Learning from Heritage:

The Goethe-Institut and The Urban Center organized a panel discussion and workshop about experimental approaches to social housing in Addis Abeba. In a transdisciplinary, moderated discussion amongst professionals, we will talk about the potential of adopting local building tradition for contemporary needs.
What can we learn from Addis Abeba’s unique architectural heritage to cope with the challenge of creating a sustainable city for the future?

Addis Abeba has a unique Urban Heritage from the time before the Italian invasion in 1936. The so-called „Addis Abeba House“ is an architectural typology that shows diverse, cosmopolitan influences (Armenian, Indian, Arabic and European). Those influences have merged with the local conditions of the young Ethiopian capital. At the same time many architectural principles were applied to create comfort and beauty for its dwellers, thus these buildings are containers of potentially valuable knowledge.

The Technical University Berlin has cooperated with Ethiopian professionals and the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EiABC) in a research seminar and a master design studio. The outcomes will be presented in an input lecture and will serve as a background for the discussion.

Note: Attendance to the session will be through invitation ONLY