Ketema Journal

📣 SAVE THE DATE 📣
AEA 26th Annual General Assembly & Convention 2026
The Association of Ethiopian Architects (AEA) is pleased to invite all members to its 26th Annual General Assembly and Convention, taking place on October 30–31, 2026, at Eliana Hotel, Addis Ababa.
This two-day gathering will create a platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, networking, and important discussions shaping the future of architecture in Ethiopia.
📅 Day 1 | October 30
Convention & Exhibition: Keynote Address, Masterclasses, Panel Discussions, Exhibitions, and Networking.
📅 Day 2 | October 31
General Assembly: President’s and Auditors’ Reports, Panel Discussions, Institutional Matters, and Motions.
🎉 This year’s gathering also marks a special milestone as AEA celebrates its 35th Anniversary, honoring its journey and contributions to the architectural profession.
Stay tuned for more details.
#AEA #26thAGA #35YearsOfAEA #Architecture #BuiltEnvironment

Join us for an orientation session on the
REGENERATE MERCATO: Urban Regeneration Competition
organized in connection with Italian Design Day 2026. Led by renowned Ethiopian architect Arch. Fasil Giorghis, the session will introduce architecture students to the competition’s vision, objectives, and participation requirements, inviting them to develop creative ideas for regenerating Mercato, one of Addis Ababa’s most significant urban and economic centers. The competition winner will have the opportunity to participate in an educational experience at a prestigious university in Italy.
📅 12 October 2026 | 11:00 AM
📍 Addis Ababa University, Lideta Branch – Swedish Pavilion

AEA 35th Anniversary Logo Design Competition-Call for Entries 🎉
AEA is turning 35-and we're inviting the next generation of Ethiopian architects to help us mark it.
Current architecture students and 2026 graduates are invited to design our official 35th Anniversary logo-a mark that honors our history while speaking to where the profession is headed.

📐 Open to: current architecture students & 2026 graduates (individuals or teams)
🎨 Theme: "AEA 35 Years"
🏆 Prize: official AEA certificate, public recognition, and the winning design becomes AEA's official anniversary logo
📅 Submissions open: 6 September 2026 | Window: 2 weeks | Winner announced: 25 September 2026
📧 Submit entries to: [email protected]
🗣 A short virtual info session will be held a few days after this announcement to answer questions and share clarifications-details coming soon.
📄 Full Terms of Reference & technical submission specifications:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HpMbSpYC2HKTzoVB6BM0j8Nw_udyl4lD/view?usp=drive_link

Addis Modern
A solo Exhibition by Yohannes Girma

Beyond building, Layered stories.

Explores the older buildings of Addis Ababa as living records of memory, transformation, and collective life. Each work reflects the hidden stories embedded in the city's architecture.

Creative Hub Ethiopia
May 16-17, 2026
3:00PM-7:00PM
16 May-14 June, 2026
Creative Hub Ethiopia, Arada Post Office, Addis Ababa.

Happening this afternoon!
At the AAU School of Built Environments
former EiABC, Swedish Pavilion.

Don't miss it!

Good Evening, Colleagues and friends.
architects ወርሃዊ is back with a unique & interesting session!

Our 54th session will be on "Spaces of Worship: King Nejashi Mosque and Islamic Center with Abdi Mohammed (ATM Designers PLC) "

🗓 Date : May 7th,2026
⏰ Time : 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Venue: Creative Hub, Piassa
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KdGfFjDk1Zc1bU2p6

Pre registration is required on the Google Form attached to attend.
https://forms.gle/hzEKMonJa3H3cBkF8

Come and meet friends, build your network!
See you all on Thursday for architects ወርሃዊ.

Be part of our story.

As the Association of Ethiopian Architects (AEA) celebrates 35 years (1991–2026), we invite architects, researchers, urbanists, academics, students, and practitioners to contribute to our special commemorative journal.

