Embassy of the Czech Republic - Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

Project idea

The embassy complex in Addis Ababa is to be a place of representation of the Czech Republic, its culture and quality of czech architecture in global context. Embassy, however, is also a place where two nations and their cultures meet and were relations are built. Therefore it should provide comfortable and safe environment for social and cultural events.
The embassy plot is located in an area of dense and somewhat unrestrained housing developement. For this reason it is designed as an independent island of an opened and semi-opened organized space with rich variety of vegetation.
The design of the building complex works in modern way with references to the historical ethiopiain monumental rock architecture. Individual buildings border central semi-opened courtyard and further divide the plot into individual zones of representation, relaxation and housing. The design pays attention to connecting interior with exterior through atriums and semi-covered terraces which cerate cosy living spaces protected against local climate extremes.

Project description

Urban concept

Urban design of this project reflects the plot location on one hand and the extensive building program and safety demands on the other. The embassy plot is situated in the midst of dense and rather unrestrained building development. For this reason, it is designed as an independent island of an opened and semi-opened organized space. It aims to penetrate the chaotic and dense urban structure, improve the traffic conditions and create at least a small pleasant and relaxing public space.
The idea is based on zoning of the plot (local workforce and public zone, administrative and representative zone, residential and recreational zone) in such a way that all safety and functional requirements will be met as much as possible.
Traffic scheme follows the zoning idea. It counts on three separated entrances to the embassy complex based on initial requirements. The public zone is penetrated by a street shortcut connecting the south and north parallel streets, thus improving the traffic conditions around the embassy both for pedestrians and vehicles.
In each zone there are some requirements on parking areas which are met in a form of parking lots and underground parking.
Individual embassy buildings are situated in such a way that they maintain the best functional connections and at the same time divide the plot into defined zones and their subsequent sections such as entrance areas, gardens, atriums etc.
The centre point of the whole composition is a semi-opened courtyard. Its opened side is oriented towards the main entrance. The effect of one compound chain of spaces is supported by connecting all the individual buildings with a horizontal slab.
The composition of the embassy buildings is finished by a concept of greenery and water fountains and pools. Each zone is further divided into subsequent areas of gardens for relaxation or representative social events. The link between interior and exterior is provided by atriums and patios shaded by a slab with a green roof.
The new street shortcut is supplied with an irregular alley of trees that also visually extends the representative embassy garden beyond its fencing.

Architectural concept

The embassy complex in Addis Ababa is to be a place of representation of the Czech Republic, its culture and quality of czech architecture in global context. Embassy, however, is also a place where two nations and their cultures meet and were relations are built. Therefore it should provide comfortable and safe environment for social and cultural events.
The design of the building complex works in a modern way with references to the historical ethiopian monumental rock architecture and landscape. This reference is expressed through a red-brown colored concrete volume modeled and carved through with atriums, passages, windows, see-throughs etc. thus becoming a partially levitating slab, covered with green roof. This volume penetreates through the whole embassy plot and unites all of its individual buildings. In contrast, these are designed as ligth almost abstract volumes with glass (glass shading system in case of the office building) or polycarbonate facade (ambassador’s residence, residential building for embassy staff). These buildings come through the concrete volume and interact with the spaces carved in the „rock“. The design pays attention to connecting interior with exterior through atriums and semi-covered terraces which create cosy living spaces protected against local climate extremes.
Individual buildings border central semi-opened courtyard and further divide the plot into individual zones of representation, relaxation and housing.
Functional concept
The embassy facility is divided into seven individual buildings: office building, consular and visa building, ambassador’s residence, residential building for embassy staff, building for local workforce, service facility building and main entrance gatehouse.
Building for the local workforce is located in the public zone and is directly accessible.
It contains four social housing apartments on two floors and one underground service facility floor.

Consular and visa building is located right on the perimeter of the embassy plot. It is divided into two separate sections. The public section with waiting hall, customer counters, meeting rooms and sanitary facility is accessible directly from the street, the staff section with offices and sanitary facility has entrance from the inner entrance atrium behind the controlled main doorway.

The rest of the buildings have controlled access on the plot behind controlled entrances. There are three of them: main and back entrance to the central courtyard and separate entrance to the residential and recreational zone.

Official building is designed as a three storey building with one underground floor. All floors are connected with one staircase and elevator.
The main entrance on the ground floor is oriented to the central courtyard. It leads to a waiting hall with connection to sanitary facility and two meeting rooms. Further follows representative section of the building including representative hall with cloakroom and sanitary facility, dining room, three lounges and conference hall. All of these representative rooms benefit from direct or at least visual connection with representative garden on the same level. Conference hall can be opened to the representative atrium, that is designed not only for relaxation but also for receptions and other social events.
First and second floor are occupated with office sections.
Underground floor is used for all the service facilities and parking for ten cars. These are accessible from the service facility building through the ramp.

The ambassador’s residence and residential building for the embassy staff are separated in the residential zone but have also controlled access to the central courtyard.
Both buildings have common access to the underground garages and service facilities.
Ambassador’s residence contains on the ground floor representative part, guest apartment and two storey ambassador’s apartment. All of them have connection with the garden.
Two storey residential building includes ten apartments of different sizes designed in such a way, that makes it possible to connect two neighbouring apartments and thus create a larger one if needed.

Technical information

Construction concept

The main structure of all the buildings is based on concrete monolitic system with pillars and slabs combined with ceramic or concrete brick walls and partitions. The facade is covered with glass shading system (in case of the office building) and with polycarbonate facade (residential buildings).
The construction concept also pays attention to two aspects: the heat comfort and seismic design of the tallest office building.
Based on solar path diagram for Addis Abeba the concrete slab as well as the glass shading system with fixed and movable lamelas are designed geometrically in order to eliminate excess of solar radiation. Moreover, the interior design exposes concrete ceiling surfaces and other heavy structures in order to increase heat accumulation factor. These principles together with reasonably thin heat insulation system make sure that comfortable interior conditions will be met for as little energy expenses as possible.
Due to natural seismicity in the area (level 3 of the UBC scale) as well as expected high underground water level, there was a special focus on the official building because of its irregular structural dimensions and shape.
The building is vertically divided into two sections and divided also from the following horizontal structures. The foundation is created as doubble concrete reinforced pool with seismic absorbers in between. The outer pool has also a waterproof function.

Co-authors

Doc. Ing. arch. Luboš Knytl