In its early decades, the ­Ethiopian capital, founded in 1886, witnessed a very specific form of ­architecture. At the beginning of the East African country’s first ­urbanisation process, a mixture of vernacular knowledge and a new cosmopolitan mindset led to an archi­tectural type that local professionals refer to as the ‘Addis ­Ababa Style’: Pavilion-like buildings of different sizes, made of stone, earth, and wood, characterised by expressive pinched roofs, generous verandas with curtain walls, and a high degree of detailing. Today, those graceful, ­appropriate, and nature-based buildings are under threat of being swallowed up due to shortsighted economic interests. In cooperation with the Institute for Architecture in ­Addis Ababa (EiABC), architects of Berlin’s Technical University studied this typology with regard to its embeddedness in local resources, climatic conditions, and craftsmanship. As such, they employed the ­‘Addis ­Ababa House’ as a case study to discuss the possibility of a non-­industrial building type that ­reflects the desire for a cosmopolitan urban life.

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Ten Ethiopian architects - from different stages of their careers - were giving me insights in their practices. They were talking extensively about the current building culture in Addis Ababa, about sustainability and what makes Ethiopian architecture different from architecture elsewhere.

"Vernacular Here&Now"

The Gurague-House with its dome-like roof and its earth flooring is built communally by excellent builders. The wooden roof is put under tension in order to make it long lasting.

"Gründerzeit Reloaded"

Die Problematik der Unterbringung von Flüchtlingen darf nicht separat vom Thema des Sozialen Wohnungsbaus betrachtet werden.