Embassy of Czech Republic, Addis Abeba

Faculty of Architecture and Design STU in Bratislava

Project idea

The main idea of the proposal was to divide the land into a private and social area while respecting the requirements of the competition. The private part should be for the ambassador, the embassy staff and their families who are housed in an Aparment building on the property. The area for holding receptions outside is located between the Official embassy building and the Apartment building which separates it from the private part.

Project description

I dealt with urbanism in accordance with the requirements of the assignment. The subject of the proposal was 5 buildings: Office building, Consular and Visa Office, Residential building for employees of the Embassy, Residence and Object for local forces. According to the assignment, I divided the land with the road, placing on its left (western) side a building for local forces and parking for visitors. On the southeast side I separated the land and set aside a waste site and other parking as required. I solved the entrances to the land as follows: from the south side is the main entrance for pedestrians and the main entrance for cars. Both are controlled by a gatehouse. In the northeastern part of the plot, I placed a car exit and entrance and exit for the residence. Both are also controlled by the gatehouse. In the western part there is an entrance to the consular and visa building. I placed the Official embassy building on the south side of the plot. Next to it there is a consular and visa object, which has its own entrance for visitors. Behind the main office building is an Apartment building for employees of the embassy. These two objects are connected by a assembly room set between them. Together they create space for social events. The ambassador's residence is located behind the apartment building. Between them there is a private space where is a swimming pool, tukul, well, playground and area for tennis and ball games. All objects have a cuboid shape except a assembly room, which is atypical. Object for the local forces and the assembly room are single-storey. The Official embassy building, the Apartment building and the Residence are two-storey. There are 10 car parking spaces on the property.
Object for local forces
This object is very simple. There are 4 social apartments facing east. The remaining rooms are oriented to the west: kitchen, workshop, laundry, dressing room, hygiene.
Consular and visa object
The object has a separate entrance for visitors on the west side of the property. Visitors enter through the vestibule to the waiting room, where the staff of the office will process them through the security window. There are also 2 meeting rooms, accessible to employees from the hallway and, after approval, to the visitor entering the room directly from the waiting room. Staff enter the building through the back entrance. Only employees are available on the floor and there are consular and visa offices office, archive, toilets and shower for staff.
Official Embassy building
The property is accessed via a security vestibule, which is guarded by the reception. One meeting room is accessible from the entrance to the visitor. From the vestibule visitors enters the entrance hall from which are accessible toilets for visitors, cloakroom and meeting rooms. From entrance hall are accesible representative spaces – an assemby room, representative lounges and a representative dining room. These spaces are connected with terrace/garden. At the same time, the assembly room connects the Official embassy building with the Apartment building. On the ground floor there is also a repre storeroom, driver's room and kitchen with facilities. There is a ramp to the underground garage from the east side of the building. In the garage there are 16 parking places. There are storerooms and technical rooms. On the second floor are offices that are divided into sections. Office section A is separated by doors from others. It has its own sanitary facilities and a staircase with lift. There is also an ambassador's office. The access here have only staff and ambassador (except for agreed meetings). Office section B is accessible only to employees. Other sections are also accessible by staircase and lift from entrance hall. Office section C is separate and has its own bathroom and kitchenette. Office section D is only accessible to employees.
Apartment building for employees of the Embassy
The apartments are accessible from the hall. There are 3 two-room apartments, 3 three-room apartments, 2 four-room apartments and 2 courier apartments. In the basement part there is parking and storerooms for the apartments. Four-room and two-room apartments can be connected to the courier apartment.
Residence
Visitors enter the residence through their own entrance through the security vestibule to the entrance hall. There are toilets, a dressing room, a representative lounge, a representative dining room. The dining room has access to a representative kitchen. There is also a garage for 2 cars and technical room. On the floor there is an ambassador's apartment, which is accessible by two stairscases. The apartment has 3 rooms, living room with dining room, kitchen, ambassador's office and facilities. There is also an apartment room that can be connected with ambassadors apartment if necessary.

Technical information

Since concrete and brick are often used in Ethiopia, and I have chosen to use them in my project. The construction of the buildings is made of bricks and the facade is made of concrete cladding. The structural system is a skeleton, but in the residence, there is used a wall support system. On the facades there is ventilated facade that reduces heat loss and moisture. Shielding is secured by windows on the facades are recessed and have outdoor blinds. On the roof are photovoltaic and photothermal panels that serve to generate electricity and water heating. On the roof is also located heat pump for underfloor heating / cooling. Buildings collect rainwater in the rainy seasons to flush toilets.