Buqalla Pools and Hotel

Built in 2008 in a small valley near Suhareka, Buqalla Pools and Hotel is absolutely an impressive building, with pools surrounded by a breathtaking landscape. Designed by Gezim Pacarizi, this project is an award winner of World Architecture Awards – 4th cycle. Project description by Arhitectura Magazine after the break.

Gezim Pacarizi started working on the Buqalla Project on 2002. The construction started in 2003 and lasted until 2008. The pools are situated 6 km from the Suhareka, in the South Kosova. Buqalla valley is separated in two by the small river. The owners of the valley wanted to build a small hotel and swimming pools in this isolated spot. The water was to be taken from the river, so the pools were suppose to follow its course.
2003 was just three years after the Kosova war and the overall situation was confused. Technology and specialized companies were in existent. Qualified workers were lacking as well. The building of the whole complex was organized and managed by the architect and the family of owners.
The whole project is the result of continues changes and it is based on the idea of meeting between man and nature. The human made platforms are placed in the middle of the nature. They are bridges, pools, buildings, stairs and walls. While the people are walking around architecture makes them see themselves and the nature. The access to the site and the Hotel building are on the north side, all the pools and terraces are on the southern part. The terrace between the Hotel and the pools forms a bridge across the river.
Concrete is the main material; it is used with care. Everything was designed and supervised by the architect. The structure is clear and it is very easy to understand how the building works. The outside and the inside are interwoven dramatically in all levels, the building being very closely related to the landscape.

* Thanks to Bujar Nrecaj for the share.

Gezim Pacarizi started working on the Buqalla Project on 2002. Th e
construction started in 2003 and lasted until 2008. Th e pools are
situated 6 km from the Suhareka, in the South Kosova. Buqalla valley
is separated in two by the small river. Th e owners of the valley
wanted to build a small hotel and swimming pools in this isolated
spot. Th e water was to be taken from the river, so the pools were
suppose to follow its course.
2003 was just three years after the Kosova war and the overall
situation was confused. Technology and specialized companies
were inexistent. Qualifi ed workers were lacking as well. Th e building
of the whole complex was organized and managed by the architect
and the family of owners.
Th e whole project is the result of continues changes and it is
based on the idea of meeting between man and nature. Th e human
made platforms are placed in the middle of the nature. Th ey
are bridges, pools, buildings, stairs and walls. While the people are
walking around architecture makes them see themselves and the
nature. Th e access to the site and the Hotel building are on the north
side, all the pools and terraces are on the southern part. Th e terrace
between the Hotel and the pools forms a bridge across the river.
Concrete is the main material; it is used with care. Everything
was designed and supervised by the architect. Th e structure is
clear and it is very easy to understand how the building works. Th e
outside and the inside are interwoven dramatically in all levels, the
building being very closely related to the landscape.










Gezim Pacarizi started working on the Buqalla Project on 2002. The construction started in 2003 and lasted until 2008. The pools are situated 6 km from the Suhareka, in the South Kosova. Buqalla valley is separated in two by the small river. Th e owners of the valley wanted to build a small hotel and swimming pools in this isolated

spot. Th e water was to be taken from the river, so the pools were suppose to follow its course.

2003 was just three years after the Kosova war and the overall situation was confused. Technology and specialized companies were inexistent. Qualifi ed workers were lacking as well. The building of the whole complex was organized and managed by the architect and the family of owners.

The whole project is the result of continues changes and it is based on the idea of meeting between man and nature. The human made platforms are placed in the middle of the nature. They are bridges, pools, buildings, stairs and walls. While the people are walking around architecture makes them see themselves and the nature. Th e access to the site and the Hotel building are on the north side, all the pools and terraces are on the southern part. The terrace between the Hotel and the pools forms a bridge across the river.

Concrete is the main material; it is used with care. Everything was designed and supervised by the architect. The structure is clear and it is very easy to understand how the building works. The outside and the inside are interwoven dramatically in all levels, the building being very closely related to the landscape.