Zig-Zag is a new residential development on Mullet Hill, on the outskirts of Tirana. The settlement is shaped by a close reading of the topography and landscape: the buildings follow the contours, are positioned to preserve views and privacy, and create a sequence of open spaces, routes and terraces among the olive trees.
The name Zig-Zag comes from the broken roofline of the larger blocks, which reduces the perceived scale of the development and creates a recognisable identity without introducing a gesture alien to its setting. The colour palette, inspired by Van Gogh’s paintings of olive trees, translates greens, blues and yellows into surfaces, shadows and details that respond to the seasonal changes of the hillside. Villas and collective housing offer a range of typologies and flexible spaces suited to continuously evolving ways of living.
Studio Lauria approaches the master plan as a balance between private quality and collective life. Mobility, parking, services, landscape and water management are integrated from the outset, reducing the impact of construction and strengthening the relationship with nature. A carefully calibrated design turns slopes and constraints into opportunities, while the networked working method coordinates architecture, landscape and engineering. Zig-Zag proposes a contemporary, comfortable and appealing way of living in which identity, environmental responsibility and real-estate value emerge from a solution designed specifically for the place.
Aware of the challenges of globalisation, we draw on Italian creativity to develop projects that respect and enhance local identities and cultures.
