Italian Embassy in Nairobi
Nairobi (Kenya)
Conmpetition 2021
program: Construction of a new compound to house the Italian Embassy on the plot located on Limuru Road, Nairobi (Kenya), in the Muthaiga district
area: 2.400 sqm
client: Ambasciata d’Italia Nairobi
project: Alfonso Femia / Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia
images: ©Alfonso Femia & Diorama
Nairobi (Kenya)
Conmpetition 2021
program: Construction of a new compound to house the Italian Embassy on the plot located on Limuru Road, Nairobi (Kenya), in the Muthaiga district
area: 2.400 sqm
client: Ambasciata d’Italia Nairobi
project: Alfonso Femia / Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia
images: ©Alfonso Femia & Diorama
“The project will ensure the functionality of the complex while enhancing aspects of eco-sustainability, adaptability to the landscape and climate, through the use of local materials and technologies. These elements will be reinterpreted to achieve a combination of high aesthetic value, characteristic of Italian tradition, in harmony with local urban planning and environmental guidelines.”
The project aims to emphasize the representative role of the new Embassy as an expression of Italian identity in its various forms.
The proposed façade system is the result of a study of the site’s climatic data, in order to minimize the need for mechanical systems and reduce energy consumption. Solar analysis guided the design of the envelope, both in terms of the positioning of volumes and the balance between opaque and transparent surfaces.
The presence of porticoes and shading systems will allow for control of direct solar gain, giving the buildings the character of an urban landmark.
In the choice of the envelope, the reference to architectural elements from the past—reinterpreted in a contemporary formal language—creates a synthesis between technological innovation and the desire to communicate a strong sense of Italian identity.
The carved wooden elements that define the façades and roofs are in fact a contemporary reinterpretation of Mannerist decorative morphologies; they represent a fusion of tradition and innovation, of quality and creativity—qualities that have always defined the excellence of Made in Italy.
The proposed façade system is the result of a study of the site’s climatic data, in order to minimize the need for mechanical systems and reduce energy consumption. Solar analysis guided the design of the envelope, both in terms of the positioning of volumes and the balance between opaque and transparent surfaces.
The presence of porticoes and shading systems will allow for control of direct solar gain, giving the buildings the character of an urban landmark.
In the choice of the envelope, the reference to architectural elements from the past—reinterpreted in a contemporary formal language—creates a synthesis between technological innovation and the desire to communicate a strong sense of Italian identity.
The carved wooden elements that define the façades and roofs are in fact a contemporary reinterpretation of Mannerist decorative morphologies; they represent a fusion of tradition and innovation, of quality and creativity—qualities that have always defined the excellence of Made in Italy.