Gruppo Koni

Gruppo Koni and Concord Investment’s Finalist Proposal for Tirana’s Palace of Congresses

gruppokoni — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:29:00 +0000

Gruppo Koni and Concord Investment were among the finalists in the international competition for the regeneration of Tirana’s Palace of Congresses, presenting a proposal that brought together heritage conservation, contemporary architecture, engineering expertise, and a new vision for one of Albania’s most recognizable public landmarks.

Developed alongside internationally renowned architects, conservation specialists, and engineering consultants, the proposal explored how an important piece of Tirana’s architectural heritage could be preserved while adapting the site to the cultural, economic, and social needs of a changing city.

A Landmark at the Heart of Tirana

Built between 1982 and 1986, the Palace of Congresses has played an important role in Albania’s political, cultural, artistic, and civic life for more than four decades.

Recognized as a Category II Cultural Monument, the building holds architectural and historical significance within the urban identity of central Tirana.

As Tirana continues to develop as a center for culture, tourism, business, and innovation, the regeneration of the Palace of Congresses presented a complex architectural challenge: how to preserve the identity of an established landmark while preparing it for new generations and contemporary uses.

For Gruppo Koni and Concord Investment, the answer was not to choose between heritage and progress, but to create a dialogue between the two.

A Vision Built Around Preservation and Transformation

At the center of the proposal was a balanced approach to the existing Palace of Congresses and the development of a new multifunctional building on the adjacent site.

Rather than treating the Palace as an isolated historic object, the project envisioned it as part of a renewed civic and cultural destination capable of contributing to the future life of Tirana.

The architectural vision was shaped by two internationally recognized specialists with complementary areas of expertise.

Dominique Perrault led the design vision for the contemporary addition, while Pierre-Antoine Gatier directed the conservation strategy for the existing Palace of Congresses.

Together, these two approaches created a framework in which restoration and new architecture could coexist without diminishing the identity of the original building.

Preserving the Architectural Identity of the Palace of Congresses

The conservation strategy focused on protecting and enhancing the defining architectural characteristics of the existing Palace.

Interventions were conceived to respect its original materials, proportions, and architectural language while upgrading the infrastructure, technical systems, and operational capabilities required by a contemporary public building.

The objective was not to reinvent the Palace, but to strengthen the qualities that have made it an enduring part of Albania’s modern architectural history.

Inside, the reorganization of spaces introduced greater flexibility.

The regenerated Palace was envisioned as a venue capable of accommodating congresses, conferences, exhibitions, cultural events, and institutional functions more efficiently.

Coworking areas, complementary services, and revenue-generating activities were also integrated into the proposal to support the long-term sustainability and continuous use of the complex.

The result was a vision of the Palace not simply as a monument to be preserved, but as an active civic destination.

A Contemporary Addition by Dominique Perrault

Alongside the restored Palace of Congresses, Dominique Perrault conceived a new multifunctional tower designed to establish a contemporary architectural dialogue with the historic building.

Rather than competing visually with the Palace, the new structure was positioned as a complementary presence within the site.

Its elegant elliptical form introduced a distinctive architectural identity while maintaining a clear relationship with the existing landmark and the evolving skyline of Tirana.

The proposal reflected a broader principle behind the project: new architecture could contribute to the city without erasing the architecture that came before it.

A Façade Inspired by Albanian Culture

One of the most distinctive elements of the new building was its perforated metallic envelope.

The façade drew inspiration from two sources: the geometric language of the Palace of Congresses itself and the layered folds of the traditional Albanian Fustanella.

This connection between local cultural identity and contemporary architecture gave the new structure a recognizable character rooted in its context.

Rather than using cultural references as decoration alone, the façade translated them into an architectural system that shaped both the appearance and environmental performance of the building.

Where Façade Design Meets Environmental Performance

Beyond its visual identity, the metallic envelope was conceived as a high-performance environmental filter.

The system provided solar protection, regulated views, contributed to improved energy efficiency, and supported greater interior comfort.

Its permeable and reflective character also allowed the façade to respond visually to changing light, weather, and movement across the city.

In this way, the building envelope became more than an exterior surface.

It became an active architectural element that connected environmental performance, material expression, cultural references, and the surrounding urban context.

The material strategy followed the same principle.

The selected solution sought to balance elegance, functionality, durability, operational performance, and cost efficiency, demonstrating how architectural ambition and economic responsibility can form part of the same design process.

An International Multidisciplinary Team

The complexity of the proposal required collaboration across architecture, conservation, engineering, development, and urban design.

Gruppo Koni and Concord Investment assembled a multidisciplinary team that included:

Perrault Architecture
Pierre-Antoine Gatier
THARM Architects
Altitude 35
Arup

Each discipline contributed to a proposal that approached the regeneration of the Palace of Congresses as more than the redevelopment of a single building.

The project considered architecture, cultural heritage, engineering, public space, operational performance, and long-term urban value as interconnected parts of the same vision.

Creating a New Civic and Cultural Destination

The proposed regeneration sought to transform the site into a renewed civic and cultural hub for Tirana.

Within this vision, the Palace of Congresses would retain its historic presence while becoming more flexible, accessible, and capable of supporting contemporary activities.

The new multifunctional building would introduce an additional layer of architecture and activity, helping create a destination where cultural memory and contemporary urban life could coexist.

The project therefore addressed a wider question relevant to cities undergoing rapid transformation:

How can architectural heritage remain meaningful while the city around it continues to evolve?

