Embassy of Czech Republic

TUL - Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Architecture

Project idea

reaction to urban solutions

clear division of space (garden, reinforced surfaces,...)

great garden, buildings in greenery

representative character

respecting the local context

private world for employees

connecting to the garden

reaction to clima

Project description

The project was completed as a bachelor thesis.



The embassy's urban design divides the plot into two parts, thanks public communication that follows the urban design of the city district. Dividing communication intended only for embassy purposes and to the public is only accessible as a walking path.



Embassy



The Embassy is divided into five separate functional units -

administrative building, consular and visa section, ambassador's residence, residential building for embassy staff and residential building for local forces working within the embassy. The object of administration, consulate and residence of the ambassador, which is open to the public, forms an L-shaped footprint, dividing the land into two parts. The first, the smaller one, is defined by a solid surface. And the other is the garden, lining the embassy. The whole plot is surrounded by 3.5 m high fortifacated wall, which is pushed to the center of the plot by 4.5 m, making it a green belt of lime tree (national tree). The dividing wall is replaced in the southwestern and northwestern part by dividing columns, which can be run in the separating communication strip to cross plot.

Technical information

Construction



The entire complex is designed as a reinforced concrete skeleton, taking into account the availability of materials and local building conditions. Bearing walls th. 250mm. are supplemented with inner load-bearing walls th. 200 mm. Within the construction system is a span of 7 m. is maintained. It only differs in the cultural hall and reaches a maximum span of 11 m. Ceiling slabs have th.250mm., they are replaced only in this hall by a board th. 300mm .. Interior partitions are construct with porotherm th. 150mm.. The construction is based on the foundation strips to a depth of 1 200mm. below level. In case of possible implementation, it would be necessary to provide a geological survey and to compensate for the missing data. As a subsoil assume limestone sediment, from the available map. The designed roofs are sloping to the center under a 2% slope and a 500mm high attic. The rainwater conduits run through the inner walls and lead into an underground retention tank.



The external load-bearing walls are supplemented with insulation th. 80mm.



Technical equipment of buildings



The whole area is connected to the existing local engineering networks (water, gas, electricity, sewerage, telephone, optical networks). In the underground floor, under the administrative building there is a technical background, which includes an air-conditioning machine room, an electrical substation, a backup battery, and a heat source, which is possible as an exchanger, boiler or heat pump with added reverse operation for cooling. Heating is provided by underfloor heating. All distributions are led under in the ceiling and into the floor. Each of the five designed buildings has its own air conditioning unit located behind the attic on the roof.



Fire safety



Within the framework of fire safety, all buildings except the administrative building comply with the Czech Decree for safe escape of persons. In the administration building, fire protection is provided by a communication core, an escape staircase that is structurally isolated and closed in terms of fire protection. Space for handling fire fighting equipment is provided around buildings.



Materials



The facade of the proposed buildings is designed with colored reinforced concrete with reference to local culture and the building tradition is colored into a pinkish brick shade. The frames around the windows are made of sheet metal in a finer shade of concrete. Solid surface are designed from large-scale limestone paving with reference to the local subsoil and material availability. Interior - combination of materials - concrete, wood, light interior plaster and concrete trowel.



Gardens



The climate conditions of Addis Ababa provide conditions for the growth of Mediterranean vegetation. The clima enviroment is characterized by a contrast, with mild but rainy winters and hot dry summers. The basis of Mediterranean vegetation is formed by stands of hardy evergreen trees. Typical are forests with the participation of evergreen holm oak, which is also used in the garden together with yews, juniper and linden as a symbol of Czech territory. Trees in the garden serve as additional shading.



Water management



Addis Ababa is experiencing a shortage of water resources in the summer. Water sources - local water lines, wells, rainwater collection from roofs and drainage of water in a representative garden.



- public water supply - drinking

- well - drinking, service water (operation)

- rainwater from the retention tank (roof collection) - service water (operation),

irrigation of the garden

- Rainwater from the retention tank (garden collection) - Garden irrigation



Calculate the size of the retention tank to collect water from the roof



roof area:

- administration - 476 m²

- Ambassador‘s residence - 242 m²

- Consular section - 182 m²

- object of local forces - 152 m²

- apartment building - 436 m²

total - 1488 m²



- annual rainfall in Addis Ababa - 1220 mm.



- available roof volume 104.45 m3> 10,000 l tank.

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