Përparim Rama

Përparim Rama
Mayor of Pristina
Assumed office
7 December 2021
Preceded byShpend Ahmeti
Personal details
Born (1976-01-20) 20 January 1976 (age 48)
Pristina, SAP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo)
SpouseKristale Ivezaj
Children3
Alma materLondon South Bank University
Royal Institute of British Architects
University of East London

Përparim Rama (born 20 January 1976) is a Kosovo Albanian architect and urban planner[1] serving as the current Mayor of Pristina since 7 December 2021.[2] His work has been published in London Building Design Magazine[3] and several other international design magazines.[4]

Biography

Përparim Rama was born in Pristina on 20 January 1976.[5][6] His father was a well-known Albanian painter.[7] In 1992, when he was 16 years old, Përparim Rama moved to Great Britain[8] along with his cousin Iliriana. With the deteriorating political situation between Kosovo and Serbia and the imposition of sanctions by the then Yugoslav state on Kosovo Albanians, all Albanian employees were removed from public office. Rama’s parents, both teachers, remained unemployed. At the time, young men were being recruited by the Yugoslav army to be deployed to the front lines in the war against Croats or Bosniaks. In Great Britain Rama sought asylum, which was granted due to the aggravated political situation in his homeland.[9][10][11][12][13]

Education

Rama completed his undergraduate studies in architecture at London South Bank University from 1995 to 1998. From 2001 to 2003 he continued the second part of his studies at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Having completed his Bachelor studies, he pursued a Master DipArch degree at the University of East London.

Rama initially worked as a consultant at London Southampton Airport. He also worked as a mentor in the School of Architecture at the University of Nottingham and has supervised Doctorate Candidates in Generative Architecture and SMART building design in the MA and PHD program at the SmartLab Media Institute.[14]

Career and awards

"World Interiors News Annual Award 2013"

In 2012, at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, Rama represented Kosovo for the first time in history with the 'Filigree Maker' Pavilion, which was positively welcomed by the international media and especially by the Biennale President Paulo Barata, who described the project as "Architectural Democracy".[15][16] Rama was a consultant to the National Research Fund of the State of Qatar on the country’s current and future urban and architectural projects. He is also the leader of the master plan project team for the development of a 10 hectares sustainable village in Dhërmi, on the southeast coast of Albania.

Rama was a specialist advisor for the development of spatial planning tools and architecture in the municipalities of Newham Council and Tower Hamlets in London. He has led the drafting of the regulatory plan for Kosovo's capital, Prishtina. He is a periodic advisor/critic at the University of East London and a Periodic Critic at the Architectural Association of the United Kingdom.[17] Rama and his company have won recognition for their innovative projects.[18] In 2013, Rama and his team won the First Prize in the World Interiors News Annual Award 2013 for the interior design of the Hamam Jazz Bar in Prishtina.[19]

Projects

Zebrano in The City, London

In 2017, Rama and his team were assigned to arrange the Oatlands Park Hotel in Surrey, Britain, a facility of historical value, as it is the building where the Great Tudor Palace once stood.[19] The Zebrano in The City restaurant in London was designed by Rama.[20] Zebrano In The City covers 6,000 square feet over two floors and has a fine dining restaurant, a bar and a late-night lounge.[21]

The British-Albanian company 4M Group, with CEO Përparim Rama, was among the finalists for the SBID International Design Awards,[22] an award in the Global Design Calendar.[23] Rama was a jury member of the interior design WIN Awards 2018.[24]

He is the winner of an award for designing coffee places in the "World Interior News" competition within the Saatchi gallery in 2013.[25] He is also known for his involvement in the spatial planning of the 2012 London Olympics,[26] for engaging in building the vision of Doha, the capital of Qatar, for major projects in New York, Dublin, Basel, Prague and Damascus, Syria.[27]

Running for mayor of Pristina

On a Facebook post, the chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku announced that Rama will be the candidate with whom the LDK will aim to win back Pristina in the local elections to be held in autumn 2021.[28][29] Rama won the election and took office on December 7, 2021.[2]