For the Gruppo Koni and Concord Investment team, the answer was found in continuity rather than contrast – preserving what gives a place its identity while introducing architecture capable of responding to its future.

A Finalist Vision for the Future of Tirana

Although another proposal was ultimately selected as the winner of the competition, reaching the final stage represented an important opportunity for Gruppo Koni and Concord Investment to contribute to the conversation around the future of one of Tirana’s most significant architectural landmarks.

The proposal demonstrated how historic buildings can be approached through a combination of conservation, contemporary architecture, engineering performance, cultural context, and sustainable long-term development.

It also reflected the value of collaboration between Albanian developers and internationally recognized architectural and engineering teams when addressing complex urban projects.

For Gruppo Koni, the Palace of Congresses proposal represents a wider approach to development: architecture should respond not only to what a city needs today, but also to the history it carries and the future it wants to create.

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Gruppo Koni and Besëlidhja: A Partnership That Goes Beyond Sponsorship

gruppokoni — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:29:47 +0000

In sport, the trophies carry the team’s name. But behind every successful season there is also a network of people, institutions, and partners who believe in long-term work.

For the Besëlidhja basketball team in Lezhë, Gruppo Koni has been part of that journey for years. It is a relationship that is not limited to a logo on a jersey, but connected to a broader idea: local sport develops when talent, organization, and steady support move forward together.

The partnership between Gruppo Koni and Besëlidhja is an example of how a company can contribute to the community where it operates, by supporting institutions that create identity, opportunity, and role models for younger generations.

Besëlidhja and Basketball in Lezhë

In recent years, Besëlidhja has become one of the most important names in Albanian basketball.

Results on the court, titles, and a presence at the highest levels of the national game have strengthened the club’s profile and brought new energy to sport in Lezhë.

But a club’s success is not built only in the minutes of a single game.

Behind the results seen on the court stand preparation, organization, infrastructure, the work of the staff, player development, and the ability to create stability from one season to the next.

This is exactly where long-term partners matter.

Gruppo Koni, Alongside Besëlidhja for Years

Gruppo Koni’s support for the Besëlidhja basketball team has continued over the years, making the company part of the club’s journey well beyond the moments of victory.

In a sporting environment where clubs often face financial constraints, infrastructure difficulties, and the challenge of keeping quality players and staff, continuity of support carries particular value.

A sponsor can provide visibility.
A long-term partner can help create stability.

That is the difference between a one-off sponsorship and a relationship that develops alongside the club’s own history.

Why Long-Term Support Matters for Local Sport

Sports clubs are complex organizations.

To compete at a high level, they need not only talented players, but also financial resources, professional structures, technical staff, proper training conditions, and the ability to plan ahead.

In many Albanian cities, these conditions cannot be created from the revenue that sport generates on its own.

For that reason, cooperation with private businesses becomes an important part of the sporting ecosystem.

When companies choose to stand by a club over a long period, the impact can go beyond a single season or a single result:

greater stability for the club;
better conditions for the team;
wider opportunities for developing talent;
sporting continuity;
stronger interest from the community;
positive role models for young people.

In this sense, sports sponsorship can become a concrete form of investment in the community.

More Than a Name on a Jersey

The relationship between a company and a sports club is often seen through its most visible element: the logo.

But the real value of a long-term partnership is measured more by continuity than by exposure.

Being there when the team wins is easy.

Continuing to support it throughout the process that leads to success means something else.

For Gruppo Koni, the connection with Besëlidhja represents exactly this approach. The company has become part of a sporting story that is built season after season and that has a wider impact on the city of Lezhë.

Sport as Part of Lezhë’s Identity

In cities like Lezhë, a sports club is more than a team.

It is a meeting point between generations, a local symbol, and part of how a community experiences its own city.

Games create shared moments. Players become role models for children and young people. The team’s success creates local pride.

That is why investing in a sports club also has a social dimension.

Support does not go only toward results on the court. It helps preserve and develop a structure that brings people together around a shared identity.

From Building Projects to Building Community

Gruppo Koni was founded in Italy in 1998, and over the years the company’s activity has developed in construction and across a range of projects.

But a company’s impact is not defined only by the projects it builds.

It is also defined by the relationship it creates with the places and communities where it is present.

Supporting Besëlidhja shows another dimension of that relationship: investment in people, sport, and local identity.

In this case, the idea of “building” goes beyond architecture.

It also means helping to build opportunity, continuity, and ambition.

A Partnership That Grows With the Team

Sporting success is always the result of many factors.

Talent.

Work.

Organization.

Ambition.

And people who choose to believe in a project before the final result is guaranteed.

The partnership between Gruppo Koni and Besëlidhja has been built on that continuity.

As the club has raised its ambitions and its results in Albanian basketball, the relationship with the company has remained part of the journey.

That is why a collaboration of this kind goes beyond the traditional concept of sponsorship.

It becomes part of the club’s history.

Local Sport Needs Long-Term Partnerships

The development of Albanian sport does not depend only on clubs, coaches, or federations.

It requires a wider ecosystem in which businesses, institutions, and communities understand the social and economic value of sport.

Stable partnerships give clubs more room to think beyond the next season.

They create space for growth, for developing talent, and for building stronger structures.

In the end, a successful club does not represent only the players who step onto the court.

It also represents the city, the fans, the young people who dream of playing for it one day, and the partners who choose to be part of the journey.

For Gruppo Koni and Besëlidhja, this is a story that continues to be built.

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