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February 16, 2026

Could We Have 13 Million New Tiles Please? The Astonishing £42m Rebirth of Modernist Masterpiece Africa Hall

Hailed as one of the defining achievements of African architecture, the historic, recently refurbished Ethiopian landmark has now won the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism prize

Could We Have 13 Million New Tiles Please? The Astonishing £42m Rebirth of Modernist Masterpiece Africa Hall

TL;DR

  • Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, designed by Arturo Mezzedimi, is recognized as a defining achievement of African modernism.
  • The building hosted the 1963 founding meeting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
  • A £42 million, decade-long restoration project was completed in 2024.
  • The restored Africa Hall has won the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism prize, marking the first time an African building has received this award.
  • Restoration efforts included reglazing the facade, replicating mosaic tiles, restoring custom furniture, and enhancing seismic resilience.
  • The building features significant artworks, including a mural by Nenne Sanguineti Poggi and a stained glass triptych by Afewerk Tekle.

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