Daniels Faculty Alumni Seven (Xiru) Chen (MLA 2012) and Naiji Jiao (MArch 2014) won first prize in the Lost Architecture Competition [En]Visioning City Squares. The competition was part of Tirana Architecture Week (TAW) in Albania. A total of 30 projects were submitted.

The international competition invited architects and students under 40 to contribute design ideas for the Pyramid Square of Tirana.

Situated in the heart of Tirana, Pyramid Square is a significant city landmark; however, the building in the centre of the square has become dilapidated and disconnected from the surrounding landscape. Chen and Jiao proposed opening up the landscape and building by transforming it into a welcoming city park, “The Pyramid Park.”

Write Chen and Jiao in their project description, "the former rigid lines on the site will be replaced with new circulation defined by gentle fluid pathways. The berms with naturalized planting will weaken the condescending feeling associated with the elevated Pyramid. With the landscape flowing into the Pyramid, the tough structure will be softened and properly fit into the surroundings."

Images from Chen and Jiao’s winning entry can be viewed in the Gallery below.