We welcome original contributions exploring architecture and the built environment in Ethiopia and beyond, including:

Built Projects | Research & Essays | Urban Insights | Student Theses

Let’s document our journey, reflect on our practice, and inspire the future of architecture in Ethiopia.

📅 Deadline: 10 October 2026
📩 Submit: [email protected]

#AEA35 #AssociationOfEthiopianArchitects #ArchitectureEthiopia #EthiopianArchitecture #OpenCall #ArchitectureJournal

EIC ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION

The Association of Ethiopian Architects (AEA), in collaboration with the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC), is inviting Category I Consulting Architects (CA) and Consulting Architects & Engineers (CAE) who are AEA Firm Members to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the: EIC Eastern District 3B+G+17 Mixed Commercial Building Project – Architectural Design Competition.

The project is located in Kirkos Subcity, Wereda 08, Addis Ababa, and the EOI serves as the pre-qualification stage for the subsequent design competition.

📅 EOI Submission Deadline:
31 August 2026 | Before 2:30 P.M.


Firm Members: Please check your registered AEA membership email for the complete EOI document and submission requirements.

Didn't receive the email?
Your firm membership details may need to be updated or your membershi

Dear Readers,

This issue explores how architecture can shape not only places, but also memory, well-being, and our relationship with the city. Our cover story visits a remarkable wellness sanctuary beside the Jubilee Palace, where architecture chooses restraint over spectacle. Seamlessly embedded into the landscape, the project transforms water, light, and topography into essential design elements, creating spaces that promote healing through careful sequencing, sensory experience, and technical precision. It demonstrates that contemporary luxury can emerge from quiet integration with nature rather than visual dominance.

We also had the opportunity to explore Addis Modern, an exhibition by architect and visual artist Yohannes Girma that invites us to see Addis Ababa through a different lens.

Check it out! 👇
https://ketemajournal.com/v-38-flipbook/

MAY • JUNE • 2026

Printed versions available at:
Tomoca Coffee
And more destinations

@ketema_journal

Evaconet (Eva Construction Network) የግንባታ ኢንዱስትሪውን በቴክኖሎጂ፣ በዲጂታል ትስስር እና በፈጠራ ለማዘመን የተዘጋጀ ዘመናዊ ፕላትፎርም ነው።
አምራቾችን፣ አቅራቢዎችን፣ ኮንትራክተሮችን፣ አርክቴክቶችን፣ ኢንጂነሮችን፣ አማካሪዎችን፣ ባለሀብቶችን፣ ቤት ሰሪዎችን እና ደንበኞችን በአንድ ዲጂታል መድረክ በማገናኘት የግንባታውን ገበያ እና የእውቀት ልውውጥ ያዘምናል።
በምረቃው ቀን የሚጠብቃችሁ
- በኢትዮጵያ የዩኒቨርሲቲ የአርክቴክቸር ተማሪዎች የፈጠራ የዲዛይን ውድድር
- የኮንስትራክሽን አልባሳት ፈጠራን የሚያሳይ ልዩ Fashion Show
- ዘላቂ (Sustainable) ዲዛይን፣ AI እና Smart Building ሀሳቦች
- የዩኒቨርሲቲዎችን ፈጠራ ከኢንዱስትሪው ጋር የሚያገናኝ መድረክ

📅 ቀን: ቅዳሜ ሐምሌ 18 ቀን 2018 ዓ.ም.
🕐 ሰዓት: ከቀኑ 7:00ሰአት ጀምሮ
📍 ቦታ: አዲስ አበባ፣ አመልድ ህንፃ 4ኛ ፎቅ፣ Bejai Nerash የቢሮ አዳራሽ
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hCRVNnF6WvH19xB28
🌐 www.evaconet.com
ሁላችሁም በክብር ተጋብዛችኋል! 🙏
#Evaconet #ConstructionInnovation #DigitalConstruction #Architecture #Engineering #SmartBuildings #SustainableDesign #Ethiopia #Innovation #ConstructionTechnology

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
AEA Members are invited to register for a Free Technical Training on Design, Compliance & Civil Readiness for Lift Installations, organized by Schindler in collaboration with Tana Engineering.

