Anna Mierzynska and Andrzej Chuchra from the Faculty of Construction and Architecture at the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin took second place in the international architectural competition for the design of the building of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Addis Ababa.
The goal of the student competition organized by the University of Technology in Prague, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Inspireli organizations was to create a concept for a complex of facilities of the Embassy of the Czech Republic.
The competition was conducted in two stages. The first received 281 designs from all over the world. 25 works qualified for the second stage. Poland was represented by two projects: students from ZUT in Szczecin (who took second place) and Patrycja Czechowska - a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Wroclaw University of Technology.
fusion of two cultures
Combining Czech modernism with Ethiopian culture is the idea behind the award-winning project. The entire embassy complex consists of several buildings with individual functions, which together form an inner courtyard with a tukule - a traditional Ethiopian hut made of clay. The color scheme of the buildings refers to laterite - a local sedimentary rock that takes on a characteristic red hue. The buildings' structures are concrete and ceramic walls, supported by steel columns. The combination of colored concrete and brick allowed for a freer treatment of the facades. The authors used obscurations in the form of openwork walls and decorative ceramic shapes cut in the form of a linden leaf - the national tree of the Czech Republic.
The authors used obscurations in the form of openwork walls and decorative ceramic shapes cut in the form of a linden leaf.
© Anna Mierzynska and Andrzej Chuchra
Due to the prevailing climate in Ethiopia, proper ventilation of the facilities was an important element of the project. The students proposed mechanical ventilation supported by heat exchangers. Openwork walls filter light, and special windows insulate the interiors from high temperatures. An additional cooling element is the rich greenery surrounding the entire complex. Some of the facilities have also been earmarked for recreational buildings and those performing communication functions.
Model of the Embassy of the Czech Republic
© Anna Mierzynska and Andrzej Chuchra
The awarded project was created in the Department of Contemporary Architecture, Theory and Methodology of Design under the direction of Dr. hab. Krzysztof Bizio and is currently being continued as a thesis.
The students' concepts selected in the competition will be used to develop the project, which will be implemented in Addis Ababa. Congratulations!
compiled by: {tag:AuthorAiB}
illustrations courtesy of Anna Mierzynska and Andrzej Chuchra