Personal life

Rama is married to Kristale Ivezaj and they have three children, Arra Serafinë Rama, Tigër Rok Rama and Bron Ndue Rama.[30][27]

References

  1. ^ "Përparim Rama, kandidat i LDK-së për kryetar të Prishtinës". Albinfo. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "On Tuesday, Përparim Rama takes office as Mayor of Prishtina". KosovaPress. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  3. ^ "BBC e CNN shkruajnë për të, kush është Përparim Rama, kandidati i LDK-së për Prishtinën". Kosova.Info. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Nr 48". Issuu. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Gara për Prishtinën – këta janë tre kandidatët zyrtar nga LDK, AAK dhe AKR". FaktePlus. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Four Magazine: Design talks with Perparim Rama". UK (British) Albanians Network. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Kadrush Rama, Artist Portfolio at Albanian Arts". www.albanianarts.com. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Historia e Përparim Ramës në CNN: Dikur refugjat nga Kosova, tash sipërmarrës i suksesshëm (Video)". Telegrafi. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. ^ "CNN sjell kujtimet e dhimbshme të shqiptarit Përparim Rama". Bota Sot. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Historia e emigrantit kosovar, Përparim Rama në CNN (Video)". Klan Kosova (in Albanian). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Për të shkruajnë mediat e botës: Kush është Përparim Rama që LDK-ja e zyrtarizoi kandidat për kryetar të Prishtinës". BotaPress (in Albanian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Perparim Rama-arkitekt me famë në Angli". Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Bloomberg: Perparim Rama, asylum seeker to Architect". UK (British) Albanians Network. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Për të shkruajnë CNN e Bloomberg: Kush është Përparim Rama që LDK'ja pritet ta kandidojë për Prishtinën". Gazeta Express (in Albanian). 20 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Rrugëtimi i mërgimtarit nga Kosova, sot arkitekt i njohur në botë". Kosovajob.com. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  16. ^ kafkaf (17 March 2013). "Perparim Rama". Kosovo Architecture Foundation. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  17. ^ "The architect Mr. Përparim Rama is appointed in the position of a curator for representing Republic of Kosovo in the Venice Biennale - News - Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport". www.mkrs-ks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Arkitekti Përparim Rama emërohet kurator për përfaqësimin e Republikës së Kosovës ne Bienalen e Venezias - Lajmet - Ministria e Kulturës, Rinisë dhe Sportit". www.mkrs-ks.org. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Përparim Rama". Friends of Kosovo. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Another slick interior in the heart of London by renowned Albanian architect Perparim Rama". UK (British) Albanians Network. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Another slick interior in the heart of London by renowned Albanian architect Perparim Rama". UK (British) Albanians Network. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Voto: Kompania Britaniko-Shqiptare 4M Group, në mesin e finalistëve për shpërblimin SBID International Design Awards". UK (British) Albanians Network. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  23. ^ "SBID International Design Excellence Awards". SBID Awards. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Përparim Rama pjesë e jurisë për çmimet e dizajnit të enterierit WIN Awards 2018". Media Ndertimi. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Kush është arkitekti Përparim Rama që synon ta drejtojë Prishtinën?". Media Ndertimi. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  26. ^ "The architect Mr. Përparim Rama is appointed in the position of a curator for representing Republic of Kosovo in the Venice Biennale - News - Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport". www.mkrs-ks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Kush është Përparim Rama, me të cilin LDK garon për Prishtinën". Sinjali (in Albanian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  28. ^ "Përparim Rama, kandidat i LDK-së për Prishtinën". KOHA.net (in Albanian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  29. ^ "LDK to propose London-based architect Perparim Rama to run for mayor of Pristina". Gazeta Express (in Albanian). 20 May 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Kristale e Përparim Rama: Çifti shqiptar që tërheq vëmendjen e botës". Rajonipress.com (in Albanian). 5 February 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2021.