large floral bed for my parent’s garden, but they were never hugely involved in gardening. Although my father is a skilled wall builder and loves drystone walls, he has expertly restored one for me on a walled herb garden project in Umbria.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to start a career in garden design?

If you are interested in working as a garden designer, the most important thing is to gather a team of experts that are reliable and skilled. I have a fabulous network of practical builders, gardeners, irrigation experts, swimming pool designers, lighting experts and plant suppliers. Without these fabulous connections, it would be impossible to deliver quality garden design projects on time and on budget. Learning from others, namely by osmosis is key. Shadowing a skilled gardener or designer will have a profound effect on your knowledge and more importantly, give you confidence and self-belief in your own garden design skills.

www.bellaterragardendesigns.com

CEBRA’S MIKKEL FROST

“I THINK I AM FALLING IN LOVE WITH ALBANIA”

By Rudina Hoxha & Jose Pinto

Location: Tirana, Albania

Client: Nova Construction 2012

Function:

Multifunctional Tower

Size: 70,000 M²

Year: 2022

Status: Ongoing

Architect: CEBRA

The encounter with the Founding Partner of CEBRA, Mr. Mikkel Frost, in the heart of Tirana was arranged by the stars. Accompanied by Mr. Thomas Bang Madsen, his colleague and Associated Partner at CEBRA, Mr. Frost, a very fine, tall man, doing wonders in architecture, impressed us with his openminded approach.

Amazed by Albania’s nature and the mountains in particular, the Dane said that their project in Albania – Mount Tirana – was inspired by Dajti Mountain. “The idea of using nature and the mountains as a metaphor was an early idea – it just seemed so logical from what we read about Albania and the images we found,” Frost told Trailblazing Magazine Architecture & Design.

Their project, Mount Tirana, a 205-metertower, will be the tallest building in Albania.

The construction of the multifunctional tower is in its first stages.

Frost finds Albania very exciting from an architectural point of view.

“I see many interesting buildings shooting up in Albania. It tells me that the country is

Mount Tirana CEBRA Mikkel Frost

going somewhere – that Albanians want to make a mark and create something unique for citizens, occupants and tourists to enjoy,” Frost said.

When I first came to Tirana and saw the coloured buildings, he added, “I immediately understood that something remarkable was happening there. I found it liberating, bold and decorative with all the vivid colours and patterns. That would never happen in Denmark. People here are too inhibited and not comfortable with intense expressions. But why not? It sends a clear message of change and optimism and is simply fun to look at, and it makes you smile – what more do you need?”

A jury comprising the Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. Edi Rama, Tirana’s Mayor, Mr. Erion Veliaj, architects and client Nova Construction 2012 selected CEBRA’s design last October. The architectural office, based

in Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark was founded in 2001 by the architects Mikkel Frost, Carsten Primdahl and Kolja Nielsen.

Full interview below:

1. Thank you, Mr Frost, for accepting our request for this interview!

You recently visited Tirana, where your architectural studio - CEBRA - has designed the tallest building to be the next urban landmark. Can you share some facts about it, including its key components, such as sustainability?

The tower is a multi-functional building containing offices, housing and a small hotel. It is inspired by Albanian nature because we believe it is crucial that architecture, even in these globalized times, resonates with its context. We were inspired by Dajti and worked with the mountain as a metaphor. Therefore it also makes sense to source the

materials locally, which is one aspect of sustainability. As the building gets thinner towards the top, the structural system’s logic makes it possible to reduce the amount of concrete going into the carcase. Finally, we add vegetation to the building to strengthen the conceptual idea and recreate the footprint we occupy on the ground. The sustainability features fit perfectly with the overall design idea, which is not always the case.

2. What is the story behind “Mount Tirana”? What were the challenges you faced while designing such an architectural piece?

It was not a challenge to design the competition proposal at all. In fact, it was a lot of fun, and the idea of using nature and the mountains as a metaphor was an early idea – it just seemed so logical from what we read about Albania and the images we found. A building resembling

a mounting can look many ways, so we worked through numerous iterations to reach the final design, but that is the usual process for us – abundance and selection.

3. When will the work on this 205-metertower start and conclude?

We have already started working with our client and the stakeholders, but we are still in the very early stages. Part of the work we do now is actually planning and trying to decide on a realistic programme, so at this point, I cannot say when people can finally move into Mount Tirana.

4. How do you see Albania from an architectural perspective?

I find Albania very exciting from an architectural point of view. First of all, I realize that leadership there understands the power of architecture as a promotion tool and a way to build pride and identity. A country with beautiful buildings and urban

spaces is worth visiting, and people living there will surely be proud of the artistry and optimism these buildings express. I see many interesting buildings shooting up in Albania. It tells me that the country is going somewhere – that Albanians want to make a mark and create something unique for citizens, occupants and tourists to enjoy.

Secondly, I sense there is more elbow space for architects in Albania. In Denmark, where I live and do much of my work, everything is over-regulated, and there’s a strange appreciation for moderation and simplicity. I have never really understood it, and I think Danes take things, including architecture, way too seriously. When I first came to Tirana and saw the coloured buildings, I immediately understood that something remarkable was happening there. I found it liberating, bold and decorative with all the vivid colours and patterns. That would never happen in Denmark. People here are too

inhibited and not comfortable with intense expressions. But why not? It sends a clear message of change and optimism and is simply fun to look at, and it makes you smile – what more do you need?

Later I learned that the coloured buildings were part of a larger scheme envisioned by Edi Rama. I wish more artists would go into politics.

5. Are you eager to embrace other projects in Albania? Is it part of your plans to extend your activity in Albania and the Balkans?

We have just undertaken the first commissions in Albania, so it is still too early to say where all this will take us. We still have to know if it is possible for us to actually execute a building and get it built right with the organizational setup we need to make here. Still, we are like all architects: we simply cannot turn down exciting commissions. To be honest, my biggest worry now is whether

Mangrove Park CEBRA, Photographer Rahul Vinodan

Sketch Mount Tirana CEBRA

we can keep up with all the work coming our way and still deliver top-quality architecture. There is a limit to how many brilliant ideas we get per day, and working out the drawing material is time-consuming. That said, I think I am falling in love with Albania, so anything can happen.

