United Nations African Headquarters, Addis Ababa

Client: United Nations Conference Facilities for the Economic Commission for Africa

This project was a competition design for an extension to the United Nations headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The program called for a 193,759 square foot extension to the existing headquarters and included judges' chambers and delegate facilities, dining and lounge facilities, and general office and conference facilities. Safdie conceived the design as series of intimate gardens and courts, rather than a superstructure. In 1987, the competition was won by another firm. Images on this page: 1 Aerial view of model Addis Ababa, Ethiopia