🌼 Design Spotlight: How the Meskel Wof Inspired the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa 🌼
Happy Meskel season! As Adey Abeba blankets the highlands, the yellow bloom also marks the arrival of the Meskel Wof—the seasonal birds that herald this time of year in Ethiopia.
Beyond being a central city landmark, the interior architecture of the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa was built around a biomimetic design concept: translating local birdlife directly into lighting, texture, and color palettes.
Instead of generic modern decor, the interior design explicitly channels two endemic species—the vibrant blue Turaco and the Ethiopian guinea fowl. Here is how that concept translates into the space:
✦ The Blue Glass Bird Chandelier (Reception):
Suspended right over the front desk is a massive, glowing installation composed of hundreds of individual blue glass birds. Modeled after the Turaco, it sets a vivid blue accent that runs throughout the main public areas.
✦ Bird-Nest Lighting (Lobby Lounge):
In the lobby, the motif shifts from the bird itself to its environment. The custom metal and glass light fixtures are woven in an organic, chaotic geometry designed to mimic a bird's nest.
✦ Feather Motifs (Ballroom):
The crystal chandeliers in the main ballroom are sculpted in sweeping, continuous curves that mirror the fluid lines of bird feathers in flight.
✦ Guinea Fowl Textures (Guestrooms):
In the private guest quarters, the focus moves to the spotted, rhythmic plumage of the Ethiopian guinea fowl. High-contrast, black-and-white architectural photography of these feather patterns serves as the primary wall art.
It is a solid example of how local ecology and seasonal culture can drive modern interior architecture without falling back on cliché cultural motifs.
Happy Meskel to everyone celebrating! 💛🔥
@unityarch
Happy Meskel season! As Adey Abeba blankets the highlands, the yellow bloom also marks the arrival of the Meskel Wof—the seasonal birds that herald this time of year in Ethiopia.
Beyond being a central city landmark, the interior architecture of the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa was built around a biomimetic design concept: translating local birdlife directly into lighting, texture, and color palettes.
Instead of generic modern decor, the interior design explicitly channels two endemic species—the vibrant blue Turaco and the Ethiopian guinea fowl. Here is how that concept translates into the space:
✦ The Blue Glass Bird Chandelier (Reception):
Suspended right over the front desk is a massive, glowing installation composed of hundreds of individual blue glass birds. Modeled after the Turaco, it sets a vivid blue accent that runs throughout the main public areas.
✦ Bird-Nest Lighting (Lobby Lounge):
In the lobby, the motif shifts from the bird itself to its environment. The custom metal and glass light fixtures are woven in an organic, chaotic geometry designed to mimic a bird's nest.
✦ Feather Motifs (Ballroom):
The crystal chandeliers in the main ballroom are sculpted in sweeping, continuous curves that mirror the fluid lines of bird feathers in flight.
✦ Guinea Fowl Textures (Guestrooms):
In the private guest quarters, the focus moves to the spotted, rhythmic plumage of the Ethiopian guinea fowl. High-contrast, black-and-white architectural photography of these feather patterns serves as the primary wall art.
It is a solid example of how local ecology and seasonal culture can drive modern interior architecture without falling back on cliché cultural motifs.
Happy Meskel to everyone celebrating! 💛🔥
@unityarch
❤3
Ruspoli's Turaco, an endemic ethiopian bird
🏙️ Dubai Then & Now
These photographs show just how dramatically Dubai has transformed in a few decades.
In the early days of Sheikh Zayed Road, the Toyota Building stood almost alone in the open desert.
Today the same area is surrounded by skyscrapers, highways, and the Metro.
Places that were once empty desert or sea — Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, JBR, Bluewaters, and the coastline — are now some of the city’s busiest districts.
Even the Dubai World Trade Centre (opened in 1979), which once stood in near isolation, is now part of a vast and constantly growing city.
A powerful example of rapid urban growth and ambitious city-making.
What do you think about this kind of transformation?
#Architecture #UrbanDesign #Dubai #UrbanTransformation #CityPlanning #Skyscrapers #SheikhZayedRoad #PalmJumeirah #DubaiMarina #EthiopianArchitecture #UUAS #UnityUniversity #AddisAbaba #AfricanCities #UrbanDevelopment
@unityarch
These photographs show just how dramatically Dubai has transformed in a few decades.
In the early days of Sheikh Zayed Road, the Toyota Building stood almost alone in the open desert.
Today the same area is surrounded by skyscrapers, highways, and the Metro.
Places that were once empty desert or sea — Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, JBR, Bluewaters, and the coastline — are now some of the city’s busiest districts.
Even the Dubai World Trade Centre (opened in 1979), which once stood in near isolation, is now part of a vast and constantly growing city.
A powerful example of rapid urban growth and ambitious city-making.
What do you think about this kind of transformation?
#Architecture #UrbanDesign #Dubai #UrbanTransformation #CityPlanning #Skyscrapers #SheikhZayedRoad #PalmJumeirah #DubaiMarina #EthiopianArchitecture #UUAS #UnityUniversity #AddisAbaba #AfricanCities #UrbanDevelopment
@unityarch
🤯3❤2
☁️ Tirana Fountain Plaza by BIG
Architecture studio BIG has revealed plans for a striking mixed-use building in Tirana, Albania.
Named Tirana Fountain Plaza, the cloud-like structure is cloaked in layers of white disks and raised on slim white columns above Rinia Park.
