EMBASSY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

FAST VUT - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Department of Architecture

Project idea

From my point of view, functionality, purposefulness, rationality, simplicity, safety and presentability represent the most important parameters that should be fulfilled while projecting an embassy building. These criteria should be primarily respected by the form. This project idea is connected with a clear layout. Because of good feelings and pleasant atmosphere of staff living in this complex, I have decided to deal with these premises as a complex of separated buildings. Each function aims at a particular part of this complex is concentrated into each individual building. This conception reflects differences between working and living. In the complex, there is one central common garden for everyone. As individual needs should be addressed, I have integrated private gardens belonging to each function and to each type of building as well. Relating to the separated buildings complex, some problems with a rainy weather may occur. Because of this issue, buildings are separated but interconnected by shelters for simple daily movements of employees with “dry feet” from a work to their home. My solution depends not only on above mentioned factors, but also on orientation to the points of the compass especially in case of accommodation. Finally, the embassy as a state financed building is linked to a financial aspect that could be solved by a simple and uncomplicated form with a cleverly designed facade. According to the above summarized vision, my solution designates a simple style for each separated building and effective facade with close differences according to function.

Project description

The complex of the Embassy of the Czech Republic is designed as a set of separated objects that are linked to each other. The main reason is the strict separation of functions, especially the separation of working and living. Each building is surrounded by the garden as a symbol of rest and relax. In the north-eastern part of the estate, there is a relaxation centre that includes a playground (its size corresponds to the tennis court size), a swimming pool and a tukul.
The main entrance to the complex through the double barrier is situated in the south-west part of the complex. The most frequented road intersects the area from the west to the east, where the exit is located. People in the complex may find an access to the main office building, an entrance to the underground garage, an outdoor parking for visitors, a parking for the office staff and an entrance to the apartment building there. From the north side, there is a separate entrance to the Ambassador's residence. On the east side, there is an access road to the consular and visa facility that is located on the plot boundary. From the north is also an entrance to the site of the local forces, which are separated from the premises by an inner wall. Forces have got an access to the complex through the main entrance.
In the area of the new embassy complex, there are buildings which include only one or two over-ground floors. The official embassy building as the most important part is designed as a highest point in the complex and consists of two over-ground floor and one ground floor (parking, technical support, etc). A second floor is offset over the first floor and represent a protection from rain and sunshine. In the north part, the offset floor creates a covered part of the outdoor space following the representative garden. Next one in the line of buildings is apartment building which contains also three floors and one above-ground floor. This building is also smaller than previous. The last building in the row is only one-floored. It is a consular and visa office accessible from outside. The concept of the building line is aimed at getting employees out of their flats to their workplaces even during the rainy season. In the northern part of the complex there is an ambassador's residence, which is conceived as a two-storey building, where 2nd floor follows the roof terrace. In the western part of the plot behind the inner wall, there is a local force object located which is designed as a single-storey building.
The main element of the expression of the whole area is aluminium lamellas, which create a facade suspended on the buildings. The lamellas are bronze coloured that evokes the colour of a clay and a drought that the territory suffers from. They represent functions in buildings - a static type mainly on administrative and representative premises and a type of harmonica sliding panels, which are located mainly in front of the living rooms or in front of the entrances to the terraces and gardens.
Layouts:
The official embassy building is divided into three main functional parts - a representative part with lounges, a representative dining room and kitchen, a representative entrance hall and an assembly hall for 150 people. Other premises in 1st floor with adjoining part on the same floor with reception, meeting rooms. In 2nd floor there are individual sections of the administrative part. In ground floor there are mainly technical facilities, warehouses and a parking.
In the apartment building there are 10 apartments divided into two floors with five flats. The layout of the individual apartments is from 1+kk to 4+kk. In the ground floor there are warehouses for individual apartments and technical facilities of the building.
The consular and visa departments are separated into a visitor zone, where the main area is represented by a waiting room and an employee zone including mainly meeting rooms and offices.
The ambassador's residence is divided into a public part, where an entrance hall with a dressing room, a representative lounge and a dining room with its own kitchen are located, and a private part (apartment 5+1), where a garage with a technical room is situated and is connected to the hall, a social zone (living room, kitchen) and a room for guests. In 2np is a quiet zone (three bedrooms).
The local forces building consists of 4 apartments (2 + kk), and a shared laundry.

Technical information

Structurally, it is a monolithic reinforced concrete structure of columns with dimensions of 250x250 mm, girders with lengths mainly of 5500 mm and 6500 mm and boards corresponding to these dimensions. This system is applied to all objects. Buildings are based on reinforced concrete footings. The filling masonry is based on an aerated concrete as well as an internal masonry. The roof structures are flat. Perimeter masonry is th. 250mm with a polystyrene insulation with th. 150mm. Everything corresponds the ethics system. An anodized aluminium facade is hanging on the structure.