Embassy of the Czech Republic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

University of Sao Paulo

Project idea

A CZECH-ETHIOPIAN APPROACH ON WALLS

What defines architecturally an Embassy are, first and foremostly, its outer walls. An Embassy is a protected area, a safe space. A country inside a country. Therefore, this border between exterior and interior is of the utmost importance, since it represents what people see from the outside, and what defines life inside the walls.

Usually the topic of walled spaces is viewed negatively among the architectural community, and many would disregard the problem, presenting proposals with beautiful – yet unreal – open spaces and views. This does not work when planning an Embassy complex. So, let’s take a step back and think about walls and architecture. What would the Czech and the Ethiopian architects from the past have to say on this matter?

When taking a closer look on the Ethiopian vernacular, we are immediately faced with astonishing architecture carved out of walls. From the small-scale high-altitude churches in the Tigray region, like Abba Yohani and those carved on the sides of Nahiso Terara Mountain, to the bigger and much more ground-rooted Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, they all become part of the mountain itself. Especially when looking at the Bete Abba Libanos or Bete Qeddus Mercoreus churches, we can clearly see the message: the walls are architecture and architecture are the walls.

The same principle can be found in the Czech vernacular, strongly represented by the hundreds of castles that dot the Czech Republic’s landscape and are a present influence to many cities and towns daily lives. Although from a past era, these architectural strongholds still embody the proud tradition, culture and history of the Czech people. Castles are, historically, representations of a political power that invoke safety, protection – just like an Embassy. Looking closely to some examples, like the Rabi, Kost and Bezdez castles, it is easily visible how the same walls that protect the interior and define the built space, are spaces in itself – walls that have become architecture. Interestingly, a similar approach to that of the Ethiopian architects.

The question that remains, is how to incorporate all this traditional knowledge with contemporary standards and aesthetics in architecture, to design the new Embassy of the Czech Republic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Project description

THE AXIS CARVED INTO THE GROUND

Let’s hold on walls for a moment and see what else Lalibela and the Czech castles have to teach us. In both cases, not only the walls become architecture, but also the ground itself. Most of the castles rise from the ground, incorporating the rocky and mountainous terrain to its architecture, becoming part of the mountain and making us look up to them in awe. The much smaller Lalibela churches, mainly the most famous Bete Giyorgis and Bet Medhane Alem churches, use a different strategy to achieve a similar effect: they are carved out of the rocky soil, making it so that, in order to access them, visitors have to move down into the ground and let the walls tower above their heads. This create a sense of grandiosity to a fairly low-rise building. Ideal for a church. For a small castle. Or for the architectural representation of a sovereign nation.

With this in mind and at the same time trying to solve the complex logistics of an Embassy and it’s points of contact between the inside and outside worlds (entrances), the first main feature of the project design was created: a diagonal road axis accommodating two opposing concierges that organize, in a simple manner, the main and alternative car entrances, as well as the ambassador’s private entrance, logistics support and pedestrian accesses for staff and local workforce. The axis was thought to connect the interior to the outside in strategic points that allow for easier access and departure without disrupting the local traffic or driving extensively inside the complex, as well as easier visual control of who approaches the plot.

Towards the center of the site, the axis sinks down into the ground, giving visitors the above-mentioned feeling of visiting a church in Lalibela, and creating the foundations for settling the program.

THE BLOCK SETTLED ACROSS

Even with the complexity of an Embassy’s program, comprising plenty of different uses and spaces, the best way to imply unity and strength of the institution represented by the building is with a single large block. Placed across the axis and perpendicular to Mount Entoto and the mountain range that defines the northern Addis Ababa skyline, this block not only comprises the program but also creates, in conjunction with the axis, the ideal situation for zoning the plot.

Like the Great Rift Valley on the Eastern African Rift, that separates Ethiopia in two climatic zones (north-west and south-east), the carved-in axis separates the site in two levels of intimacy: north of the axis are the more private uses, mainly the housing and recreational areas, while south of it are the more public programs, like the representative spaces and visa and consular premises. To complete the picture, the block placed across divides the site once more, giving the necessary visual protection from main entrance to the two intimate gardens: the Ambassador’s Garden and the Representative Garden.