6. What projects could you see yourself and CEBRA working on? Can you mention some examples? What do you do to ensure that your projects are a success?

At this point in my career, I’m pretty much doing the kind of commissions I have always dreamt about – Mount Tirana is one of them. I have been fascinated with skyscrapers since I was a teenager. I would love to design an art museum or a library, but in the end, quality is what matters. I would rather do a revolutionary office building than an average museum. So, we look for better commissions and search for visionary clients. You cannot design amazing buildings without an ambitious client. That is one aspect of architectural success. There are others, but mainly it is about hard work and persistence at the drawing board.

7. In your view, what factors have made CEBRA successful in Denmark and even the world? Where would you like to see the company career-wise five years from now?

We do a lot of things well, but I know that many of our foreign clients are surprised that we are so easygoing and open to dialogue. Many of the so-called starchitects who work globally are inflexible and uncomfortable with critique. We involve the stakeholders; our primary objective is a happy client and thriving users. We would never try to convince anybody against their will. We consider architecture an art form, but this does not mean we have any right to be arrogant or neglect functionality.

We combine an artistic approach to architecture with a very pragmatic relationship with the client. That has proven to be an incredibly successful combination.

8. You have been the Founding Partner of CEBRA for the past 22 years. Could you please tell us more about your architecture and design background? What made you become an architect? Have you always wanted to be one?

I have been interested in drawing and making up stuff as far back as I can remember, but I think I had my first architectural experience when I was about eleven or twelve. I made a little pocket money back then by walking our neighbour’s dog, and I always took it to a nearby park where I ritualized passing by a magnificent white building. Back then, I had no idea about architecture, but I liked walking around it and looking at the different volumes, the detailing and the landscape. Often I would sit down for a while and enjoy the perfect design. Many years later, I discovered that Alvar Aalto and Jean Jacques Barüel designed this particular building. I didn’t know since I was just a kid, but I strongly felt this building was something else. So from around that time, I started playing with the idea of becoming an architect, and even to this day, I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do. I should also add that my mother, who has no formal education, has always been very interested in architecture and design. When I was a child, she would always point out different things. She would direct my attention to a beautiful chair or how the sunlight would behave in certain situations. She is very observant and has taught me to look around more carefully and enjoy even tiny details, materials or shapes. I still look at the world with great attention, which is essential for an architect.

Experimentarium CEBRA, Photographer Adam Mørk

Children’s Home of the Future CEBRA, Photographer Mikkel Frost

Anila Hetoja Struck with Creativity, Imagination, Dedication…

By Rudina Hoxha & Jose Pinto

In the field of Interior Design, what will get you far is creativity, imagination, dedication, and I always go by the quote of Albert Einstein, where “Success in life is closely related to imagination. “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.

“It happened quite often that while I was decorating some residencial or commercial spaces, I got the soar and strong inspiration to draw a painting to reinforce the vision of the particular space I was decorating.”

Anila Hetoja is an Albanian interior designer and a painter inspired by Mother Nature. Studying at RCC Institute of Technology of Art in Toronto, Canada, one of the most well-known universities in North America in the field of Interior Design, Hetoja founded Hetoja Designer Consulting in 2012.

Since then, she has opened many personal exhibitions not only in Tirana and Shkodër, but also abroad, such as Germany and Canada while multiple projects are building up day by day in the field of interior design.

Full interview:

1. Anila, you have a very interesting story behind you. Can you share some of its highlights with our readers?

I was born in the city of Shkodra, where I got my love for art and beauty, and

where I threw my first brushes on the loom. I have been dedicated to visual art since a young age, conveying on canvas the inspiration taken from nature and shaped in new forms of vivacity and diversity in contemporary Albanian art with a style that is as personalized as attractive.

Personal exhibitions not only follow each other, not only in Tirana and Shkodër, but also abroad, such as Germany and Canada, where I studied at RCC Institute of Technology of Art, one of the most wellknown universities in North America in the field of Interior Design. In my career, I count a number of projects in terms of interior design, such as hotels, residential houses and apartaments, bars, restaurants, and more. Over the last few years, I had the opportunity to present my artwork in many exibitions along with other reputable artists as well as I opened several personal exhibitions.

2. Building a career like yours must have had its ups and downs. what was the biggest obstacle you faced and how did you overcome it?

My definition of a career is an engagement in a work experience that includes

achievements and advancements based on a high level of experience in a particular field. I chose to devote myself to the field of art and consequently I had to give up my position as an economist. As my love for art was engrained in me from birth, it is what I am most passionate about and where I feel most involved. As a result, I am reminded of an expression that says: “The most important decision in life, is the choice of profession.

Initially, it was difficult since the profession I had chosen was unknown in Albania, which led in constant hard work and dedication to stand where I am today. Throughout my career I have had ups and downs, but I have never thought of giving up. I believe that this resonates to others as well, but anyone who has a vision and focuses on their goals, can achieve anything. Nowadays, a profession like Interior Design is no longer unknown to people. It is even a branch that is being taught in national universities. I always thought of this profession as a challenging one, but very beautiful at the same time. My biggest achievement career wise besides accomplishing my goals, is that I am doing what I always was supposed to do. It is where I feel myself.

3. You left Albania for Canada and studied interior design there. How would you describe this experience?

For me, they have been long and very difficult years but it was a beautiful experience that has grown me both personally and professionally. Thanks to the passion, the desire to work and study, I managed to get good results and successfully finished my studies, which paved the way for me to success. I think that regardless of talent, if you don’t work hard and study too, it won’t be an achievable journey to success.

4. What do you deem the key to your success? What is the key in Interior Design?

I think the key to success is knowledge. Even if you try and for a while you don’t see the results you expect, keep believing and never give up. Success belongs to those who struggle day by day, who know how to get up even when they fall. The knowledge you build every day is one step closer to your success which lies in passion, dedication and credibility in working environments.

