Awarding Ceremony for Rural Housing Competition

The Innovative Rural Housing competition, a unique architectural competition which aims to address the living conditions of Ethiopia’s rural communities, reaches its expected end on the 10th of February, 2007 at 6 pm, in the Awarding Ceremony, where the name of the winners will be disclosed.

In total more than 200,000 (two hundred thousand) Birr has been earmarked for prizes in the categories of professionals and students.

The purpose of the competition is to preserve the positive features of traditional rural housing and introduce modern amenities that would complement indigenous methods. This competition is also expected to illustrate the possibility of achieving better housing and communal facilities within the reach of means available. There is a conviction that realistic solutions based on actual income levels and affordable to a majority of the rural population are attainable.

The competition ran from 23rd October, 2006 to 23rd January, 2007, in professional and student categories, raising public expectations and attracting many talented entries. This event, which will address different solutions to the actual situation of rural housing in Ethiopia, is an exceptional opportunity to create awareness and to create innovation within architecture in rural areas. “This competition is the motor of a new generation of architecture in the rural areas, where traditional values and modern facilities will be combined in perfect harmony”, said Ato Tefera, Minister of Capacity Building.

The Association of Ethiopian Architects (AEA) invited members of the AEA, other registered architects, engineers, town planners, design offices and architecture students to participate in the Innovative Rural Housing competition. Winners were chosen by a jury of experts. 46 works have been submitted and their plans, sketches and models are going to be exhibited for two weeks from the awarding ceremony day (10^th – 23^rd February, 2007).

Engineering Capacity Building Program (ecbp) supports the competition. ecbp is committed to the rapid development of the Ethiopian economy through reform of universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), improved quality infrastructure, and promotion of the private sector.

The final winners will be announced at the Library Auditorium, Addis Ababa University Faculty of Technology, Northern Campus at 6pm on Saturday, February 10th, 2007. A reception will follow the official ceremony.

For more information please visit www.ecbp.biz

Students Category:

• 1^st Prize, 30.000 Birr to Zeray Weldesenbet
• 2^nd Prize, 20.000 Birr to Lawe Birhanu
• 3^rd Prize, 10.000 Birr to Haftom Girmay

Professionals Category:

• 1^st Prize, 100.000 Birr to Bet Consulting Architects and Tibabu Daniel
• 3^rd Prize, 30.000 Birr to Tilahun Bekele