Kosovo: Eliza Hoxha

Born in 1974 in Mitrovica, Kosovo, Eliza Hoxha is an Albanian architect, scholar, and politician. She holds a diploma in architecture from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Prishtina in Prishtina, Kosovo (2002); she completed post-graduate studies in urban planning at the Catholic University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium (2006); and she is a PhD candidate at the Technical University of Graz in Graz, Austria. Hoxha has worked for the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (2002–2004), has practiced as a freelance architect, and has lectured in the Department of Urban Planning and the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Prishtina (2003-).

Hoxha was curator of the Kosovo Pavilion at the 16th Venice Biennale for Architecture (2018). She published a book titled The City and Love focused on the city of Prishtina (2013-Albanian / 2019 in English); she is also the author and moderator of “ÇELËSI,” the first television show in Kosovo focused on architecture. Hoxha served as president of the executive board of the National Gallery of Kosovo (2011–2015). She has transitioned her career into politics, serving as a member of the European Cultural Parliament (2013-).

Hoxha was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the National American Albanian Council for her contributions to the Hope Fellowship Program sponsored by USAID (2013). She earned recognition from the Kosovar Women Network for her work promoting women’s rights in Kosovo (2013) and from the Association of Kosovar Architects for her writing (2011). Hoxha was also named an “Ambassador for the Environment in Kosovo” by the Balkan Environmental Local Leadership Standards (2010).