In the field of Interior Design, what will get you far is creativity, imagination, dedication, and I always go by the quote of Albert Einstein, where “Success in life is closely related to imagination.” “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.

5. For what type of clientele, do you design?

In most cases, especially in the early days of my career, I was approached by my friends who were either building a new space or refurbishing their present residences. They wanted to add either a specific painting or consider a professional point of view for the interior design and decoration. It actually worked quite well because, performing for my friends whom I knew what they liked the most and what were their desires, it helped me a lot to conclude something at their expectations. Understanding clients’needs and expectations proved to be crucial. Then the multiple projects started to build up day by day.

6. You are more than an interior designer. You are a painter as well. How can you rate this experience?

In my daily work, painting and interior design

go hand-in-hand. Most of my time concludes on designing but I dont exclude my brushes and telaio, as it is therapeutic and creative in the same time. It happened quite often that while I was decorating some residencial or commercial spaces, I got the soar and strong inspiration to draw a painting to reinforce the vision of the particular space I was decorating, obviously maintaining the harmony with interior’s colors and the style. This is the way I like to bring my artwork to the sunlight and public eyes.

7. What inspires you in your daily work? What is the project that has fulfilled you most and made you happy?

I get most inspired by my family members and close friends. Some of my drawings also were inspired right after having read a book, listened to good music or just as simply as

a walk in the park. It is hard for me to pick among my art pieces; however, I would set apart a painting presented at Shkodra’s Art Gallery as part of “Motherhood” Exhibition. This painting is dedicated to women, the most vital part of our society and a strong social driving force impacting historical changes with their prosperity attitude. This art piece, well received by public and prized by critics, is among my most precious themes I have worked on.

8. What does the future hold for you?

Currently I am preparing a collection of my depicted work pieces over the years. As the art exhibition is “the artists house”, surely, I will be present with my artwork in the upcoming art exhibition. Obviously, I will keep up the good pace with my interior design projects in the future.

WHITE RAVEN SKYBAR & LOUNGE

Budapest from its best view

The White Raven skybar & lounge boasts of a breath-taking panoramic view and captivates any visitor with its unique cocktails, food- and design solutions

All this praises the design of Nathalie Rottenburg. The Spanish-born, Brazilian-raised hotel design expert has been working with the Danubius hotel chain since 2015.

The one and only skybar of the Buda Castle area in the WHITE RAVEN skybar & lounge. The view of the city from the top of Budapest’s highest located five-star hotel in the immediate neighbourhood of Matthias Church offers visitors an unparalleled experience.

The White Raven skybar & lounge boasts of a breath-taking panoramic view and captivates any visitor with its unique cocktails, food- and design solutions. From here, you can see different corners and colours of Budapest hidden to the eye until now. Margaret Island can be admired from an angle never seen before, while the Danube seems grander than ever.

In addition to the view, the skybar offers a special selection of drinks and food. The White Raven boasts of seven signature cocktails and a special selection of drinks. The White Raven skybar & lounge

is introducing seasonal, summer-inspired food and drink specials this year. Unique and exciting bar food is accompanied by colourful, seasonal fruit drinks and guests will be treated to a selection of home-cooked dishes made from natural ingredients.

A unique place in a unique location. The 3D ceramic mosaics are the spitting image of the Zsolnay tiles on the Matthias Church. The back wall of the bar, serving

as a drink holder, refers back to the church’s stained-glass windows. The arrangement of the tables and chairs is designed to offer a wonderful view no matter where you sit. The contemporary bar counter is a great place to make acquaintances with strangers, but if you happen to arrive with a group of people, you will find the large round lounge tables equally as comfortable. All this praises the design of Nathalie Rottenburg. The Spanish-born, Brazilianraised hotel design expert has been working with the Danubius hotel chain since 2015, and the established working relationship is absolutely convincing: an immaculate yet lively experience. The White Raven skybar & lounge is owned and operated by Danubius Hotels, ensuring breath-taking experience for its guests.

ABOUT DANUBIUS HOTELS:

Danubius Hotels is owned by the UK-based CP Holdings Ltd., with hotel interests in 5 countries across Europe. As a long-term investor, they are committed to health tourism and medical wellness and to the renovation and conservation of properties of national treasure. City hotels are grouped around the Danubius Hotels brand as of 2019, while the spa and wellness hotels belong to the Ensana brand. The Danubius

Hotels boast of the oldest and most prestigious hotel properties of Hungary, excellent city hotels such as the Hilton Budapest. The latest gem of the chain is the White Raven skybar & lounge, an exclusive rooftop bar with the most beautiful panorama in Budapest. Hilton Budapest, the chain’s five-star hotel is located in the Buda Castle area and is considered one of the 10 most panoramic hotels in the world. The hotel’s extensive renovation was completed by the realisation of a decade-long dream, with the construction of the rooftop bar.

www.whiteravenskybar.com

SLS Introduces

Maiden South American Property With Opening of SLS Puerto Madero

In Buenos Aires, Argentina

SLS Puerto Madero Residences and Suites, envisioned by renowned Italian designer and architect Piero Lissoni, is the eighth property under the SLS brand

NEW YORK - The much-anticipated suites at SLS Puerto Madero located in the chic Buenos Aires neighborhood of Puerto Madero, were inaugurated last May. Consisting of 58 suites and 134 residences, SLS Puerto Madero celebrates the Buenos Aires spirit and energy. The project is carefully designed to offer extraordinary experiences for guests and locals alike, offering interiors from master designer Piero Lissoni, landscaping by Enzo Enea, worldclass cuisine at Leynia and an on-site Ciel Spa. SLS Puerto Madero also boasts a handcurated selection of museum-quality art from the Jorge M. Perez Contemporary Art Collection.

SLS is part of Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founderbuilt brands with purpose at their heart.

