Hinge - Volume 151 February 2008

Topic : [project file - rinas]

Page : 062


Taking Flight - Tirana International airtport
While it's big news for any country to build a new international airport, it's especially big news for a country like Albania, considering that a couple of decades ago the Balkan nation was mired in financial ruin and international isolation, followed by a decade of political instability and teething problems with its free market experimentation. Approved in 2004 and completed at the end of 2006, the new Tirana International Airport in Rinas, a small village 25km northwest of the Albanian capital Tirana, signals the opening of a sunny capter for Albania. A team of 41 nationalities was involved in the project, signifying the repluic's willingness to seek foreign talent, and the airport's utra-modern architecture has set a precedent for similar structures to crop up on the country;s picturesque terrain. Futhermore, Albania's EU membership bid has been given priority status by the European Commission and an invitation from NATO is currently pending.

Tirana International Airport and Hochtief Airport GmbH, the clients, couldn't have enlisted a more accomplished architect than Malaysia-born Hin Tan to helm the project, which included a main terminal building, enclosed and opening carparking, landscaping and access roads. Before establishing his eponymous practice in 2000, Hin applied his faculty at Arup, Richard Rogers Partnership and Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners during the 1980s heyday of 'High-tech' architecture, and then at Santiago Calatrava in the 1990s. Since going solo, Hin has pulled off major works for the likes of Maersk Logistics, Gulf International Investments Group and Senai Airport Terminal Services.

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