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Yidnekachew Mekonnen
We are destroying our historical downtown. The first ever mixed use multifamily multistory housing built by the Italians is razed. We saw it coming when it is embraced with skyscrappers and the closure of businesses inside. We saw it coming when the fenestration is removed.
We may never like the Italian occupation but they had their urban footprints in the city. They laid down the the downtown, the financial district in contemporary parlance, if you will, where everyone wants to show off.
We Addis Ababans will soon destroy all of our history of the built environment.
Rest in Power Palazzo Raitieri.
Franca Criveller noted “Addio vecchia Addis! Quanti ricordi !”
Giovanna Fiumana wrote the following.
“…Che peccato, non capisco perche distruggere i passaggi storici di una città. Non l ho capisco proprio. Addis Abeba era bella perché dalle costruzioni Etiopi Armeno Greco Ottomane, il razionalismo italiano, gli anni 50 60 70 grandi architetti europei aveva fatto di questa città una città africana particolare. Continuo a dire peccato…”
“… What a pity, I don’t understand why destroying the historical passages of a city. I don’t really understand it. Addis Ababa was beautiful because from the Ethiopian Armenian Greek Ottoman buildings, Italian rationalism, the 50s 60s 70s great European architects had made of this city a particular African city. I keep saying sin … “
