Global Housing: Dwelling in Addis Ababa

Global Housing: Dwelling in Addis Ababa brings together essays and architectural projects that discuss housing as a key component in the social and urban development of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Over the last two decades the urban landscape of Addis Ababa has been changing at a fast pace, with disruptive consequences for the physical and social fabric of the city. Housing has been one of the key factors for this transformation, affecting job creation, craftsmanship, social and spatial equity, and dwelling practices, to name but a few.

The edited volume brings together twelve architectural projects developed by graduation students from TU Delft’s Global Housing educational program that explore alternative approaches to housing design, dwelling on the challenges brought about by Africa’s urban revolution.

Divided into two sections, this richly illustrated book offers reflections on the city of Addis Ababa, its different types of traditional and contemporary housing and its recent evolution in Part 1; and portfolios of the projects designed by the students enrolled in the program in Part 2. Each portfolio is structured around a theme or issue encountered by the participants in the studio, which is developed upon in a short study. A final essay based on interviews conducted with local actors and examining the challenges set by the city’s rapid urbanization concludes this fascinating contribution to innovative architectural thought in an increasingly urbanized world.