mangalem 21 responds its layered context as a series of blocks
OMA’s Mangalem 21 occupies a steep site in eastern Tirana, Albania, shaped by a 27-meter elevation change from top to bottom — roughly the height of a nine-story building. Framed by communist-era housing blocks to the north and informal developments to the south, the residential masterplan responds to this layered context with a rhythmic and vibrant sequence of buildings and courtyards. Developed with Kontakt, the complex adopts a checkerboard layout that balances urban density with green, communal space.
The entire ground level is pedestrian-only, with parking and vehicular access placed below ground. This frees up 70% of the surface area for public plazas, gardens, and circulation, resulting in a calm and accessible urban setting. As the slope steps down, buildings are arranged so that each looks over the one below, allowing for open views and sunlight across the site.
all images courtesy of Kontakt
oma’s tirana masterplan introduces porosity into the grid
At the architectural scale, Mangalem 21’s design transforms the regular grid into a more spatially active fabric. Tangent corners and overlapping volumes are articulated through three new typologies: the straddle core, where circulation is shared between buildings; the straddle apartment, which spans two structures; and the kissing corner, where two volumes meet. These configurations introduce porosity and variation across what might otherwise be a rigid plan.
A carefully curated color palette further animates the development’s façades. Referencing Tirana’s 2000s city-wide mural initiative led by then-mayor Edi Rama, international practice OMA introduces color through standardised openings, shifting patterns, and selective accents across walls, window frames, and shutters. The resulting visual language is diverse yet cohesive. With the stepped arrangement revealing multiple elevations at once, rooftops are treated as fifth facades — visible from above and woven into the spatial rhythm. Together, these elements aim to establish a new model of urban living in Tirana that integrates high density with visual diversity, open space, and a flexible architectural framework that evolves with its residents’ needs. The project builds a walkable, inhabited landscape that ties individual experience to a collective urban form.
Mangalem 21’s facades emerging from the urban edge
colorful residential blocks
the residential masterplan responds to its layered context with a rhythmic sequence of buildings and courtyards
the interplay between vibrant facades, arcades, and planted courtyards
the design references Tirana’s 2000s city-wide mural initiative led by then-mayor Edi Rama
framed by communist-era housing blocks to the north and informal developments to the south
project info:
name: Mangalem 21
architect: OMA | @oma.eu, Kontakt
location: Tirana, Albania
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: Ravail Khan | designboom
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