Asmara: Africa's secret modernist city

Viac o knihe

Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, is a significant architectural discovery, renowned for its high concentration of Modernist architecture from the 1930s, primarily built by Italians. Often referred to as "the Miami of Africa," the city became a hub for radical architectural experimentation due to the colonial government's urgency to build, allowing innovations that were not typically accepted in conservative European contexts. This unique environment positioned Asmara as a leading site for architectural innovation during the Modern Movement. Remarkably, many of these structures have survived, making Asmara one of the finest Modernist cities globally. The city's extraordinary history, detailed at the book's outset, has helped preserve its architectural legacy amidst the destruction of war and land exploitation seen elsewhere. Since Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia in 1991, awareness of Asmara's architectural significance has grown, yet this legacy has not been comprehensively published until now. This groundbreaking survey, featuring rare archival materials and specially commissioned photographs, is poised to become a pivotal resource on Modernist architecture in recent decades.