Butrint National Park Visitor Center international design competition
Geometria Architecture Ltd was part of a multidisciplinary team, led by Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects, who participated in a prequalified global design competition for a new visitor center at Butrint National Park. Butrint, an ancient city located in the southern part of Albania, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is situated within the expansive Butrint National Park.
The design of the Visitor Center is inspired by the Aeneid’s description of the ancient city of Buthrotum (now known as Butrint). Its form language echoes this historic influence. The building’s symbol is the Meander, an ornamental pattern commonly found in ancient pottery. The Visitor Center’s thick stone walls provide a solid foundation, anchoring the building in its surroundings and forming the starting point of the Meander “spiral.” The walls rise gradually and become a prominent architectural feature, adding to the landscape’s visual appeal.
The purpose of the Visitor Center is to provide visitors to the area with functional and multifunctional facilities that support the activities of the area: the excavation area, the ancient city, nature, and other leisure activities.
Four teams qualified to compete. Our team included Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects (Finland), Geometria Architecture, doxiadis+ (Greece), Ralph Appelbaum Associates (USA), Sitowise (Finland), and Nikolai Paukkonen (Finland).
See Kengo Kuma’s winning proposal here: Butrint National Park Visitor Center | Kengo Kuma and Associates (kkaa.co.jp)