Chadi Farhat, Brand Chief Operating Officer of SLS at Ennismore stated in the inaugural ceremony, “We are so proud to continue to expand our SLS brand globally, and to open our eighth SLS and our first in South America with our longtime partner, Jorge Perez, and his team at Related. SLS is synonymous with extraordinary hotel and dining experiences coupled with a playful ambiance. It’s befitting that our first SLS property in this part of the world is in the vibrant neighborhood of Puerto Madero in the heart of Buenos Aires, and introducing our Argentinian grill, Leynia.”

“Argentina, and especially Buenos Aires, hold a very special place for our team and family,” said Jon Paul Perez, President of Related Group, lead developer at SLS Puerto Madero. “As our first project in the region, we went to great lengths to make

sure the property led the market in terms of design, amenities and art. We are confident the final product is one the entire Puerto Madero community can be proud of.”

With interiors conceptualized by renowned Italian designer and architect, Piero Lissoni, each of SLS Puerto Madero’s rooms and suites have been expertly designed to complement Buenos Aires while adding fresh, modern energy. The floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the private furnished balcony serve as units’ centerpiece, offering stunning views of Downtown Buenos Aires and the nearby docks. Understated touches like rustic hardwood floors and striking black accents complete the refined in-room experience.

Piero Lissoni, Architect & Designer stated, “Wherever we work in the world, we always

try to connect to the context, and this was also the case for the SLS Puerto Madero project: Argentina has always dialogued with European culture and vice versa, and we have tried to keep these factors by combining notions evoked by the surroundings with elements of European culture, all interpreted in a contemporary key. This mix allows each project to be unique, while remaining extremely focused in the emotions it looks to convey.”

SLS Puerto Madero’s amenity package is equally thoughtful, with offerings for all lifestyles. Dynamic Argentinian grill, Leynia, is a highlight, offering Japanese-inspired flavors and melding the rustic allure of open flame cooking with an iconic, modern setting. Featuring a sushi bar and an Argentinian wood burning grill, Leynia serves dishes family style offering an experience to share and explore traditional South American cuisine with a twist of modern Japanese flair.

Guests looking to recharge their inner spirit

and enhance their physical well-being can do so at the on-site Ciel Spa. Providing guests with the ultimate escape, the spa will have an outdoor swimming pool, state of the art gym, individual and couples massage rooms, men’s and women’s locker areas with separate steam rooms and relaxation areas. The spa will be open to residents, hotel guests and the public alike.

The curated art collection rounds out the opulent package, with pieces hand selected by Related’s in-house team of art experts. The collection includes work from up-and-coming artists and masters alike. Highlights include a massive exterior mural from Graciela Hasper, site-specific sculpture installations from Eugenio Cuttica, and a garden at the front of the property landscaped by Enzo Enea and featuring work including a striking orange circular sculpture made from reconstructed tires by Argentinian Diana Cabez and a piece by fellow Argentinian artist Marie Orensanz, made from Corten steel.

For more information and reservations visit slspuertomadero.com, or call +54 11 5353 5354, and follow @slspuertomadero on Instagram.

ABOUT SLS HOTELS & RESIDENCES

SLS is the home of an extraordinary experience coupled with a playful ambiance. Culinary artistry, theatrical interiors, subversive design touches and unexpected indulgences are at the heart of every SLS property. Collaborations with leading developers, architects, designers and chefs allow SLS to continue anticipating, innovating and shaping the future of luxury lifestyle living. With seven properties in Beverly Hills, Miami, Bahamas, Cancun, Dubai, and Buenos Aires, SLS is set to open two additional properties in Scottsdale and Saudi Arabia by 2024. Learn more at SLSHotels.com.

SLS is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company, rooted in culture and community, with a global collective of

entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Formed in 2021, Ennismore is a joint venture with Accor, which holds a majority shareholding. ennismore.com

ABOUT RELATED GROUP

Established in 1979, The Related Group is Florida’s leading developer of sophisticated metropolitan living and one of the country’s largest real estate conglomerates. Since its inception, the privately held company has built, rehabilitated, and managed over 100,000 condominium, rental and commercial units. The firm is one of the largest Hispanicowned businesses in the United States with a development portfolio in excess of $40 billion in 40 years.

The Related Group has earned international status for its visionary designs and development of luxury condominiums, market-rate rentals, mixed-use centers and affordable properties – often in emerging neighborhoods that impact the lives of all demographics. The Related Group has redefined real estate by diversifying both its products and buyers, expanding internationally while also sponsoring public art installations that enhance cities’ global culture and streetscapes.

TIME Magazine named Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Related Group, Jorge Pérez, one of top 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States. Currently, The Related Group has over 70 projects in varying phases of development.

Press Contacts: Emily Venugopal / Cara Chapman / Jennifer Isicoff: ennismore@bacchus.agency

EBOLOWA NEW DREAM TOWN All About Education

Bantu ethnic group Cameroon provenience represents a potential market of 400 million consumers. It is a considerable natural and human resources that beyond the boundaries of the actual specific states will constitute an important column for the future economic growth of the region and each country. “Ebolowa New Dream Town” development will represent a new important pole for the capital city of Cameroon South

Region, but at the same time a resonant development and model for the other countries of Central Africa.

The appropriate education could and should be the only way toward a fast, sustainable and guaranteed development. The project emphasizes through design the “education route” that lines up from East to West and vice versa 4 education

institutions like the Music Faculty “Chantal Biya”, Art School “Dritero Agolli”, Bantu Museum and Professional School. The route toward knowledge starts by both vice versa directions East - West with an evident symbolic gate styled as a transparent pavilion where you find architecture and nature in one. The modernism of regular –irregular simple geometries of volumes and architecture elements are transformed in an organic interpretation of the landscaped context, local materials and living mentality.

The architecture of all the development will have a familiar and common design remarkable language. Bamboo is identified as African, natural, friendly and proved structural element to identify visually the design all in one. The majority of volumes are interpreted not by case as cylinders. The traditional heritage Bantu house is a

cylinder of different diameters. Everything is developed in one floor in respect of the African people connection with the land in their psychology. Perfect temperature differences of equatorial African climate gives to the people the luxury of liberty with land and nature in a permanent relationship.

