Embassy of the Czech Republic - Addis Abeba

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

Project idea

My concept for the embassy was to integrate all functional units into one building. These four functional units (offices, residence, apartments, and representative spaces) connected into one building made up form with three wings – every wing with different function connected together with representative spaces in its center. Connecting all spaces into one provides unification of form, and architecture can be more compact.

Garden for residents and pre-space where the main entrance is situated are divided by inside-wall, this prevents unauthorized persons from walking into private spaces of the premises. Also, the residence of an ambassador has a private garden which is separated from other spaces by inside-wall.

Project description

The main dominant of the embassy complex is the central part of the building, in which is situated assembly room and entrance hall. This central space is connected with three wings, each wing has a different function – offices, residence, and apartments for staff. The assembly room in central space has a shape of tukul (traditional Ethiopian house). The bottom of tukul is made of rotating partitions, so the assembly room can be easily opened into the entrance hall and connected with the representative garden. The top of tukul is much higher than height of the rest parts of the building, so it is clear that something important is happening in those spaces. At the top of the tukul shaped assembly room is a big round window, which illuminates the room from above.
Fasade is made of white aluminum sheets. Every sheet has a different shape, this feature adds to a fasade dynamic look. Sheets provide indoor shielding and make building looks more compact. Some of the windows have black framing made of steel, on higher floors are these framings usable as a loggia.

Technical information

Material used for supporting structure of the building wings is reinforced concrete. Wings of the building are made of columns with dimensions 350 x 350 mm and girders with maximum length 7,7 meters. Central space (entrance hall and tukul-shaped assembly room) are made of steel structure coated with glass and oriented strand boards.