Tirana International Airport, currently the region’s largest by passenger numbers, is undergoing a remarkable transformation to become one of the most beautiful in Europe, thanks to the innovative vision of renowned Italian architect Marco Casamonti.
A spacious and elegant pedestrian square at the airport’s entrance and exit, along with a new underground parking facility for over 1,000 vehicles, will be available to travelers and tourists who have made this airport the regional leader, boasting the fastest growth among European airports in the post-pandemic years.
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the airport today, where he was briefed by architect Marco Casamonti on the progress made so far.
“This is just the beginning — it will extend 500 meters up to the tower. We’ll eliminate all the parking areas behind here, and the coverage will continue another 500 meters. We still need to install the glass panels and complete the lighting. I’ve sent you a video — at night, the whole area is illuminated. We’ll use the outer façade to display writings and images of Tirana. Now, only the red glass panels are missing, and this square will resemble the red Albanian flag, stretching half a kilometer, made of granite and marble, and featuring a moving eagle,” Casamonti explained, while also providing details on the large underground parking facility.
“There are two underground levels, nearly 1 kilometer in length, with direct access to the terminal. You park inside and go straight into the terminal. The parking area has 1,000 spaces. All cars will go underground, and the surface will be exclusively pedestrian,” he said.
Later, the architect and his team outlined some of the square’s defining features, emphasizing how its architecture will incorporate national symbols.
“The square will be entirely red and black — the largest Albanian flag ever rendered in pixels. Inside, it will include both large and small structures, while from the outside, it will appear as a jewel. This will be a covered square. I want to build the most beautiful airport in Europe,” said Casamonti, adding that the parking structure will also be clad in the same design language, resulting in a unified architectural concept.