The Embassy of the Czech Republic - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Facultad de Arquitectura, Guatemala City

Project idea

Ideas are always born of a question. In this case this project tries to understand if, in a world made out of iron and stone it is possible to create new spaces that contribute as a support for the imminent climate change, and at the same time find an element brings the immediate environment with the new set of buildings together, and that the new buildings fit in to the place without; losing their own personality in the process.
This very situation is occurring within the embassy, symbolically, the two countries come together, and information about each country is shared within the facility, culture and experiences are shared thus creating an intercultural space.
The design it’s based in the combination of three elements.
1) The floral design in Ethiopian traditional fabrics: As a Guatemalan I have learned that each traditional fabric tells the history of the place it comes from. In the case of Ethiopia; big flowers with four petals each have been chosen to be applied in the ceilings (roofs) as well as in the gardens walkways. This provides hierarchy to the main entrances.
2) Gardens and walkways with shrubs and floral designs are utilized in both Czech Republic, and Ethiopia. The gardens do not act solely as an ornamental element, but they provide a sense of order to the plot in where hierarchy is created from the entrances towards the various buildings. They unify the project, even if the buildings are not interconnected to one another.
3) The protagonists in the whole project are greenery, and the priority of sustainability. As well as contemporary, self-sustainable architecture. Which is capable of creating suitable spaces, but at the same time, giving it an own contemporary character style.

Project description

The project consists of six buildings or main sites. A space for leisure. Resting areas, indoors and outdoors. Each space regulation varies according to the initial premises that have been given about the security of the plot, as well as their respective order in which each space must be placed. It holds a holistic sense, which allows people to be in constant touch with nature, no matter if they are in or outside a building.

Technical information

1) System of green walls, and green ceilings.
2) Casting slabs with iron reinforcements.
3) Structural logic: Modulation of pillars every 5 m and the room for 150 has reinforcements to remove pillars from the center of the room. Single footings.