Today marks the launch of “Bread & Heart: Bring Some Salt, Please!” a new international festival featuring discourse on architecture, hospitality, and cultural exchange organized by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Set in Tirana, the event brings together global design visionaries and local perspectives to reflect on the past, address the present, and shape a more resilient and inclusive built environment.

Among the participants is Oppenheim Architecture, one of the key practices helping drive Albania’s architectural evolution. As the country transforms into a rising destination, its cities and coastline are emerging as sites for thoughtful, sustainable design. With a dedicated studio in Albania staffed by local architects, planners, and designers, Oppenheim Architecture has cultivated a long-standing, embedded presence in the country. From Tirana’s College of Europe campus, which integrates the city’s social life and history, to hospitality projects like Hotel Jali and Panorama Hilltop Retreat in the southern coastal region, the firm’s work is rooted in sensitivity to place and the elevation of Albania’s natural and social landscapes.

Oppenheim Architecture’s participation in the “Bread & Heart” festival follows the debut of work in the Albanian Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (on view until November 23, 2025). Titled Building Architecture Culture and curated by Anneke Abhelakh, the Pavilion celebrates the role of architecture in shaping national identity.

Beat Huesler, Director of Oppenheim Architecture Europe, will represent the firm at “Bread & Heart,” participating in the “First Impressions” session alongside Johan Anrys, Christian Kerez, and Elora Hardy. During the dialogue, Huesler will explore how listening, observing, and giving space can lead to architecture that honors heritage while embracing change. Oppenheim Architecture’s Founding Principal, Chad Oppenheim, and Tom McKeogh, Studio Leader of Oppenheim Architecture Europe, will also be present at the festival.

Beat Huesler, Director of Oppenheim Architecture Europe, says: “Architecture is not about imposing ideas but uncovering meaning already embedded in a place and its culture. In Albania, as with everywhere we work, we are applying Oppenheim Architecture’s philosophy of building with the land and its context to create something authentic where architecture becomes an expression of care, presence, and possibility.”