Created over a decade ago, the memorial is defined as "a socially horizontal space” by Studio Other Spaces (SOS), where artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann joined forces in 2014. The first images have recently been unveiled.
Located in the north end of the capital Addis Ababa, Meles Zenawi Memorial Park brings together 7 memorial pavilions and 5 buildings, installed along a 2.4 km (1.5 mile) walking trail. While paying tribute to the country's history and opening perspectives on its future, the complex was built by combining traditional craft techniques (such as wall plastering used in the city of Harar) and local materials, with modern know-how. The park also houses a research centre and a library.
© Studio Other Spaces
Olafur Eliasson, who was a longstanding visiting professor at the Ale School of Fine Art and Design at Addis Ababa University, details his ambitions. "Walking in this recreational spot entails taking in history actively – walking makes history felt and embodied. We hope that visitors will experience it as a generous public space that welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and opinions – friends, supporters, and political adversaries alike."
Cover image: Guest House, Meles Zenawi Memorial Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2013 – © Studio Other Spaces. Photo: Vogt Landscape
