THE EMBASSY OF CZECH REPUBLIC IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

CTU in Prague - Faculty of Architecture

Project idea

Building as a fortress. Solidity, stability and heaviness as a mutual attribute of Czech and Ethiopian historical architecture regarding to Czech medieval castles and Ethiopian stone monolithic churches.
The lengthy volumes define the zoning of the complex by separating areas with different levels of representativeness and privacy.

Project description

The complex of Embassy compounds of five buildings. The Official Embassy Building and the Residence are the only buildings with two stories, so it emphasizes their importance. Approaching to the complex from the main entrance, the building seems like a heavy massive volume with only two openings. The representative garden beyond is in contact with both representative parts of the Official Embassy Building and the Residence.
In the north part od the complex, there is the Residential Building with private garden connected to the private part of the Residence. The position of the Residence in the axis of the two long volumes expresses its significance within the complex.
The Consular and Visa Office building is located on the southern border of the site and it provides public access from the street. Except the main entry to the complex, there is also a private entry to the Residence and an entry to the Residential Building and the Residential Building for local workforce, which is located in the east part of the site.
The main used material is concrete, grooved on all the walls on the first floor and smooth on the second floor. The strict form of concrete buildings with limited number of openings supporting its unapproachable appearance is softened by a lot of vegetation, especially climbing plants and eucalyptus trees, typical flora of Addis Ababa region.
The facades facing the private or representative gardens are perforated by a large amount of openings, on the contrary to entrance facades. All the buildings are characterized by different horizontal and vertical elements connecting interior with exterior, protecting from sunlight and rain and separating different spaces based on functions and privacy. In the spaces between buildings, there is an irregular pattern of paving gradually changing into green areas.
With our design, we wanted to represent the Czech Republic and its culture. The main representative spaces are treated in the most artistic way, from form and chosen materials to artworks depicting important places in the Czech Republic.

Technical information

The technical support is placed in a basement located under the Official Embassy Building and the Residence. It includes also parking for the main building and private garage with storage of the ambassador. The kitchen, storages and facilities for the workers are situated on the first floor of the main building. Roofed parking for the Residential object is located opposite its entrance façade.

Co-authors

Bc. David Lašek
Bc. Anna Laubová
doc. Ing. arch. Zdeněk Rothbauer
Ing. arch. Vojtěch Sosna
Ing. arch. Karel Filsak

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