Register here:
https://forms.gle/m3LTymBTNuVn2rmx5

Make sure your membership is updated before you register.

Date, time, and venue will be communicated to registered participants.

Join us for the closing celebration of Addis Modern a journey through Ethiopia's modernist architectural heritage, brought to life through paintings, documentary film, and meticulously crafted architectural models. This is your final opportunity to experience the stories, forms, light, and legacy that have shaped the city's identity.

But the evening doesn't end there.

Discover how architecture continues to inspire contemporary creativity through an exclusive Creative Talk and a special showcase by Tibebu Collection by Bezawit, where fashion meets architecture. Inspired by the bold lines, textures, and geometric forms of modernist buildings, the collection reimagines Ethiopia's architectural heritage through wearable design.

Join architects, designers, artists, and creative minds for an evening of dialogue, inspiration, and celebration as we explore how the past continues to shape the future of creative expression.

📅 July 18, 2026
🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Creative Hub Ethiopia

Call for applications for admission to graduate programs for the First Semester of 2026/27 (2019 E.C.) Academic Year

Addis Ababa University (AAU) has opened up the call for the academic year of 2026/27(2019 E.C.) first semester in Masters (regular and extension) as well as PhD programs listed on the link https://admission.aau.edu.et/GraduatePrograms.

Applicants are required to follow the steps described in the details:

See the link for more details:
 https://www.aau.edu.et/announcements/detail?title=Call~for~applications~for~admission~to~graduate~programs~for~the~First~Semester~of~2026/27~(2019~E.C.)~Academic~Year

Italian Smart Living 2026 Comes to Addis Ababa

The second edition of Italian Smart Living will take place from July 7–9, 2026, at the Ethiopia Science Museum in Addis Ababa.

Bringing together Italian excellence in design, architecture, smart living, construction materials, and interior solutions, the event creates a platform for collaboration between Ethiopia and Italy.

Highlights include:

☑️ Italian design and smart living exhibition
☑️ High-level discussions on sustainable cities and construction
☑️ B2B matchmaking sessions
☑️ Italian Design Masterclass
☑️ Urban Regeneration Competition for Addis Ababa
☑️ Networking opportunities with industry leaders

As Ethiopia continues to invest in urban development, hospitality, and modern housing, Italian Smart Living 2026 opens new opportunities for architects, developers, investors, designers, and manufacturers.

📍 Ethiopia Science Museum, Addis Ababa
📅 July 7-9, 2026

Contact for participation:
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +251 710 818 782

ትምህርታዊ ንግግር
በ: ዳዊት በንቲ
ርዕስ: Architectural Echoes: Regionalist Modernism in 1960s Addis Ababa
ቀን: ሰኔ 11 2018 ዓም
ቦታ: አዲስ አበባ ዩኒቨርስቲ ዋናው ግቢ ራስ መኮንን አዳራሽ
ሰዐት: 9:00

ህንጻ ነዳፊ እና መምህር ዳዊት በንቲ ሐሙስ ሰኔ 11 ቀን 2018 ዓም (June 18 2026 እኤአ) በ 9 ሰአት አዲስአበባ ዩኒቨርስቲ ዋናው ግቢ ባለው በ ራስ መኮንን አዳራሽ ውስጥ ትምህርታዊ ንግግር ያደርጋል። ንግግሩ በ1950ዎቹ እና 60ዎቹ በነበረው ወርቃማው የኪነህንጻ ወቅት በነበረው አትኩሮተ አውድ ላይ ያጠነጥናል።

ሁሉም ሰው ተጋብዟል።

Society of Friends of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies
@ethiopianarchitectureandurbanism

