The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Addis Ababa

National University "Lvivska Politechnika", Institute of Architecture, Львівська політехніка, Lviv

Project idea

The shape and size of the building is based on town-planning axes, the analysis of surrounding buildings and also the fact that the territory should be surrounded with the high fence. The size of the first floor is stretched along the section in direction from south-west to north-east; this shape is caused by axes of the entrances. The sizes of second-fourth floors are designed due to the typical large-scale module of the neighbourhood buildings and the building principle in district.

According to the concept, a person passing through the street sees not only a high fence, but also the development of the second-fourth floors, which absolutely repeats the proportionality of surrounding building. The main part of the building is on the ground floor, which is "hidden" from pedestrians and drivers with fence.

An important feature while designing this object was to create an architectural image, which would not only look harmonious with the surrounding building, but which could also unite architecture features of both countries.

This image should become a hallmark of Czech Republic in Ethiopia. The security issue of the embassy building depends on the concept of the building entrance node. At the entrance to the territory there is a security post after which visitors and employees of the embassy go by two separate bridges, leading to two functionally different parts of the building - the main part of the building (representative) and the consular part.

In the middle of these bridges, at the height of the underground level, the national emblem of the Czech Republic is situated. The idea of the national emblem between the bridges, which will be passed by all visitors to the embassy, came after analyzing the features of ancient Ethiopian architecture.

Namely, the features of the fifth facade (in this case national emblem is the fifth facade) and forming of the excavation pit around the building. The entrance to this building was from 10 to 40 meters in depth. This principle in public building construction in Ethiopia, used in 12 century, became the main part of the project concept. Then it was interpreted to the realities of 21th century. Two bridges at the entrance of the building symbolize the openness and connection of cultures between two different countries.

Project description

The main entrance to territory is located in the west part of southern verge of the area. This entrance leads to the underground parking for the diplomatic mission members’ cars. The parking itself is under the area of the projected building and is designed for twelve parking spaces.

Furthermore, according to the concept of the project, the entrance is assumed to be from the west (underground parking) and the east (parking for guests, there will be 10 parking places, which will be used for guests of the embassy) sides. Next to the main entrance from the northeastern side two temporary parkings for the eight parking spaces each are located.

On the southeast verge of the area is a parking for visitors of the embassy, which include 12 parking spaces, and a pedestrian area, which will connect two residential streets, encircling the area from the south and east.

From the point of town-planning aspect the important task for designing the embassy was to provide the impossibility of the routes crossing between visitors of the consular and visa parts of the building, visitors of the representational part of the building, ambassador’s guests, workers of the diplomatic mission and local workers. Also it was important to separate the entrance to the territory of the embassy both for the cars of visitors and employees of the building.

Technical information

In the residential part of the roof, as well as in the recreation of workers of the building, an extensive roof garden is arranged. The concept of the project also includes the use of renewable energy sources.

Created in: