Program: Commercial
Size: 14.200 sq m
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Status: Completed
Time: 2011-2017

Lideta Mercato was supposed to be a shopping mall like many in the city of Addis Ababa. After analyzing the existing ones we realized that they have 3 weak points: they are empty because the shops are too big, their glass facades create heating and bring too much light in the inside and their image does not reflect Africa, neither Ethiopia’s character. On the other hand, the Old Mercato of the city is full of people shopping and it integrates the idea of the public space, using the outdoor to generate activities. We based the multi-story contemporary design on the traditional market principles.

The project plot is surrounded by high-density buildings, no public space and two parallel streets without connection. A diagonal pedestrian flow connects both streets concentrating the entrances of the building. The entrance extends with an inclined atrium that showcases all the levels, establishing continuity among them. The skin is conceived considering the local climate conditions and shaped using a fractal pattern from the Ethiopian women dresses. It protects from the sun and the rain and brings light and ventilation to the interior in a controlled way.

Credits:
Director: Xavier Vilalta
Project Leader: Maria Rosaria Favoino
Project Team: Joao Medeiros, Miguel Sánchez Enkerlin, Reema Al-Ajlan, Daniel Vaczi
Project Manager: Kefale Kassa
Photos: Gonzalo Guajardo