It is the combination of the axis sinking into the ground and the block rising from it that organize the spaces and symbolize the union of the two countries, without the need to create interior walls to break up the plot. The walls are the architecture itself.

UNITY IN SEPARATION

Although always referred to as a “block”, the program is actually organized in four smaller volumetric unities, detached from each other in a linear fashion. The crossing of this block by the axis, as well as by the connections between the gardens on both sides of the block, allowed the separation of these programmatic unities while maintaining the overall appearance of unity. As reinforcement to this impression, an imposing single roofing element connects the four volumes while mitigates the direct sun-heat by creating an air-cushion above the building. It also provides protection from the rain to the guests disembarking in the sunk central plaza to access the representative spaces, a very important feature on a climate like Addis Ababa’s, where the rainy season lasts for over nine months.

INHABITED WALLS

Before diving into the programmatic aspects of the design project, let’s go back a little to the walls. This characteristic of in-wall architecture presents itself mainly in two ways in the project. First, the boundary lines of the complex, that separates the site from the exterior, are not mere centimeters thick walls, but instead evoke emotions from the cliff-side churches in Lalibela, the Tigray Mountains, or some of the castles in the Czech Republic: masses of program, that give a thickness to this “inhabited” walls. Said program is mostly support for the recreational areas and logistics, such as WC and showers, storage, and trash disposal, as well as sidewalks to the streets outside, gifted to the city as some urban kindness. In the southern border, even the consular and visa premises, the most public section of the main program, occupies the space in-between walls, becoming the boundary itself.

The second appearance of this concept is in the main block. Defined by two parallel walls on the east and west sides. The main four sections of program occupy this space in between, giving an extra layer of protection to the inside areas. The same north-south line that separates the plot in two, houses in itself the majority of program. It is the wall becoming architecture.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

Walls defining the central block are not only visual protection, but also the main structural element. Therefore, the structural system proposed takes advantage of and praises it. It works in a simple rational manner: the two outlining walls support sizable beams crossing the gap between, from which are hanged the slabs bearing the program. A hard concrete core, formed by the vertical circulation, helps supporting the beams by halving the gap, as well as creating the foundation for the roofing structure.

The system is composed mainly of two parts, the outer sturdy shell and the hanging interior. While the outer part needs a heavier feeling to it, the interior structure is very light and modern, composed almost entirely of metallic elements, such as beams, cables and steel decks, and glass. The choice of pre-fabricate metallic structure comes with practicality and efficiency of transport and assembling speed, what has even more importance when considering the harder local building conditions given the extremely rainy weather.

By dethatching the walls from the interior via the hanging-structure, this system allows for pillar-free facades as well as for open trenches around the blocks that reache down to the sunk plaza and opens up through all floors, providing a buffer for ventilation and heat mitigation, as well as light reaching down to the underground areas.

This two-parts structural system reinforces the idea of relations between the two countries: Ethiopia, like the heavy walls, provides the supporting frame for the Embassy, as the site is located in its soil, while the Czech Republic, like the metal and glass insides, fills the interior with its representatives in a foreign land.

ARCHITECTURE OF STONES

If the inner parts are defined by the lightness of metal and glass, what should the materiality of this expressive walls, the main expression of the building, look like? When seeking an appearance of strength - given it supports the whole - and of protection – given it shields the interior building -, what first comes to mind are the solid and imposing stone walls of the European castles, as mentioned, strongly present in the Czech architectural history and landscape. Also, when we look back to the rock-hewn and mountain-carved Ethiopian architecture or mainly to the palaces and castles of Gondar and the ruins of Axum, once more stones make up the materiality of this built spaces, connecting both architectural cultures by one material, strong as the relations between the two countries shall be.

