Architects In Africa

The architecture in Africa is exceptionally diverse. Ethno linguistic groups throughout the history of Africa have had their own architectural traditions. Broader styles can be identified, such as the Sahelian architecture of an area of West Africa. The Great Pyramids of Giza are regarded as one of the greatest architectural feats of all times and one of Seven Wonders of the "Ancient World".

African architecture has been subject to numerous external influences from the earliest periods for which evidence is available. Western architecture also makes an impact on coastal areas since the late 15th century. It is now becomes important source for many larger building particularly in major cities.

In 19th century, most building reflected the fashionable European ecleticsm and pastisched, Mediterranean, or even Northern European. Some of the buildings in Europe were Pre Fabricated and shipped over for erection. The European tradition continued well into the 20th century with the construction of European style manor houses which is like Shiwa Ng'andu in what is now Zambia or the Boer homesteads in south Africa.

The revival of interest in traditional styles can be traced to Cairo in the early Nineteenth Century. This gets spread to Algiers and Moroco by the early 20th century from which time colonial building across the continent began to pastiche elements of traditional African architecture. The Jamia Mosque in Nairobi being a typical example, Architects attempts to mix local and European styles such as at Bagamyo.

In between 1920 and 1930 the impact of modern architecture began to be felt. Le Corbusier designed several unbuilt schemes for Algeria including ones for Nemours and for the reconstruction of Algiers. Steffen Ahrens was active in south Africa and Ernst may in Nairobi and Mombasa.

The Italian futurists saw Asmara as an opportunity to build their designs, planned villages were constructed in Libya and Italian East Africa including the new town of Tripoli, all of these utilizing modern design.

Experimental designs have been appeared most notably the EastGate Centre Harare in Zimbabwe. This building was designed in such way that it should respond with climate of Harare's.

Some of the notable recent structures are world largest dams. The world largest reservoirs are Aswan High Dam and Akosombo Dam. Recent years bridge building, currently TransGarbon Railway is perhaps the last great railways which is being constructed.

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