Everything is very well connected in macro scale with a proposed pedestrian cycle path that starts from the city center and crosses its future different urban poles crossing the rain forest unbuilt corridors.

The first one in the range of implementation, “Ebollowa New Dream Town” includes too in the South of the “education pole/route” a sport center of large program of sports, zoopark and eco housing for tourists and visitors hospitality, dormitory and social housing for students and school professors.

Ervin Taçi:

We Want Our Project to Inspire other Education Poles

Design Partners:

Urban Design & Architecture: Ervin Taçi & MA Studio & Partners l.t.d

Project Leader Ervin Taçi, Klodiana Taçi

Team: Klejda Veseli, Denis Kuçana, Erald Dervishi, Andrea Rrapo, Redi Alla, Sara Lloshi, Paola Gjipali; Multidisciplinary Engineering expertise AD Vision l.t.d

Team Avni Dervishi

Infrastructure engineering: A.SH. Engineering l.t.d

Team Arjan Shtembari

Interview with the author of the project, Urb.Arch. Ervin Taçi, Director of MA Studio & Partners

What does this project represent for you?

It is a big human and professional pleasure for me personally, but even for all the group that made it possible.

“Ebolowa New Dream City” will be in my vision a resonant development and model for the other countries of Central Africa. It could and should be promoted as a big happening for the education, as challenge for the next years for your country and the region. The new generations should be grown up with a contemporary vision. Contributing in this cause, is really a big deal for my professional career.

What is special about this project?

What I mentioned above, it is the education. It is not by case that we invented a pedestrian path that we called it “Education route” with 4 education institutions lined up in a 1 km vice-versa itinerary. We could have called it simply path or axis but it would misfire. The Route represented a started itinerary toward an important target to be achieved and it couldn’t be expressed otherwise. Through design, we emphasized the importance of the “Education route” monumentalizing 2 symbolic entrances East and West, with 2 architectural gates, stylized as pavilions in nature.

To grow the importance of this new urban pole for Ebolowa, we brought there a

Booklet Ebolowa Permbledhje Artboard

pedestrian and cycle path from the city center Tamzou. Its intersection with the “education route” will form a significant landmark for its citizens and visitors.

What did you bring from your country or the European continent in this project?

Let’s say we brought our experience and the know-how for developing such an important challenge we are facing on. But, as a matter of fact, we didn’t even want to bring other beyond experience. Everything else we found it in Cameroon and Ebolowa. This was the most difficult part of the project. We design in a certain way in our country or in our continent that has apparent differences mainly conditioned by climate but even the local culture. We understood that African people are very connected with the land and they live in

e perfect equatorial climate with small differences of temperature during the year. Looks simple, but all this influenced the project respecting the local living tradition and mentality. The modern architecture also is brought being inspired by the traditional African art and architecture. Bantu cylindrical houses are transformed in cylindrical interpreted modern volumes. Everything in harmony with nature of the rain forests.

Which do you think it will be the impact of this project on Cameroon and the Region?

I would wish resonance. I really would like to have achieved this like a promotion for other potential Education poles in the near future, contributing in the fast economic growth of the country and Region.

masterplan PANEL 1

Masterplan Panel 1

“One of the things we are proud for ourselves is the drive to always be innovative and try to keep the pace with the technology. It is many years that we are working with BIM (Revit environment in particular), even though it was (and still is) premature for the Albanian context,” Kovaçi said.

Arkitekti-im (www. arkitekti-im.com), a well-known Albanian studio specialized in architecture, interior design, landscape design, area planning, visualization and others, was featured in the February issue of

TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

In this exclusive interview, Mr. Alban Kovaçi Founding Partner and Ms. Eluerta Shkurtaj, Managing Partner and architect, shared their thoughts about their company, born in 2009, and the projects they are working on passionately.

Kovaçi stresses that the company deals with big scale projects but even smallscale projects which are a treasure to the customers. “Now we have villas, hotel resorts and residential blocks in our portfolio, even full areas of urban planning, however, we haven’t distanced ourselves from the origins, our roots, we never say no to small scale projects, and I think we never will,” he said.

Arkitekti- im has done and still does various collaborations with international studios in France, Germany, Canada and other countries.

Kovaçi also comments on the latest

architectural developments in Albania. “The international studios, which have designed the most important modern landmarks in Albania, especially in Tirana and the coastal areas, are playing a major role in the cultivation of the taste of the Albanians,” he says.

On the other hand, the architect Shkurtaj presents in this interview some of the interior design projects of the company.

Full interview follows below:

Q: Tell us a bit about the story behind Arkitekti-im and what has been the biggest influence on this company to date?

Alban: Born in 2009. Arkitekti-im is the result of a postponed journey for a very long time, almost a childhood wish come true at a later stage. Unlike the majority of studios, it is run by people with diverse backgrounds, a banker and an architect, and I think it is one of our strengths, because we see the customer experience through a different perspective. At the time the studio started, the context was very much unlike today, architecture studios were very distant to the general public and consumers, only a niche of people could afford it, or at least, this was the perception. And this is where

we intervened. The name, Arkitekti-im (my architect in Albanian), was chosen to deliver such message. The architecture and the design of course are fueled by passion, but it is not enough, first we had to make way for ourselves to present to the public and express our vision, thus, a pragmatic approach was chosen, first business, then, fun. We started to serve “the common” people, not the wealthy ones. At a certain point, however, we realized that this is the real mission and challenge of an architect, to bring the best outcome with small areas and limited budget. We have “evolved” since then, we now design in a much bigger scale. We have now villas, hotel resorts and residential blocks in our portfolio, even full areas of urban planning, however, we haven’t distanced ourselves from the origins, our roots, we never say no to small scale projects, and I think we never will. We are programed to think and operate like this, and we are not willing to compromise functionality for the sake of the design. We have many projects in our portfolio that may be not considered “photogenic”, but they always are treasure to our customers.

Q: What designers and studios you have cooperated with? What do you think of their design? And usually how do you cooperate with them?

