There are destinations first engraved into the unreal.... then on a map

University for Business and Technology - UBT

Idea projektu

The modern intervention seeks to recreate the geometry and spatial rhythm of the original fortress: cubic modules with reflective surfaces represent the towers, freely scattered across the landscape in a configuration that evokes an ellipse. Just as historic towers were once connected by walkable walls, these new forms remain in silent dialogue—each reflecting the surrounding nature while also echoing the invisible memory of the former stronghold. The mirrored surfaces cause the architecture to "disappear" into the horizon at certain times of the day, suggesting ephemerality, while the carved concrete voids within the modules reference the entrances and openings of old towers, where access was deliberate and strategically controlled.
This project is not a reconstruction—it is a temporal echo, a minimalist gesture that bridges past and present through material, light, and placement.

Popis projektu

This project in Artanë is an architectural work that resembles a spatial poem more than a traditional building. It challenges the perception of space and function, positioned not as a structure imposed upon the land, but as a delicate intervention within the spirit of the place. These cubic forms, carved like waves frozen in time, present a beautiful tension between the natural and the artificial.
The carved form in each cube is not merely aesthetic — it is metaphorical. It is a “sculpting of emptiness,” a space to hear nature’s silence, to feel the flow of wind, and to witness light traveling through the structure in a poetic manner. Each module becomes a frame for the landscape — a contemporary altar for visual and spiritual contemplation.
The reflective material is not chosen to shine, but to dissolve the ego of the building — not to compete with nature, but to amplify it. The structure does not demand attention; it invites quiet decoding, with sensitivity.
Its placement on the hillside forms a journey: from earth to sky, from density to void, from the concrete to the abstract. In the background, a structure embedded in the hill stands as a gentle reminder of the land’s history — perhaps a monument, perhaps a collective space for reflection.
This is not architecture to be seen, but to be experienced — a space where one returns to oneself through a silent dialogue with light, earth, and time. At its core, this project is a search for the sanctity of simplicity and the power of emptiness.

Technické informace

The master plan of the Fortress during its functional period connected different functions to the fortress itself. From there, pathways spread out, and walking trails were created. Traces of these can still be found on maps.

In the new adaptation master plan for the Fortress, the same trails are in use. They help improve movement throughout the entire area of the fortress. However, the new changes make these trails more accessible, allowing better reach to the destinations marked on the map. These trails connect to the main road, which offers access to the fortress from Pristina, Gjilan, or Kamenica.
A parking area has been established to allow further access to other points. From the parking area, the trails lead to Destination 1, which is the restaurant; Destination 2, which is the area of the remaining ruins, organized by specific locations; and the lodges, divided into two zones and accessible from the main parking area. Guests can reach the lodges either on foot or by using golf carts.

The lodges provide services such as daily stays, a kitchen, a dining area, sleeping rooms, and sanitary facilities.

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