CZECH EMBASSY FOR ETHIOPIA : BRINGING THE HOME

UNPAR

Project idea

The contact between Czech and Ethiopia has been happened in long time before the modern countries had founded. It was recorded on 535 AD that African Ethiopian ( Empire of Legendary King John) was drawn on a map by Indikopleust, a Sinai Monks. The relation is continuing up to this day. Czech embassy in Ethiophia should be viewed deeper than just an office building. It has to be Czech representation, bilateral relation between two countries.
The design of the Czech Embassy in Adis Ababa inspired by the characteristic of Czech. The building shows the multiplicity of expression, desire to conceive the atmosphere of Bohemian and Morovia Czech. The complex was comprises of official office, apartments , house for ambassador, and recreational facilities. Each functions tailored by walkways and walls. The walls acts as division element yet at the same time creates different locusts in series of spaces.

The official part is conceptually made as the dominant building in the site, adopting the characteristic of cities in Czech. It rises in between African landscape, similar to natural landscape that tailored all cities in Czech. The building looks majestic, rising in among grass and trees. Brick were used to covered the façade. The orange color mimicked the color of blocks of Czech urban fabric. In Czech, the activities happened inside the pocket of blocks, so does in the new office for Czech embassy. This will evoke the strong image of ‘home’. The masses are not a literal form of Czech but bringing aura of subtle characters.

The residence part is designed to blend among natural landscape. The representative can receive the formal guest in the veranda, a semi-outdoor space that engaged with nature. Here they could enjoy the warmth of tropical weather as they sipped tea and signed agreement. This part is connected with the entire residential facility for the staffs and recreational facilities.
The residence for staffs located at the the west area. A orange building with inner court will be the home for all 9 embassy staffs. The court is opened, allowing natural breeze to flow through the entire blocks. Here they could drink coffee while hearing the tweets of birds.

The outdoor recreational facilities were placed at the south-east part of the complex. It will have easy access for maintenance building in the south-east corner. The garage located there, allowing multiple direct access to the residential via recreational facilities and to the embassy office. Tukuls are placed in between retention ponds, immersed with surrounding landscape. The proposed retention pond will mitigate the excessive water during flooding, letting the entire complex flood free. Bringing true home in Czech closer to the heart of staff

Project description

The embassy was based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The informal surrounding are neutralized by the landscape around the complex. The embassy building concept is adopting the simple perimeter blocks that sits on the natural landscape. The circulation are linked by the pathway that intersects all the functions. At some point of the walkways are placed the the security point. The check-point allows security guard to always checked the guests. The garage for staff and services are placed in the south-east, connected by the circulation to the recreational facilities. Responding to flooded site, the waterscape are used for both recreation and flood protection.

Technical information

The detached building will ease the construction, at the same time ease the maintenance. The building is using reinforced concrete for the main structure. The facade are using local bricks that could be found in surrounding area in Ethiopia. The inner court of each building are allowing the natural air to flow along the corridors, minimizing the use of air conditioner. The trees are using local vegetation such as sausage tree, baobab tree, marula tree and mopane tree. The baobab tree placed in the middle of the complex as an synergy symbolization between Czech Republics and Ethiopia. The drawing are part of diagrammatic concept, visualization, plans, sections, and elevations.