Alban: Our studio has always been small to a medium size one, so, for a long time we haven’t worked on an “industrial” scale. And our partners, as well, have been likewise. We have had (and still do) various collaborations with international studios in France, Germany, Canada etc. and these experiences have enriched and grown us in terms of know-how and expertise, but also in a personal point of view. The very first collaborations have been quite “plain”, we used to do the heavy and routine part of the projects, while the main concept and

designs were done by the partner studio which we were supporting. Later, as we fine tunned the cooperation, we gained confidence in ourselves and also the “trust” of the partner studio, consequently we started working on projects from A to Z, from the concept to the detailed designs according the design codes of the particular country or commune.

One of the things we are proud for ourselves is the drive to always be innovative and try to keep the pace with the technology. It is many years that we are working with BIM (Revit environment in particular), even though it was (and still is) premature for the Albanian context. One of the assets that we have as a country is that we have many young people that have a strong will and desire to explore, and we must take advantage of it, not just us as a studio, but as an industry in general. We have to open ourselves beyond our frontiers, somehow it is and obligation that we have towards the youngsters. Our universities, for reasons I do not understand, have continued to “produce” large numbers of architects, way too much for the needs of our economy, creating kind of an “inflation” in the profession, but we may turn it at our advantage. And I hope very much that this interview will serve as a call for international studios for cooperation.

Q: Please introduce some architecture design and projects you appreciated.

Eluerta: Let me tell you that the studio is operating very intensively in the architecture segment (villas, hotels, residential blocks etc.) and we deliver to our customers a “one stop shop” experience. However, none of these has a bigger impact on the life of a human being than her/his inner space. For this reason, we have selected some interior design projects to present to you.

PROJECT 1

Functionality, the fusion of the traditional with the modern and their unification are the goals of this apartment. The premises are separate and united at the same time. The fact that the apartment is a duplex has helped us to create a more effective separation between the night and day areas. The night area in its treatment is characterized by the preservation of privacy in each environment. While in the day area, a virtual connection between the spaces has been realized, so you don’t feel alone in any of its environments. We find tradition here in design and function. The element of the ruined wall is dominant and indicative, as well as the credenzas once called musendra or the sub-staircase turned into a mini-depot. Our challenge was to weave the above-mentioned elements in the best possible way, both functionally and aesthetically.

PROJECT 2

An apartment in Agimi palaces. Residential building with history in terms of architecture. The Zhan D’Ark Boulevard apartment is 80 m2 designed to accommodate four people, based on the division of the premises. There are four new residents of the apartment, the parents and their two daughters. Two sisters with completely opposite passions. One after football, the other after the beautiful world of princesses.

Elements have been created that reflect their passions, simultaneously achieving a symbolic separation of spaces. Nature. The elements of earth, water, sky have been inspiring in the selection of wall colors and decor in all the details of the house. Duality. Putting two different functions in one object makes it more useful and valuable. Light Natural and artificial light give this apartment the right lighting and a cheerful atmosphere.

PROJECT 3

Interior aesthetic approach. The design of this interior project is based on two dominant points: 1. The combination of bright colors (contrast) 2. The use of elements of nature. These two elements have been points of reference from the interview with the customer for his perception of the interior, the individual space “my home. The base is natural white contrasted with a burgundy and blue as well. - the “mustard” used in the salon has splashed, the right contrast with the neutral colors of the salon wall. -Another element used is the virtual partition at the entrance of the apartment.

PROJECT 4

Coexistence between three generations in one device. An apartment for a family where the community between three generations is our theme to start furnishing this apartment. The composition of the family is the grandmother, parents and three grandchildren. The living room is the only space where all family members spend time together, this is the reason that living, cooking and eating communicate with each other.

Q: What is your opinion towards the development trend of the architecture in Albania in the recent years?

Alban: Probably it may sound offensive and provocative, but I believe other people agree, that, until a decade ago the expression “money and taste do not go along” was very true in Albania. Luckily, things have diametrically changed since then. Educated people have gained more and more share in design and want to express themselves, and now they are more financially capable of doing so. People are more confident and they do not fear to stand out of the crowd. This represents a challenge for designers but an opportunity also. The international studios, which have designed the most important modern landmarks in Albania, especially in Tirana and the coastal areas, are playing a major role in the cultivation of the taste of the Albanians. Some buildings, that used to be considered bizarre, now have become a norm and people are not only used to them, but actually are inspired by them. This is good.

Q: How is important is for Arkitekti-im the relationship between the architecture and environment protection?

Eluerta: It is not important, it is crucial. On every project we undertake, there is space to intervene. We do a lot of interior design and reconstructions, and definitely we put the veto on the products we choose to use, they have to be eco-friendly, energy efficient etc. We often opt to reuse and repurpose existing objects and furniture, and we believe it is a win-win scenario, on one hand recycling is very healthy for the environment, on the other hand,

those objects have a history to tell and they bring value to the project. Energy efficiency has now become a norm and it is a very sensible topic, developers of large projects are very much informed and it is not so difficult for us to convince them on the benefits, on the other hand the consumers are pressuring a lot on this.

Q: Are you an avid traveler and if so, which is your favorite destination and why?

Alban: I don’t waste chances to travel, but I believe this is valid for most Albanians. I am not sure if it is just a result of curiosity of people being confined for such a long time and finally now have the opportunity to “escape”, or it is simply in our DNA to travel and explore. There isn’t a favorite destination, I enjoy almost every place I visit. And if I have to choose between a “brand name” destination which I have already visited and a new but not so fancy one, I definitely opt for the latest.

Probably it may sound offensive and provocative, but I believe other people agree, that, until a decade ago the expression “money and taste do not go along” was very true in Albania

AMELIA HOTEL

By Borella

Art Design, Interior Design studio, Paris

PHOTO CREDIT: Thomas Ferro

Amelia Hotel

Christine & Nicola Borella , the mindscreative behind Borella Art Design

Amelia Hotel 5* is located just meters away from the sea. It is the first thematic hotel in Albena, dedicated to the first woman pilot who crossed the Atlantic - Amelia Earhart.