It is no coincidence Gondar was built out of stones. Ethiopia is one of the most volcanic nations on earth, and certainly the most in Africa, given the Eastern African Rift crossing right through it. With 57 volcanos, the Ethiopian landscape is filled with easily accessible and abundant basaltic stone deposits. This type of stone is not only very fit for construction, but also existent in beautiful shades of darker colors, that grants certain sobriety and strength to the diplomatic mission. Also, being a locally available material, this sort of stones was chosen to create the exterior materiality of the central block, as well as for lining the sides of the lowered axis (retaining walls). This same material, used in two different ways, integrates the two opposing forces: carved-into-stone architecture of the axis and built-up-out-of-stones architecture of the block.

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL WALLS

The two lines of stone walls siding the block, although sturdy in expression, are not like those on ancient castles, but rather have a contemporary approach to it: they are not solid like the retaining walls of the axis, but rather naturally perforated by the spaces created in between irregular stones.

By placing differently sized and shaped stones into a metal grid, 50 cm wide, we create openings for ventilation and lighting, turning this imposing stone wall into a much more humanized protective membrane to the interior spaces, that provides the whole with visual, thermic and lighting comfort. This thick membrane filters light through the random sized small openings, shading the interior from the strong east-west sun, while still allowing for elegant beams of light to cross into the living and work spaces of the Embassy. It allows for constant natural ventilation and air renewal while still protecting the interior floor-to-ceiling glassed facades visually from the outside, so embassy staff and guests can use the interior well-lit spaces without worrying for its intimacy. Still, to aid for natural lighting and open lines of sight into the gardens, this stone walls were designed with modular openings that slightly reveals the metal structure behind it, reaffirming the duality of the structural system.

PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION

The main programmatic areas are organized in four sub-blocks in a single line, aided by exterior and gardened areas.

Visa and Consular premises

Southmost in the plot is the lowest of the four blocks, housing the visa and consular departments. Settled between the two unaligned ends of the wall that wrap around the whole complex, this block is the embodiment of inhabited wall. It was placed in such a way that it distances itself from the main entrance, separating fluxes of cars and people, while staying in the same visual angle from the street, in a way that visitors can easily identify both entrances before arriving to the complex.

As the only programmatic unity that can be situated on the boundary of the plot, it becomes the boundary itself, between the public and the internal uses of the Embassy. Supporting this aspect is the straight line of bullet-proof glass that divides the program in two, right in the middle. On the west are the areas destined to the public, such as the waiting room and security control – accessible from the street, while the east is destined for internal work of the visa and consular departments staff – accessible from inside the plot. The middle line is where interactions happen between applicants for visa and citizenship and the embassy officials, in a rational, organized and secure manner. Both sides are provided with a small interior-garden that brings light and greenery to the waiting room and working spaces.

On top of this block is an elevated garden, accessible from the office sections through a walkway. It is thought to be a place of relaxation and contemplation during breaks, that also contributes by bringing some greenery to the frontal parts of the complex. The central walkways, slightly elevated from the garden’s ground level, creates an elegant gap that allows light to flow into the waiting room in the east and the offices in the west.

Official Embassy Building

The official embassy building compiles both the representative spaces and the office sections. These two areas were divided vertically, in different floors, with separated yet logistically integrated accesses.

Located south of the axis, in the more public sector of the internal area, the official embassy building raises from the lowered floor of the central plaza, two stories above ground level. This makes the main access to the representative spaces to be through the entrance hall in the sunk plaza, lowering the line of sight and bringing a sense of splendor to the arriving guests. Cover from the rain on disembarking is provided not only by the long unifying roof on top of the complex but also by de more intimate overhang of the street-level floor diagonally cantilevering above. The entrance hall is provided with lounges and meeting rooms for smaller encounters as well as an imponent spiral staircase and elevators that give access to the ground-floor level, where the main parts of the program are located. While the dining hall occupies the more reserved south-west corner, the assembly hall for parties and cocktails opens to the Representative Garden through a deck that bridges over the between-walls gap and create a transition space that integrates interior and exterior areas. The Garden in the eastern side is visually protected from the main entrance by the volume of the building itself – conferring intimacy to the hosted events.

