Architecture, Exhibition, Film & Design
Kosovo on Tracks
At the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 we invite you to an insightful journey that suggests an alternative future for the Republic of Kosovo, focusing on the architecture of train infrastructure as a force for social, economic and environmental development. Kosovo on Track envisions an interactive experience set within the framework of a train carriage - a public space on wheels, moving through time and space, capturing the essence of individual and collective journeys. The train symbolizes the country of Kosovo and its possible future, yet it proposes a reconnection with itself and its neighbours too.
Kosovo on Tracks
A revived public space, on tracks travelling through time and space
Proposal for Kosovar Pavilion at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice, 2025
​At the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 we invite you to an insightful journey that suggests an alternative future for the Republic of Kosovo, focusing on the architecture of train infrastructure as a force for social, economic and environmental development. Kosovo on Track envisions an interactive experience set within the framework of a train carriage - a public space on wheels, moving through time and space, capturing the essence of individual and collective journeys. The train symbolizes the country of Kosovo and its possible future, yet it proposes a reconnection with itself and its neighbours too.
Trains in Kosovo were functional and interconnected during the former SFRY, with few railway lines passing through Kosovo, connected with other republics in the former Yugoslavia and further to Europe. Train infrastructure in Kosovo is currently operating only with a few lines under a slow, long-term reconstruction process, and its future is uncertain. The lack of mobility has a negative impact on Kosovo’s population, limiting personal freedom of movement to bus services and private cars for those who can afford them. Efforts have been made to rehabilitate and upgrade rail lines as part of regional connectivity initiatives. The European Union and other international partners have supported these projects to improve the speed, safety, and efficiency of rail transport.
Our proposal directs attention to this issue, highlighting the need for the mobility of people and goods in a developing country struggling to connect itself to the European community. The train carriage is a metaphor for the Kosovo’s transition from an oppressive, authoritarian and socialist system toward a liberal market democracy, or, as we suggest, a society in balance with its resources. It is also a symbol of the potential to create new connections, meaningful public spaces and mobility, both literally and metaphorically.
The Past
Train Station in Peja, Kosovo.
​
The train station in Peja, Kosovo, is a significant cultural and architectural landmark. It was part of the broader ex Yugoslav railway network expansion. The station’s design and construction were influenced by styles from the mid-20th century, a period when rail infrastructure across the region saw substantial investment. Train Station style was adopted by the stations in France and planned and built by Soviet engineers.
​
Archival photo taken of a train in
Fushe Kosova station, Kosovo.
Ex Yugoslavia
Archival photo taken of a train in
Prizren station, Kosovo
Ex Yugoslavia
Photo of mass deportation of Kosovo Albanians during the 1996.
Kosovo, Ex Yugoslavia
The Present
New Born Square & The Palace of Youth and Sports, Prishtina
​
An urban scenario in central Prishtina which consists of an artistic landmark framing a large scale building which is constructed in 1977. The Palace of Youth and Sports is a remarkable structure – a symbol for the city of Prishtina – where many activities are held throughout the year. The complex meeting spot, and a place for promoting talents as well as a site that shapes the identity of Prishtina.
​
Present state of train station of Prishtina.
Present state of train station in Fushe Kosove.
Central area of city of Gjilan, south of Kosovo.
The Future?
The aim of the exhibition is to open up a dialogue about what role train infrastructure can play in developing Kosovo as a nation interconnected with Europe. What kind of possibilities lie in such a long-term investment? How will the young population of Kosovo benefit from a publicly accessible mobility within and outside the country?
​
Similar to a train travelling through time, the pavilion moves visitors between past and future, across cultural and political boundaries. The structure of the carriage mirrors the collective experience of travel, uniting individuals within a shared space yet allowing personal reflections through the view out each window. As Kosovo seeks closer ties with neighbouring countries and Europe, this pavilion envisions the country on track, literally and metaphorically, toward a democratic and cohesive, integrated future.
In this interactive space, visitors are invited to sit down and engage as they would in a public forum, observing, reflecting, conversing, and envisioning. The moving images evoke a sense of travel, progress, and disconnection, inviting dialogue on Kosovo’s aspirations, limitations, and the possible paths to a future of reinvigorated public spaces, democratic mobility, and deeper connections to the region and Europe.
Similar to a train travelling through time, the pavilion in an innovative and interactive way moves visitors between past and future, across cultural and political boundaries. The structure of the carriage mirrors the collective experience of travel, uniting individuals within a shared space yet allowing personal reflections through the view out each window. As Kosovo seeks closer ties with neighbouring countries and Europe, this pavilion envisions the country on track, literally and metaphorically, toward a democratic, cohesive, and integrated future.
The train’s journey evokes Kosovo’s potential to reconnect with its Balkan neighbours and wider Europe. It also poses questions about what it means to have limited mobility, both within and beyond the Kosovo borders, while reflecting on democratic ideals of freedom, access, connectivity and participation.
Upon entering the pavilion, visitors are drawn into a holistic and interactive experience. As the projections move across the walls, visitors are invited to sit, observe, interact and participate in dialogue sessions. The non-linear narrative encourages them to reflect on questions about connectivity, mobility, and Kosovo’s role in the broader European landscape. The experience is designed to foster both introspection and discourse. The proposal will include a program of events to take place within the pavilion during the biennale exhibition. We will invite architects, artists, experts and politicians to participate in themed discussions on different topics about the train, its history, infrastructure and architecture.
In addition to the visual elements, the pavilion is filled with subtle ambient sounds, a mix of traditional Kosovar music, and the sounds of train and city ambient noises enhancing the interactive experience. The soundscape transitions to live or recorded voices of Kosovar youth, artists, and activists, which are played in the background, sharing their aspirations, frustrations, and visions. The auditory layer enhances the sense of being part of a community dialogue. Visitors might also encounter written messages or poems from Kosovars displayed within the train car, revealing personal stories, hopes, and reflections on the barriers they face.
​
This proposal enables the Republic of Kosovo to embark on a poignant and powerful journey at the Venice Biennale, presenting a pavilion that is as much an invitation as it is a provocation. Kosovo on Tracks envisions a symbolic yet tangible experience set within the framework of a train carriage - a public space on wheels, moving through time and space, capturing the essence of both individual and collective journeys.
​
​