In time for Christmas 2014 the city of Korça in Albania realized BOLLES+WILSON’s design for a campanile – the Red Bar in the Sky. It focuses the Theatre Square, the concluding phase of the B+W 2009 masterplan (International Competition 1^st prize). The campanile which functions as a lookout tower for Korcians to appreciate the delicate grain of their city is located at the end of the central pedestrian boulevard ‚Shën Gjergji‘ (landscaping by B+W) .
Opened in winter the Red Bar in the Sky was accompanied by an ice skating rink installed by Greek skating specialists. The tower is strongly supported by the ruling Socialist Party, mayor Sotiraq Filo, Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi and Prime Minister Edi Rama, and as to be expected in Albania the sour grapes of the opposition know no limit making this small architectural intervention a national talking point.

photo © Daniel Dervishi

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