On the first floor, above the representative spaces, are the four office sections, organized in a way that they can be easily distinguished and meeting all specifications for each. They are connected to the ground and underground floors through a stairwell and elevator core that opens to the south, guaranteeing access separated from the representative areas (accessed through the north) while allowing easy management, logistics and use of the meeting rooms and lounges. This level is connected to the garden above the visa and consular premises through a walkway that crosses among the treetops.

The main support areas, such as the kitchen and storage facilities are located in the underground (still provided with natural light and ventilation), with easy logistic access to the dining room and assembly hall.

Residential building of the embassy staff

Immediately north of the axis, in the more private and intimate section of the plot, the residential building for the embassy staff also rises three floors from the lowered ground of the central plaza. The lower underground level is occupied with a garage for 13 cars and technical and living support facilities, while the ground and first level hold ten housing unities of different sizes (for adapting to the different needs and family sizes of the embassy staff), including two courier accommodations that can be integrated to bigger apartments in case of necessity of an extra room. The main entrance to this programmatic block is from the north, providing easy access to the recreational open areas and visual protection from the main axis.

Residence

The northmost block of the complex is purposely the most isolated and intimate one, given it houses the most private use. It is distanced from the northern wall in order to guarantee security, and visually enclosed to the south, to guarantee privacy. The main entrances and openings to the exterior are turned to the north, while most of the south facade opens to a walled-in private garden, only accessible from inside the Residence. To emphasize the idea of security, the east and west walls of the block are doubled, and the space in between them, occupied. This fortified side masses of inhabited walls not only grant a sense of protection to the interior, but also reinforce the structure, allowing for only one single line of pillar to be placed in the building.

Serving both the purposes of housing the Ambassador and its family and of hosting events, the Residence was organized in two separated floors. In the ground floor are the representative spaces, with a central covered entrance and connection – visual and physical – to the private garden, that can be used in events. In the side-spaces between walls are the supporting programs, such as the representative kitchen, bathrooms and laundry. These spaces, accessed through walkways, are separated from the central ones where the events take place by two lines of water that can host aquatic gardens and even ornamental fish. The eastern walkway even extends past the outer wall, giving access to the Ambassador’s Garden over a retractable small bridge crossing the pool.

In the second floor is the private part of the residence, a luxurious apartment with open lines of sight to both the north - where you have the privileged view of Mount Entoto and the mountain range rising above the city’s skyline – and the south, where the sun light is filtered through leaves of the trees rising from the garden in the lower floor. The apartment has a private entrance between walls in the ground level that give access to stairs leading up to an open balcony – a transition space between outside and inside.

Building for local workforce

Located in a separated part of the plot are the housing unities for the local workforce, organized in two blocks, with plenty of quality common spaces. Following the same concept present in the main part of the complex, the lower level of the two blocks is half-buried, rooting them to the ground. Above are the duplex apartment unities, with enclosed walls to the east, and floor-to-ceiling glassed openings to the west, guaranteeing privacy and a sense of intimacy, while still allowing for great natural lighting.

The main architectural expression of this small buildings is that of a solid block floating on top of a stone wall that, like those in the main buildings of the embassy, support its weight.

Garden Zones

Supported by the inhabited walls of the perimeter, the garden zones compile all the recreational and contemplative areas. The two linear pools that outline the central block not only give another layer of protection to the interior areas and separation between the Recreational Garden and the Ambassador’s Garden, but also beautifully reflects the basaltic stones on the walls.

The two proposed Tukuls – one in the Representative Garden for use in events and another in the Recreational Garden for use by the staff – are a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional Ethiopian architectural element. It houses a well and, around it, space for an open fire, poetically superposing these two opposite forces of nature. The curved walls with elegant vertical openings are, much like those lining the main block, made out of stones inside a metal grid, that allows for filtered light to enter. The circular concave roofing is detached from the walls and supported by a delicate metallic structure. In the center, the round opening embodies the poetry of fire and water, by guiding the rainwater down into the well and the smoke up into the sky.

Technical information

Plot area: 13304 m²

Occupancy Rate: 27.1%

Permeable area: 4498 m²

Water collection area: 2683 m²

Co-authors

Augusto Longarine, Luiz Sakata, Teo Butenas Santos