SPATIAL INTERACTION AT BUILDING PLINTH

CHAPTER FIVE

CASE STUDY

5.1 Case study buildings

Mixed use building cases were arranged into categories representing principal factors or lessons
that can be learnt from them positioned in the urban fabric, human scale, variety of functions,
character of the architecture(façade), transition from private to public, parking facilities and
provision for sitting.
A1-2 A Building at the right side of Ras Hotel
Position in the urban fabric

This building is next to Ras hotel building located

along Gambia street. The street is occupied by
different commercial activities, hotels and office
buildings. The building is close to and oriented
towards the street and creates a walkable context
that is readable but lack continuity with arcaded
walkway along Gambia street.

Figure 16: Location map of A Building

at the right side of Ras Hotel

Human scale
The base of the building characterized with arcade to generate welcoming and pedestrian-
friendly situation, thus allow pedestrians to access the building and pass by to adjacent areas.

Figure 17: Lower level view

Variety of functions
The ground and mezzanine floor functions are active uses, such as shops, pharmacy, cafes
and street benders are there at the front of the building. Each functions accessed with their
own entrance which elevates the interaction and hence renders the street more active.

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Figure 18: Ground floor pan

Character of the architecture(façade)

Ground floor façade is massive stone material with transparent glass material and rich in
detail, interesting for pedestrians and incorporate front window functions.

Figure 19: Façade view

Transition from private to public and from public to private

Here pedestrian use the arcade space to pass through and use as walkway, since walkway
doesn’t exist at this area. Although the arcade is settled on elevated base that is easy to access
the building along arcade rather than from the front.

Public realm

Private
Public

Figure 20: Section

Parking facilities
Parking facilities are not integrated within the building, thus the parking activity taking place
at the front on the major street.

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Figure 21: Parking area

Provision for sitting

Users sit at the arcades space whileobserving activities at the streets, see people shop, sit and
drink.

Figure 22: Outdoor sitting area

A1-3 Flamingo Building

Position in the urban fabric

flamingo located In the Northern part of Bole

Road. The street is mainly aligned with hotels and
office building. The building oriented towards the
street and creates a walkable context for
pedestrians.

Figure 23: Location map of Flamingo Building (Source: Adapted from Re-discovering the 1960s architecture
of Africa’s capital city- Addis Modern)
Human scale
The mixed-use multi-story residential building consists of a double story podium. The
podium creates human scaled experience to pedestrians.

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Figure 24: Lower level view

Variety of functions
Ground floor functions contain shops, café and restaurant, accessed all the way through
pedestrian walkway. Each functions accessed through their own entrance.

Figure 25: Ground floor plan (Source: Adapted from Re-discovering the 1960s architecture of Africa’s capital
city- Addis Modern)

Character of the architecture(façade)

The tower has balconies alternates their position on each floor, with solids and voids,
recessed and protruded volumes, opened and closed elevations weaving into a complex
pattern. The ground floor façade characterizes by transparent material but cover by protective
metal grid

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