Africa Hall Addis Ababa: £42m Modernist Rebirth Restores 13M Tiles

Africa Hall in Addis Ababa stands as a defining work of African modernism. Designed by Italian architect Arturo Mezzedimi and completed in 1961, the building was commissioned by Emperor Haile Selassie to embody postcolonial optimism and to host pan‑African diplomacy, including the founding meeting of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963.

After decades of decline, a £42 million, ten‑year restoration completed in 2024 has revived the venue as a premier site for diplomacy and cultural exchange. The restoration preserved Mezzedimi’s clarity of design while upgrading the building for energy efficiency and seismic resilience.

A Modernist Landmark: Origins and Vision

The horseshoe‑shaped plenary hall and the vast rotunda of Africa Hall showcased a bold modern vocabulary. Carrara marble, Ethiopian stone, and custom furniture were blended with monumental art.

The project reflected Ethiopia’s ambition to lead pan‑African deliberation. This message was reinforced by the adjacent city hall as a civic statement.

Architectural Language and Key Features

Mezzedimi’s design integrates formal clarity with sculpture and stained glass. Notable art includes a 40‑metre mural by Nenne Sanguineti Poggi and Afewerk Tekle’s stained‑glass triptych, Total Liberation of Africa.

The horseshoe plan, the grand rotunda, and a material palette that combines Italian modernism with Ethiopian stone created a civic monument. The building symbolized a new era of sovereignty and regional leadership.

The Restoration Story: From Decay to Diplomacy

The restoration, completed in 2024, was led by Architectus in collaboration with Conrad Gargett, a Brisbane‑based practice. The £42 million project funded a comprehensive modernization that balances conservation with resilience and contemporary use.

Africa Hall can now host today’s diplomatic and cultural programs. The building is also more robust against seismic forces.

What Was Restored and Upgraded

• Reglazing the façade to restore the original palette and improve thermal performance.
• Replanting the landscape with native flora to reconnect the building with its urban setting.
• Cleaning and restoring terraced fountains to recapture the site’s contemplative atmosphere.
• Replicating 13 million mosaic tiles to faithfully reproduce the original interior shimmer.
• Restoring more than 500 original pieces of furniture, preserving Mezzedimi’s design language.
• Restoring Afewerk Tekle’s Total Liberation of Africa stained‑glass triptych with expert help from Emmanuel Thomas of the original French studio.
• Reinstating Nenne Sanguineti Poggi’s 40‑metre mural to its central role in the hall’s visual narrative.
• Upgrading structural systems to improve seismic resilience.
• Enhancing energy efficiency through modern mechanical systems and façade improvements.

A Global Recognition and Legacy

The project earned the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize. This was the first time the biennial award recognized a building in Africa.

Jurors praised the restoration for revealing Mezzedimi’s clarity of design. They also recognized the building’s symbolic power as a landmark of modernism and African diplomacy.

Awards, Impact, and Future Use

• World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize recognition for revitalizing a pivotal African civic building.
• Restoration serves as a model for heritage conservation that supports contemporary use and international diplomacy.
• Heritage‑led urban regeneration can elevate cultural exchange and national identity in Africa.

Africa Hall is a case study in postcolonial modernism and heritage preservation. It offers practical lessons for designers and preservationists working on iconic civic buildings in Africa.

The restoration shows that a careful, research‑driven approach can preserve historical value. It also enhances performance, resilience, and usage for modern diplomacy and culture.

 
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