Platinum Winner of the International Architecture & Design Awards 2025
Architect / Designer:
Alistair Chang
Studio:
Alistair Chang + Associates
Design Team:
NA
Copyright:
NA
Country:
Canada
The design of this building aims to create a timeless solution that harmonizes with the city’s past, present, and future. The elegant arches crisscrossing around the perimeter support an integrated photovoltaic roof structure. The design is empathic to the past and pays homage to the rich history of Peja. For example, the 15th-century fountain is placed on center stage and is thoughtfully considered and celebrated without being overpowered by the architecture. The water feature and stage area complement the existing fountain. This provides an engaging and respectful dialogue between historic and modern. Just as the memorial busts on pedestals surround the pavilion along the pedestrian path and serve as visual elements of the past.
The idea of a lantern illuminating the city’s cultural heritage speaks to the heart of Peja’s identity and has a long-lasting quality that shines in broader contexts both socially and culturally. The building is a beacon of light drawing people in with a communal lawn and sweeping curved ampithreatre. The building and landscape are designed to be a welcoming destination for public interaction and fostering relationships. It provides an indoor and outdoor area for performances, art, and events. The space is beautifully lit to create a magical space both during the day and at night. Visitors can gather in the amphitheatre and sloped lawn area to communion with neighbors and to watch outdoor performances.
Two key sustainability features define the building’s enclosure system. The first feature is the building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar roof system, which simultaneously provides on-site electricity and aesthetic metallic cladding. The concave shape helps maximize sun ray capture. The second feature is the Low-E channel glass is used to restrict the flow of heat/cold through the glass wall improving its thermal performance. Limestone is used for its historic beauty, durability, and low maintenance. It can also be mined locally and is an alternative to concrete which has a high embodied carbon count. The revitalization of this area through preservation and thoughtful design that blends past and present will provide a sense of pride for the community for many years to come.
Alistair Chang + Associates
Architecture is more of an attitude rather than a philosophy, where people are put at the center of design decisions. The value of a building is the full lifecycle of the structure and should be adaptable through the years. Embracing the end-user allows a building to remain relevant and reflect the culture and people of the day as its use changes over time. Good design is about responding to the necessities of society. A successful design can be judged by how happy the end user is.
ACA approaches design from a user perspective. We believe in human-centered design. Architecture should be flexible and responsive to the needs of the future. In the design process, I prefer using study models to inform the process rather than researching them for the final translation. We are interested in social sustainability and creating buildings integrated into the urban fabric. I don’t believe in ‘green-washing’ to satisfy the status quo. Nor should it just appear as conspicuous environmentalism.