Shkolla e Muzikës dhe Baletit

Project idea

The concept of the Music and Ballet School is based on the idea of functional layering, where spaces are organized according to their level of public use, acoustic requirements, and daily activity. The project emphasizes the separation between performance spaces and learning areas in order to create an efficient, calm, and acoustically controlled environment. By placing large scale and noise sensitive functions underground, the building ensures better sound insulation and allows the upper floors to remain focused on education, concentration, and creativity. The school is envisioned as a cultural core where music, dance, and physical movement coexist, supporting artistic development and holistic education.

Project description

The building is organized vertically into clear functional zones. The basement level contains the main public and large-span spaces, including concert halls, an auditorium, and a football field or multipurpose sports hall. These spaces are designed to accommodate performances, events, rehearsals, and physical activities, while benefiting from the structural and acoustic advantages of being located below ground level.

The ground floor, first floor, and second floor are dedicated to educational and administrative functions. These levels include music classrooms, ballet and dance studios, individual practice rooms, theory classrooms, as well as teachers’ offices and administration areas. The classrooms and studios are oriented to receive natural daylight, creating a comfortable and inspiring learning atmosphere.

Circulation within the building is organized through vertical and horizontal connections that clearly separate public access to performance areas from the daily movement of students and staff. The project as a whole functions as an integrated educational and cultural institution, combining performance, learning, and physical activity within a coherent architectural structure.

Technical information

The structural concept of the Music and Ballet School is based on the use of different construction systems, each responding to the specific functional and spatial requirements of the building. This combination allows flexibility, structural efficiency, and architectural clarity.

The sports field / multipurpose hall, located in the basement, uses an interesting capriate (truss) construction system. This solution enables large, column-free spans, providing an open and flexible interior space suitable for sports activities. The capriate structure ensures structural stability while reducing the number of vertical supports, which is essential for the functionality of the field. The exposed structural elements also contribute to the architectural expression of the interior.

The concert hall and auditorium are designed with a strong focus on acoustics and spatial quality. Their structural system supports large volumes and controlled interior geometry, allowing the integration of acoustic wall panels, perforated surfaces, and suspended ceiling elements. The construction ensures sound isolation from the rest of the school, especially from the educational areas above.

The central part of the school is constructed using a steel structure, clearly visible in the façade and interior organization. Steel columns, beams, and bracing elements form a modular and transparent framework that allows open circulation spaces, visual connections between floors, and flexible use of space. This steel structure supports the main vertical circulation and acts as a connecting core between different functional zones of the building.

The remaining parts of the school, mainly containing classrooms, studios, and administrative spaces, are built using a reinforced concrete skeletal structure. This system provides durability, thermal mass, and acoustic stability, which are essential for educational environments. The concrete frame allows regular spatial organization, efficient load transfer, and the integration of large window openings for natural lighting.

Overall, the combination of capriate structures, steel construction, and reinforced concrete skeletal systems creates a balanced architectural solution where each structural method responds directly to function, scale, and spatial needs. This integrated approach strengthens both the technical performance and the architectural identity of the Music and Ballet School.