A Modernist City, Frozen In Time

A treasure of early 20th century rationalist design lies in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea.

1 minute read

November 2, 2003, 7:00 AM PST

In the mid-1930s, Benito Mussolini chose Asmara, "a city planned and developed in the early 20th century by Italian colonizers," as a new base for expansion of his empire. Over the next six years, the Italian government constructed over 400 modern (or "rationalist," or "Facist") buildings there. "They built ministries, cinemas, commercial buildings, hotels, villas, parks and sports facilities" for "tens of thousands of Italian" settlers. World War II and Eritrea's war of independence from Ethiopia froze the city's development, meaning that minimal restoration work could restore Asmara to its original Modernist charm. Asmara's story is the subject of a new book by "MIT-trained architect and author" Naigzy Gebremedhin, entitled "Asmara: Africa's Secret Modernist City."

Thanks to David Gest

Read the full story: Asmara, Africa’s Horn of Architectural Plenty

Saturday, October 25, 2003 in The Washington Post

History / Preservation United States

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