Inspired by her story, Borella Art Design studio, Paris, recreate part of her biography through numerous details running in the interiors of the hotel.

The aim is to give the guest, the feeling of living the experience of the pilots of those times: flying in the sky over the vast ocean, living in an airplane cabin, or having dinner in the cafe of the pilots.

The rooms of the Hotel Amelia offer a unique experience, like a journey suspended in the air, within an airplane cabin, with

the rivet wallpaper, mirrors like windows plane, the headboard is reminiscent of the soft leather of the comfortable seats of airplanes, the metal-hulled seat simulates the aviator’s seat or the carpet evoking the map of the winds.

The restaurant is inspired by a mess of the officers’ pilots. The scenography is not copying literally the style of the period (1930th.), Christine and Nicola Borella, reinterpret the theme, presenting graphism, illustrations, materials, colours, shape of the furniture, printed on metal meshes.

The restaurant offers a suspended moment in time with the “mess hall” atmosphere of a 1928 airport. This place is a scenography in which the customer becomes in a way a

little bit actor, and lets himself be inspired and immersed in a complete universe of an aviator.

The materials leather, wood, chrome, golden brasses allow an essential link with the time of the heroic pilots of the Aeropostale…

The room, the corridors and the public areas are aiming to surprise the visitor for him to discovers more and more details, and be willing to renew his visit and staying.

After Charles Lindbergh’s first flight from New York to Paris in 1927, the idea arose in the minds of the publishers of the story of his crossing, that a similar impact could accompany the first crossing of the Atlantic by plane, by a woman.

After several attempts of pilots’ women, Hilton Railey asks the courageous Amelia Erhard to cross the Atlantic by plane, assisted by co-pilot and mechanic Louis Gordon.

Leaving Trepassey, they landed near Burry Port, Wales, after 20 h 40 min flight.

Amelia Earhart’s trip from Trepassey is on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

Amelia becomes a glorious aviator, and decide in 1932 to cross the Atlantic solo, like Lindberg did: the first transatlantic flight by a woman. Fulfilling the promise, she had made in 1928. Earhart took off on the morning of 20 May 1932 from Harbour Grace (province of Newfoundland and Labrador) in a Lockheed Vega and after a solo flight of 14 h 56 min landed in a meadow at Culmore, north of Londonderry in Northern Ireland becoming then the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone by plane.

A French Urge for the Stone Houses in the South of Albania

Herve Loiselet, a French architect and interior designer, who came to Albania for the first time in 1993, gives us a glimpse of his works in Albania which have generated a lot of interest over the years.

In a talk with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN, Herve goes back to his first contact with Albania while reveals some of the projects he is in love with in our country.

Full interview below:

Please tell us more about yourself and what you do in Albania.

I first discovered Albania during a trip in 1993 and I quickly became very interested in the country. Later, in 1998, I decided to settle here on a part-time basis, and then, in 2003, as a permanent resident.

I’m an interior designer, and it was a natural step to open my own studio in Albania. It was a challenge, of course, but it was a very busy time in Albania – the economy was very active, particularly in construction.

My first projects in the center of Tirana generated a lot of interest and I was quickly able to win new clients and establish a solid business here. Over the years, I have also invested in some old stone houses in the South of Albania, in Qeparo and Piqeras, which I have repaired and restored.

Can you mention some of your successful projects in Albania? In which cities mostly?

Many of the most interesting projects are linked to tourism, for example the restoration of the stone houses in Qeparo and Piqeras, or a tourist resort in Tale. I work in many of the major cities in Albania,

including Tirana, but also Durres, Vlora, Shkodra and Pogradec.

I work on many commercial projects, such as hotels, bars and restaurants, but also shops and offices. One example is the VIP branch of Societe Generale, now OTP Bank in Tirana. I also work on residential projects, such as villas and apartments.

What is a focal point in any project, what are some other things you look for in them? More subtle details about these projects?

I’m very lucky that many of my clients here give me carte blanche and are open to my ideas. I always try to come up with a new concept for each new project and of course it’s a real challenge to find new ideas, new shapes and new materials every time.

It’s important to be pragmatic and to think about the feasibility of the project in terms of the work, the materials and the manpower. It’s easy to sketch out an idea on paper, or on my computer, but you always need to ask yourself if the idea is feasible in terms of the materials or the expertise needed to turn the idea into reality. With this in mind, simplicity is often at the core of my projects.

Against this background of simplicity, I often include a bold focal point in a project, such as a feature that grabs the eye, or a colour that really pops.

Could you talk about how it feels as an architect to see your finished space with all the different pieces come together?

During the design process, I piece together the overall concept in my head and visualize the space in three dimensions. Then I think about the materials, colours

and furnishings. At this stage, the concept is clear in my head.

During the construction phase of the project, there may be some minor modifications, but overall, the concept remains the same unless the client asks to change anything.

Once the project is finished and delivered to the client, it is suddenly out of my hands. I invest so much of myself in projects that I sometimes find it difficult to revisit them once they are complete.

But when I do revisit, it’s always a real pleasure to see the space being used and enjoyed by people.

Based on your professional experience, how important is to retain authentic traditional elements for the culture and the heritage of one’s country?

As a French person, I have been influenced

from a very early age by the cultural heritage of the country where I grew up, and for me it is very important to preserve and restore a country’s cultural heritage.

In Albania, the traditional Balkan architecture is often a very simple, defensive architecture, based on a rectangular or square plan, without embellishment.

Similarly, materials are often simple, natural materials. It’s important that architecture is in harmony with the local environment and does not exaggerate in terms of materials, colours or shapes.

Of course, restoring a house and retaining its authentic traditional elements requires money. Some traditional houses fall into ruin, or are badly restored, due to a lack of money. But it also requires understanding. People sometimes do not appreciate the authentic traditional elements in their houses, such as an old tile floor, and I try to help them understand the historical, cultural or architectural importance of this heritage.

