Johan Anrys graduated from the HAISL in Brussels, having followed one academic year in Ireland at the University College Dublin. As student he participated in several architectural projects, design workshops throughout Europe, and master-classes like the ‘Floating Resorts’ led by Elia Zenghelis & Eleni Gigantes. He worked for Eugeen Liebaut before establishing the joint practice of 51N4E in Brussels and Tirana. Parallel to his professional activities at 51N4E, he has been performing on academic ground, as lecturer at the KHM Lucas Faydherbe – Interieur, as assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Leuven, as visiting critic at the Berlage Institute and the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio, Switzerland. He acts on regular base as lecturer or jury member in various institutes both in Belgium and abroad. Johan Anrys is the lead partner in 51N4E’s Tirana office.

Currently, Ms. Gjermeni holds a PhD in Social Sciences. She earned a Master’s’s Degree in Social Work from the Grand Valley State University, in Michigan, United States (1997-1998). She attended post-graduate studies in Social Work at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Social Sciences (1993-1994). She earned a Bachelor Degree in History from the University of Tirana, Faculty of History and Philology (1986 – 1990). In 2009, Eglantina Gjermeni was elected Member of the 18th Legislature of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania, representing the Socialist Party. She was re-elected in the 19th Legislation after the general elections held in 2013. She was successful in heading the Centre of the Gender Balance for Development for 10 years. She is one of the most outstanding gender balance and social experts in the country. In the course of her career, Ms. Gjermeni has attended a series of training courses in Albania and abroad on topics, such as Gender Balance, Project Management, Leadership, Women in Politics, Social Affairs that have been organized by highly reputable international institutions. She is Lecturer at the Social Affairs Department of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana since 1995.

Prof. Dr. Peter Herrle, background in sociology, architecture and urban planning. Since 1981 consultant to bilateral and international development agencies and NGOs in various fields including housing,urban governance, participative planning, urban management and urban planning in many countries mainly in Asia and Africa. 1995 – 2012 full professor for international urbanism and director of the Habitat Unit at Faculty VI, Berlin University of Technology, since 2002 Advisory Professor at the Tongji University Shanghai. Since October 2012 retired and head of the Habitat Research Unit. Numerous publications on urban development issues. Editor of the Habitat International Series at LIT-Publishers.

Freek Persyn is an architect and partner at the Brussels-based international design practice 51N4E. Through the production of space, 51N4E envisions and directs the transformation of society. 51N4E designs development processes on a multitude of scales, from strategy to implementation. 51N4E uses design as an instrument for collaboration, making it possible to create collective knowledge and better results. 51N4E operates today in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Turkey and Albania. As partner at 51N4E, Freek Persyn equally focuses on teaching, lecturing and debating, to strengthen 51N4E’s knowledge base and to create new learning opportunities.

Saša Randic was born in 1964 in Rijeka, Croatia. He graduated from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Architecture, in 1990. In 1992 he graduated from the Berlage Institute Amsterdam. In 1993, together with Idis Turato, he established an architectural practice in Rijeka. In 2006 Randi?-Turato represented Croatia at the Venice Biennale with a research project in book form – Inbetween: a book on the Croatian Coast, transitional processes, and how to live with them. Between 2003 and 2007 Randi? was President of the Croatian Architects’ Association (CAA). Since 2008 he has been editor of the bimonthly magazine of the CAA, ?ovjek i prostor.

Artan graduated from the University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture in January 1987. In 1991 was specialized in Bologna, Italy as “Progettista assistito da CAD” and was hired as an architect at “Cuppini of Associati” studio in Bologna, Italy. It collaborated until 1997 with “Ricerca & Progetto” oriented in the bio-architectural problems. In 2004 he was invited by the US State Department, to participate in Washington at the “International Visitor Program” with the theme “Cultural Heritage Preservation”. In 2011 he attanded in Ohrid a postgraduate course on “Energy Efficiency” on buildings, organized by “Eko Zentrum”. In 2003 creates NGO “Albanian Fund for Monuments” with the aim of promoting the cultural heritage of the country. In 2008 he elected chairman of Albania Architects Association (AAA). From 2013 he is the adviser of the Prime Minister on urabanization and territory. Currently he teaches “History of Contemporary World Architecture” at the American University of Tirana, and since 2007, teaches “History of Albanian Architecture” at the Albanian Universitety in Tirana.

Jonida Turani is the director of Beyond Entropy Europe. She currently works as an architect, and lives between Italy and Albania. She completed her studies in Architecture, at University of Architecture of Venice, IUAV and McGill University, Montreal. After working in different architectural practices in Venice, London and Montreal she has collaborated with artists such as Marinella Senatore, Ragnar Kjartansson and Yoko Ono. Since 2013 she is the director of Beyond Entropy/ Europe. Jonida Turani and Stefano Rabolli Pansera curated the exhibition that was originally commissioned by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Albania for the Pavilion of the Republic of Albania at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition, Venice Biennale 2014.