Nokia

Building on a Steep Site – Tirana, Nokia

Located on the outskirts of Tirana, near Lake Farka, the site sits on a dramatically steep terrain. Unlike the surrounding suburban developments characterized by low- density sprawl, this project seeks to introduce a new residential typology that promotes thoughtful densification and a more community-oriented way of living.

Traditionally, courtyard buildings are positioned on flat ground, creating enclosed communal spaces separated from public street life. In contrast, applying a courtyard typology to such a steep landscape, as in the case of the Nokia site, becomes an unconventional design gesture that produces unexpected and innovative spatial outcomes.

The steep topography transforms the courtyard into a sequence of terraced and stepped spaces. Undercuts, lifted volumes, and carved platforms shape a dynamic and layered environment, where different levels of communal space interconnect visually and physically.

Instead of forming a single flat courtyard surface, the building negotiates the terrain through a cascading system of terraces, creating a multi-level courtyard that adapts to the slope while preserving social interaction, natural light, and undisturbed views towards the city of Tirana and the mountains.

The courtyard becomes home to 300 families, who share a terraced landscape supported by retail spaces, cafés, and other community and amenity facilities at different levels.

The landscape unfolds across seven terraces that follow the natural topography, each defined by its own character, vegetation, and playground spaces. Every terrace connects directly to a separate building core, organizing the project into smaller residential clusters where each community develops a sense of ownership and belonging to its terrace.

Through this structure, the project cultivates a layered social fabric that encourages interaction while maintaining an intimate scale within a larger collective development.