First results of the restoration project of Addis Ababa’s historical heritage

The delegation from Politecnico and Centro Conservazione e Restauro della Venaria Reale

The delegation from Politecnico and Centro Conservazione e Restauro "La Venaria Reale" on a mission to Ethiopia

Politecnico di Torino's mission in Ethiopia marks the first steps in a project aimed at restoring and enhancing the historical and cultural heritage of Addis Ababa University. The initiative was entrusted to Politecnico by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation-MAECI and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

The first mission of the university to Addis Ababa took place from January 19 to 24, with the participation of the working group from the Department of Architecture and Design-DAD, the project coordinator.
The group included Michele Bonino, Director of DAD, Francesca De Filippi, Vicerector with a mandate for international cooperation, Emanuele Morezzi, Riccardo Rudiero, and Marco Simonetti from the Department of Energy "Galileo Ferraris" -DENERG, alongside a delegation from the Conservation and Restoration Center of Venaria Reale, a partner of the Politecnico in this initiative.

The DAD working group met with the Italian Embassy in Ethiopia, the AICS leadership, the Italian Cultural Institute in Addis Ababa, the leadership of Addis Ababa University (AAU), the management of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES), and the leaders of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA). These meetings aimed to align expectations, needs, and operational methods for interventions on the Genete Leul Palace, which currently houses the Ethnographic Museum, and the Sergio Leone Hall in the Allè School of Fine Arts and Design.

Additionally, the working group conducted several on-site inspections to carry out historical and technical analyses of the Palace. Located at the heart of Addis Ababa University's campus, the Palace is not only central in position but also in historical importance. These inspections provided a better understanding of its structure, condition, and historical significance. Technical and operational meetings with the project's key local stakeholders enabled the planning of short-, medium-, and long-term interventions. The goal is not only to preserve the building, constructed in the 1930s and remembered as "the first modern building in Addis Ababa" but also to modernize the Museum, transforming it into a vibrant hub for campus life rather than merely a site for conserving important artifacts.

Professor Francesca De Filippi stated: “The outcome of this first mission is undoubtedly positive. It has highlighted the significance of this initiative, as well as the willingness and commitment of all involved parties to collaborate for its success. The project is as complex and ambitious as it is rich with interesting opportunities for growth and collaboration. For this reason, we have involved multidisciplinary expertise from within the DAD department and the university. We are confident that this will be an important opportunity for dialogue and growth in an international context.”