We are interested in your architectural perspective on renovating heritage homes preserving the original elements as much as possible. What is your vision about this process?

As I see it, a precondition of the process is a willingness to observe architectural characteristics in the local environment but also further afield. Respect for local architectural characteristics must

provide the basis for any renovations or interventions in heritage homes.

A knowledge of the materials is also necessary to complete a restoration that is sympathetic with the existing building and the local environment. This includes a knowledge of the different components and dosages required, as well as the traditional or ancient techniques needed.

In some cases, it is necessary to propose more economic measures to the client whilst retaining the respect for the traditional architecture of the houses.

When renovating houses in the South of Albania, I use local craftsmen to complete structural work such as masonry and woodwork. But it’s not always easy to find craftsmen with knowledge of traditional materials and techniques, since many have left Albania to work abroad.

3. An Invisible Superyacht Could Soon Exist—Here’s How

IN BRIEF

1. Twelve architecture projects to look forward to in 2023

To kickstart the new year, we take a look at 12 of the most interesting and unusual architecture projects expected to complete in 2023 including the renovation of a brutalist pyramid and a forest-like library

Read more below:

https://www.dezeen.com/2023/01/03/ architecture-buildings-2023-roundup/

2.

SHARE Albania 2023 will bring together national and international renowned architects, innovators in architecture and building technologies, great personalities in architecture and will offer access to information and new opportunities of cooperation.

Read more below: https://share-architects.com/sharealbania-2023-international-architectureand-technology-innovation-forum/

Superyachts, long considered flashy toys of the uberwealthy, are meant to be seen. But that’s not the case for a new concept vessel by Jozeph Forakis. The invisible superyacht, named Pegasus, is crafted with

Read more below: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/ story/an-invisible-superyacht-couldsoon-exist

4. 6 Industry Shifts That Could Affect Your Design Business in 2023

Beyond keeping up with forecasted design trends for 2023 it’s worth staying informed on some of this year’s broader developments that could affect how you approach your design business in 2023 Whether it’s trying to make sense of inflation, AI art, or Instagram’s everchanging algorithm, here’s a closer look at the industry shifts you need to anticipate in the new year.

Read more below:

https://www.architecturaldigest. com/story/-6industry-shifts-thatcould-affect-your-design-businessin2023-

SHARE Albania 2023: International Architecture and Technology Innovation Forum

The fifth edition of the SHARE Forum in Albania will take place in Tirana on the 7th of March at The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet.

The Pyramid of Tirana, Albania, by MVRDV

The Tree of Life serves as a focal point across all four levels of the ship.

The tiered “wings” are made from glass and designed to reflect the clouds and sky.

Recent societal shifts may affect how your design business approaches 2023. Illustration: Nuthawut Somsuk via Getty Images

5. The winner of Auto Moto Park Albania Announced

The project of the Austrian company “Test and Training”, with an emphasis on road safety, won the competition for the construction of the first Albanian car park to be built on the Elbasan coast. The winning company was founded in 2006 by former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz. All the companies in the competition had previously participated in the design of over 200 motorsport tracks in the world. Read more below:

https://tvklan.al/shpallet-projekti-fituesper-auto-moto-parkun-e-pare-shqiptar/

6. Israeli grant prompts over US$1.2 billion of national hotel investment

At least US$1.2 billion of investment is boosting the Israeli high end hotel portfolio over the coming years, according to data from THP. This is in part due to Israel’s Ministry of Tourism implementing procedures to facilitate new hotel construction or existing site expansion which ives priority to high tourist demand areas.

Read more below:

https://tophotel.news/israeli-grantprompts-over-1-2-billion-of-nationalhotel-investment/

7. ‘Japandi’: Why Japanesemeets-Scandi design is taking over the internet

The cozy cleanliness of Scandinavian interiors and the minimalist beauty of traditional Japanese decor have made them both staples of modern home design. Now, there’s a growing trend combining the two: “Japandi.”

Read more below:

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/ japandi-living-interior-design/index.html

8. Atlantis The Royal: a hotel with an extraordinary design story

It was, without question, the world’s most elaborate hotel opening party of the decade, but what is the architecture and design narrative of Atlantis The Royal?

With a deluxe cluster of design and architecture visionaries including globally renowned master architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, awardwinning hospitality interior designers G.A Group on the hotel and famed interior designer, Sybille de Margerie on the residential and and the innovative water feature creators WET

Design the resort that stands nearly 500 metres wide and almost as tall as the Eiffel Tower, offers the next level of elevated luxury.

Read more below:

https://hoteldesigns.net/2023/atlantis-the-royal-ahotel-with-an-extraordinary-design-story/

9. Mangalem 21

The project covers a plot of land in the eastern part of the city, bordered by mountains and former communist quarters to the north, and informal settlements from the 1990s to the south. The site has a very prominent slope: the difference between the lowest and the highest point is 27 meters, an equivalent of a nine-story building.

Read more below: https://www.oma.com/projects/ mangalem-21

10.

Take

a peek at the brandnew Virgin Hotels New York City

Virgin Hotels has officially opened the doors of its brand-new hotel in New York City – be one of the first to peek inside. Located on the northwest corner of 29th Street and Broadway, right in the heart of Manhattan, Virgin Hotels New York City is a new-build property with 460 Chambers. It also has plenty of meeting spaces and restaurants, including a rooftop pool and bar. There’s nowhere else in the city quite like it.

Read more below:

https://www.virgin.com/about-virgin/latest/take-a-peek-at-the-brand-newvirgin-hotels-new-york-city?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_ author=richard

Former F1 racer and 24h Le Mans winner, Mr. Alexander Georg Wurz who runs Wurzdesign, the winner of Albanian General Directorate of Road Transport Services competition to set up Auto Moto Park Albania in Elbasan city.

Pictured: rendering of Swissotel South Beach Tel Aviv.

Low, soft white tables designed by Woodchuck pair with tan tones and an indoor tree, styled by Tinta.

Credit: Wij Zijn Kees

Image credit: Kerzner International