215th Edition – Zak World of Façades Albania

Be part of history as we host Albania’s first-ever Zak World of Façades, bringing global expertise and sustainable innovation to Tirana.

This edition will connect international architectural & engineering leaders with the Albanian construction industry, creating dialogue on how global façade trends can be applied to local projects. Meet 200+ architects, developers, façade engineers, contractors, and solution providers, and build connections that matter in Southeast Europe’s fast-growing market. Gain first-hand insights from international experts and local pioneers tackling the façade industry’s most pressing challenges.

Speakers & Panelists
Project Architect, ANA
Founding Partner, Archea Associati
Architect Marco Casamonti, founding partner of Archea Associati, graduated with honors in 1990 and won the competition for the PhD program at the University of Genoa, completing his doctorate in 1994 with a dissertation on history and design in post-war...
Technical Director, ALCA
Elvi Xhaxho is Technical Director at ALCA, a leading façade contractor based in Tirana and active in the Albanian market for over 25 years. He joined the company in 2019 and has since played a central role in the execution...
Project Manager, VIND
Senior Associate, MVRDV
Stavros Gargaretas is an architect and Senior Associate at MVRDV, as well as a researcher at The Why Factory (T?F), a global think tank led by Winy Maas. Since joining MVRDV in 2015, he has been leading projects of various...
Chief Operating Officer, ALCA
Carlo Zaka is Chief Operating Officer at ALCA, a leading façade contractor based in Tirana and active in the Albanian market for over 25 years. He holds degrees from Bocconi and IE University and joined the façade sector after earlier...
Head of Product Management Aluminum Systems, Alukönigstahl
Alexander Riemer, Head of International Product Management for Schüco systems at ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, has been active in the building systems industry for more than three decades. Born in Vienna in 1971, he studied Mechanical Engineering and Welding Technology at TGM Vienna...
Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group
Catherine Huang joined BIG in 2007 and became partner in 2017. She has worked closely with Bjarke Ingels across a wide range of projects and typologies such as the Danish Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, an energy efficient skyscraper...
Chief Architect, Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura
Enrique leads projects in Spain, Eastern Europe, and increasingly Saudi Arabia. His approach priorities the cultural and environmental dimensions of architecture, seeking place-specific design over generic solutions. Enrique holds a master’s in housing and urbanism from London’s Architectural Association and...
Building Envelope Consultant, Rimkus
Associate | Façade Engineer, Faces Engineering
Partner, Atelier 4
Andi Efthimi is an architect and urban planner with over two decades of experience shaping Albania’s contemporary architectural landscape. As a partner at Atelier 4, one of the country’s leading design studios, he has contributed to major residential, hospitality, administrative, and...
Managing Director, Oppenheim Architecture
Beat Huesler is a licensed architect with over 30 years professional experience from firms in New York, and Basel, Switzerland before founding Huesler Architekten in Muttenz, Switzerland in 1996. His collaboration with Chad Oppenheim extends back to their studies at...
Associate, Eckersley O’Callaghan
As Senior Facade Engineer in our Milan office, Chiara brings a wealth of experience having worked in both the UK and Italy. Her background spans a wide variety of industries, project types and sizes across Europe, the Middle East, and...
Building Envelope Design Leader, Arup
Sofia is a specialist in the design of façades and roofs as well as in the as well as in the analysis of existing façade and cladding pathologies. With eighteen years of work experience, includingsixteen years in the façade industry...
Senior Architect - Façade Access and Maintenance, Arup
Silvia Ilardi is a Senior Architect. She joined Arup in 2008 currently being part of the Building Envelope team in Milan office, is also part of the Facade Access & Maintenance UK team and Europe Region point of contact for...
Director, Eckersley O’Callaghan
Since joining the global, award-winning engineering design firm Eckersley O’Callaghan in 2014, Alessandro has been pivotal in the firm’s growth, helping set up the Milan office which he now leads. With a strong multidisciplinary background, he has amassed extensive experience...
Project Manager – Building Envelope, Arcora
Nikelina Bineri is a façade expert at Arcora, a façade engineering firm based in Paris. She is a graduate architect from the Polytechnic University of Tirana. After eight years of professional experience in architecture, she moved to France and Germany...
Associate - Façades, Arup
Pat is an Associate working in the Façade Engineering group within Arup. Since qualifying as a Structural Engineer in 1989, Pat has worked in consulting engineering initially as a Structural Engineer and for the last 14 years as a Façade...
Technical Sales Engineer, Elval Colour
Angelos Zografos is a Technical Sales Engineer in Elval Colour and holds an MBA and a Diploma in Civil Engineering. He has more than 10 years of experience in civil and structural engineering, participating in the analysis and design of...
Senior Manager - High Performance Products, Kuraray Europe
I started in 1987 with DuPont have worked for more than 38 years in the industrial markets such as passive components, photopolymer for the printed circuits board market, PET for electrical insulation and packaging, automotive and architectural glass lamination. I...
Conference Agenda
  • Integrated design processes in international practice
  • Engineering the design intent, not just the detail
  • Facade durability as a building asset

Nikelina Bineri

  • Balancing design and functionality with high-performance building envelope solutions and supply chain bottle necks
  • Exploring how similar environmental conditions are addressed through distinct regional façade strategies
  • How façade systems are evolving to enhance resilience and respond to changing demands for flexibility
  • Evaluating local versus global material sourcing strategies in terms of economic impact, supply resilience, and carbon footprint
  • From architectural intent to engineered façade concepts
  • Early-stage decision making and façade strategy definition
  • From tender to construction support
  • Introduction of FISP (Façade Inspection Safety Program) and its application in NYC
  • Condition assessment of existing soviet-era housing stock against modern high-rise development, ownership challenges, economic constraints, sustainability and energy retrofit opportunity
  • Case studies
  • Façade as figurative expression & cultural narrative: How the façade transcends traditional building skins by modelling a symbolic form
  • Design and performance integration from the project team in assembling this sculptural façade
  • Materiality, detail, construction innovation implemented & challenges faced

Carlo Zaka

Event Details
  • 215th Edition – Zak World of Façades Albania, April 29, 2026
  • Start Date
    April 29, 2026 8:00 am
  • End Date
    April 29, 2026 5:00 pm
  • Status
    Upcoming
  • Location
  • Category
  • Sponsors