In the port city of Durrës, along Albania’s Adriatic coastline, Spanish studios SelgasCano and FRPO have designed Sky-K, a residential tower project that transforms a constrained urban plot into a striking vertical landmark. Positioned just behind Rruga Taulantia, a waterfront street recently converted into a linear coastal park, the project responds directly to the industrial character of the surrounding harbor district while opening expansive views toward the sea and the hills beyond.
SelgasCano Shapes Sky-K Around Sea Views
SelgasCano approached the project by minimizing the building footprint and preserving openness at ground level. The entire base of the development is conceived as a Mediterranean garden planted with dense vegetation, creating a shaded public-facing landscape within the compact urban setting. Above this garden, an oval podium is lifted delicately on six concrete columns, allowing the lower level to remain visually and physically permeable.
From this elevated podium rise two slender cylindrical towers that the architects compare to industrial chimneys, a direct reference to Durrës’ port infrastructure and manufacturing history. Each tower is finished in a distinct bold color, reinforcing the project’s identity within the city skyline while emphasizing the dual vertical composition.
Circular Openings and Vertical Concrete Texture Define the Façade
The façade system of Sky-K avoids conventional balconies and curtain-wall glazing. Instead, the towers are wrapped in continuous textured concrete surfaces marked by soft undulations that accentuate their height. Large circular openings puncture the exterior envelope at varying scales, forming recessed terraces carved directly into the cylindrical mass. According to the architects, these openings intentionally conceal visible glazing from the façade, giving the towers a more sculptural and monolithic appearance.
These terraces frame panoramic 360-degree views toward the Adriatic Sea, the Port of Durrës, and the Hill of Durrës while also improving natural cross-ventilation throughout the apartments. The varying dimensions of the openings allow multiple residential typologies and layouts within the same structural system, generating apartments with different spatial conditions and outdoor relationships.
Industrial References Reimagined as Contemporary Housing
Sky-K balances expressive form with urban sensitivity. Despite its strong visual presence, the project was carefully positioned to avoid blocking light and views from neighboring buildings. The towers occupy a relatively small footprint on the 1,400-square-meter site, while the overall development reaches approximately 9,500 square meters of total floor area.
The architects describe the final composition as both surprising and deeply connected to the identity of Durrës. The green public ground floor is intended to belong to residents, while the colorful chimney-like towers contribute a new visual marker to the wider cityscape. Instead of separating architecture from the industrial memory of the harbor district, Sky-K turns that history into the central language of the project.
Sky-K Project Details
Project: Sky-K
Location: Durrës
Architects: SelgasCano + FRPO
Site Area: 1,400 sqm
Footprint Area: 430 sqm
Total Floor Area: 9,500 sqm
Design Period: 2024–2025
Construction: 2026–2027
Renderings: Playtime
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