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ACTIU Berbegal y Formas, S.A.
Projects / Education / Addis Abeba Library

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A new space for the Abrehot Library

Objective

Abrehot - illumination in Ethiopian - is the name of the new library created to 'illuminate' and facilitate access to knowledge in Addis Ababa. Located next to the Arat Kilo monument and the Parliament, this monumental building - designed by ZIAS Design International PLC, with Luigi Varnero Impresa Costruzioni PLC, as construction company and Coord Consulting as Project Manager - combines a contemporary and very modern design with a great sensitivity and respect for the architectural tradition of the African country.

Equipped and designed with a sustainable and environmental approach, the new library revolves around a large atrium presided over by a central green space covered by a large skylight. With a basement and four floors above ground with a capacity of 1.4 million books, plus more than 240,000 electronic books, including 300,000 research articles and a collection of books in Braille, it has consultation and reading areas, meeting rooms, an amphitheatre, a restaurant-cafeteria, several shops, reading and children's play areas and a car park for 115 vehicles.

Actiu has participated in the project by equipping many of its spaces with furniture that, like the Class-20 shelving, helps to improve the user experience. Perfect for this type of use, these double-sided shelves offer a double function, as a space for storing books and magazines, and as a room divider in open-plan rooms. Their great versatility, possibility of customisation and progressive growth allows them to adapt to future changes, new uses and programmes.

Their versatility, customisability and progressive growth allow them to adapt to future changes, new uses and programmes.

Solution

In the form of a public square for meeting and knowledge, the large open-plan space on the lower floor brings together reading and quick reference areas around the central landscaped area and next to the shelves. Here, the organic and dynamic Bend modules, with their poufs and side tables, are combined with Longo Nómada sofas and coffee tables from the same programme, creating a relaxed and dynamic environment, whose strong chromaticism and compositional freedom turn reading into a playful and celebratory act.

Visitors can also sit on the Viva monoblock chairs, which accompany a large multi-purpose table. Their characteristic geometry and pistachio green colour add a casual and trendy touch, and the possibility of stacking up to 5 chairs makes them easy to store when not in use.

The large Informa reception desk enhances the great versatility and visual and spatial fluidity of the whole project. Composed of several modules that enable full customisation, its burgundy front adds a touch of elegance, in continuity with the chromatic range that colours the entire library.

The reading areas on the upper floors combine large shared reading and work areas, equipped with long Vital Pro tables and Urban Block chairs, with small corners overlooking the central atrium. In the latter, and to differentiate and enhance their more relaxed and intimate character, the small Bend side tables are combined with stackable Whass chairs, with wooden legs and an upholstered seat that add wellbeing and warmth.

In the catering and security areas, the versatile and functional Wing chairs were chosen, with their high stackability for easy cleaning and quick change of layout when needed. In the cafeteria and informal meeting areas, different Tabula tables are used which easily adapt to different styles.

Conceived as a reflection of the character of a country very rich in culture and history, and with a millenary literary tradition, Abrehot is born with the aim of elevating books to a new dimension, in a country that wants to open doors to the population towards reading, enjoyment and knowledge.

Architects/Interior designers
ZIAS Design International PLC
Location
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Customer
Abrehot
Constructora
Luigi Varnero Impresa Costruzioni PLC

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