It will house: • Apartments
• Offices
• Cultural spaces
• Water features
The design keeps the ground level largely open, turning the base into a generous public plaza.
A soft, floating presence that prioritizes public space while adding density above.
What do you think of this elevated, cloud-inspired approach?
#Architecture #BIG #BjarkeIngels #Tirana #UrbanDesign #MixedUse #PublicSpace #CloudArchitecture #FountainPlaza #ContemporaryArchitecture #EthiopianArchitecture #UUAS #UnityUniversity #AddisAbaba #AfricanArchitecture
@unityarch
Architecture studio BIG has revealed plans for a striking mixed-use building in Tirana, Albania.
Named Tirana Fountain Plaza, the cloud-like structure is cloaked in layers of white disks and raised on slim white columns above Rinia Park.
It will house: • Apartments
• Offices
• Cultural spaces
• Water features
The design keeps the ground level largely open, turning the base into a generous public plaza.
A soft, floating presence that prioritizes public space while adding density above.
What do you think of this elevated, cloud-inspired approach?
#Architecture #BIG #BjarkeIngels #Tirana #UrbanDesign #MixedUse #PublicSpace #CloudArchitecture #FountainPlaza #ContemporaryArchitecture #EthiopianArchitecture #UUAS #UnityUniversity #AddisAbaba #AfricanArchitecture
@unityarch
❤6
🎓💚 WELCOME TO CAMPUSGO! 🛵📦
• Unity University
Your campus, your needs — delivered! ✨
Are you busy with classes, assignments, or studio projects? Foods, Need stationery, printing, snacks, or daily essentials without leaving campus?
CampusGo is here to make your student life easier! 💚
🛍️ OUR SERVICES
🖨️ Printing & Photocopying
🥤 Snacks & Drinks
🛒 Daily Essentials
📦 Small Errands
📚 Stationery & Architecture Supplies
We will delivere Anything
From home to campus
From campus to home
✨ WHY CAMPUSGO?
✅ Convenient ordering
✅ Saves your valuable time
✅ Delivery right on campus
✅ Designed with students in mind
📲 HOW TO GET STARTED
1️⃣ Contact us: 📞 0936777539
2️⃣ Tell us what you need.
3️⃣ Share your campus location.(blocks)
4️⃣ Confirm your order and delivery fee.
5️⃣ Receive your order! 🛍️✨
💚 Let's make campus life easier, together!
🛵 CAMPUSGO — YOUR CAMPUS, OUR DELIVERY!
አንተ ተማር፣ እኛ እናደርሳለን! 🎓🛵
• Unity University
Your campus, your needs — delivered! ✨
Are you busy with classes, assignments, or studio projects? Foods, Need stationery, printing, snacks, or daily essentials without leaving campus?
CampusGo is here to make your student life easier! 💚
🛍️ OUR SERVICES
🖨️ Printing & Photocopying
🥤 Snacks & Drinks
🛒 Daily Essentials
📦 Small Errands
📚 Stationery & Architecture Supplies
We will delivere Anything
From home to campus
From campus to home
✨ WHY CAMPUSGO?
✅ Convenient ordering
✅ Saves your valuable time
✅ Delivery right on campus
✅ Designed with students in mind
📲 HOW TO GET STARTED
1️⃣ Contact us: 📞 0936777539
2️⃣ Tell us what you need.
3️⃣ Share your campus location.(blocks)
4️⃣ Confirm your order and delivery fee.
5️⃣ Receive your order! 🛍️✨
💚 Let's make campus life easier, together!
🛵 CAMPUSGO — YOUR CAMPUS, OUR DELIVERY!
አንተ ተማር፣ እኛ እናደርሳለን! 🎓🛵
We will delivere from anywhere to anywhere!!
❤5
🏛️ Faculty of Law, Tirana | UDV Architects
A visionary university project that blends academic space with nature.
The design creates an organic public landscape of green spaces, walkways, and gathering areas that invite students and the public to study, meet, and collaborate.
A green membrane wraps the building, strengthening its connection to the outside, while a compact two-story transparent volume houses multifunctional spaces — library, exhibition halls, meeting rooms, social areas, and cafeterias.
The result is a building that feels both monumental in the city and in harmony with its surroundings.
A strong example of how educational architecture can open up to the public and the landscape.
What do you think of this approach?
#Architecture #UniversityArchitecture #UDVArchitects #Tirana #EducationalDesign #GreenArchitecture #PublicSpace #LandscapeIntegration #ContemporaryArchitecture #EthiopianArchitecture #UUAS #UnityUniversity #AddisAbaba #AfricanArchitecture
@unityarch
A visionary university project that blends academic space with nature.
The design creates an organic public landscape of green spaces, walkways, and gathering areas that invite students and the public to study, meet, and collaborate.
A green membrane wraps the building, strengthening its connection to the outside, while a compact two-story transparent volume houses multifunctional spaces — library, exhibition halls, meeting rooms, social areas, and cafeterias.
The result is a building that feels both monumental in the city and in harmony with its surroundings.
A strong example of how educational architecture can open up to the public and the landscape.
What do you think of this approach?
#Architecture #UniversityArchitecture #UDVArchitects #Tirana #EducationalDesign #GreenArchitecture #PublicSpace #LandscapeIntegration #ContemporaryArchitecture #EthiopianArchitecture #UUAS #UnityUniversity #AddisAbaba #AfricanArchitecture
@unityarch
❤8