© United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
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Inaugurated in 1961 by Emperor Haile Selassie, Africa Hall in Addis Ababa was for decades the tangible symbol of African unity and independence. Designed by Italian architect Arturo Mezzedimi, this modernist building housed the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and represented the optimism of an era in which newly independent African states dreamed of a strong and autonomous continent.
After more than ten years of work and an investment of approximately 57 million dollars, the Australian studio Architectus (in collaboration with local experts) has completed an exemplary restoration that has just received the World Monuments Fund / Knoll Modernism Prize 2026. It is the first time an African project has won this international award, dedicated to the conservation of modernist heritage.
The intervention was delicate and profound: the original spirit of the building was respected — its mosaics, furniture designed by Mezzedimi, concrete structure, and large windows — while updating its energy efficiency, accessibility, and functionality for the 21st century. Millions of tiles were restored one by one, and the hall once again became a vibrant space for diplomacy, culture, and pan-African gatherings.
Beyond the technical aspects, this restoration carries a strong emotional component. It returns to Ethiopia one of its most beloved icons, reminding us that modernism was not merely a European import: it was a tool for nation-building adapted to African contexts. Today, Africa Hall not only tells the story of independence; it continues it with dignity and a forward-looking vision.