Heritage Reimagined: Adaptive Reuse of a Historic Residence
Join us for a guided tour and panel discussion on the restoration and adaptive reuse of Dejazmach Ayalew Birru’s Residence, a heritage property with over a century of history.
As part of the Architecture in Practice: Project Review Series, participants will explore the restored compound and engage with the architects and contractors behind the project, discussing key challenges, decisions, and lessons from the restoration process.
🗓 Saturday, June 20, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Around Mega Building, Olympia
✔️ Detailed location shared with confirmed participants
🎟 Limited Capacity
✔️ Confirmation via email and SMS by June 18
✔️ Selection based on AEA membership status, balanced participant representation, and registration time
Register: https://cutt.ly/nt3Ar6vF
#ArchitectureInPractice #ProjectReviewSeries #AdaptiveReuse #HeritageConservation #AEA #EthiopianArchitecture

OPEN CALL: STUDENT PROJECTS

The Pan-African Biennale invites students from across the African continent and its diaspora to submit projects engaging with African urban futures.

Open to students in architecture, urban design, planning, art, design, and related disciplines. Individual and group submissions accepted.

Up to 20 projects will be exhibited during opening week.

Submission Deadline: June 15, 2026
Notification: July 14, 2026
Biennale Dates: September 7 to 11, 2026, Nairobi

Apply via the link here.

@ketema_journal

የተከበሩ አቶ ካሳ ገብሬ
1926 -2018 ዓ.ም

ከቀደምት ኢትዮጵያዊ መሃንደሶች አንዱ የነበሩት ክቡር አቶ ካሳ ገብሬ ማረፋቸውን ከጥልቅ ኅዘን ጋር እናሳውቃለን።

አቶ ካሳ በምህንድስና፣ በከተማ ልማትና በመሠረተ ልማት ግንባታ ዘርፍ ለአገራቸው ከፍተኛ አሻራ ያሳረፉ ሲሆን፣ በትምህርት ሚኒስቴር ዋና መሃንዲስ፣ በከተማ ልማት ሚኒስትርና በሕንጻ ኮንስትራክሽን ሚኒስትርነት አገልግለዋል።

የጣና በለስ ግድብ፣ የቀይ መስቀል ሕንጻ፣ ዋቢ ሸበሌ ሆቴል፣ አክሱም ጽዮን ቤተ ክርስቲያን ፣ ፍልውሃ ሕንጻዎች፣ አየር ማረፊያዎች፣ ፋብሪካዎች፣ የወታደር ማሰልጠኛ ካምፖችና በርካታ የከተማ ፕላኖችና ድልድዮች ከታላላቅ ሥራዎቻቸው መካከል ይጠቀሳሉ።

የቀብር ሥነ ሥርዓታቸው
ሰኞ፣ ግንቦት 24 ቀን 2018 ዓ.ም
ዋሺንግተን ዲሲ በሚገኘው ደብረ ኃይል ቅዱስ ገብርኤል ካቴድራል ይፈፀማል። በአዲስ አበባ የመታሰቢያ ፕሮግራም በቀጣይ ቀናት ይካሄዳል።

ለባለቤታቸው፣ ለልጆቻቸው፣ የሙያ እና የሥራ ባልደረቦቻቸውና ለወዳጆቻቸው መጽናናትን እንመኛለን።

Join us for an intimate listening session of the first episode of Beneath the Concrete.

Episode 01: The Truth About African Architecture

Gather with fellow architects, designers, and curious minds to experience the episode together, connect with the host, and take part in an open conversation around the narratives shaping our cities and communities.

📅 Date: June 6 2026
🕒 Time: 9:30am - 12:00pm

🎧 Bring your own headphones
🥤 Light refreshments available
📩 RSVP here https://forms.gle/Ja44XxwkrR5d882x8
📍 Location: Harrari Cafe (next to Tee keks) Ghion Riverside Cafes, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia . https://share.google/OiXONG3kv5YJHmhO1

https://beneaththeconcrete.substack.com/

Dear Readers,

In this issue, we explore Wanchi Eco-Lodge, set within the dramatic landscape of the Wanchi Crater Lake basin west of Addis Ababa, offers a thoughtful exploration of how architecture can respond to place without overwhelming it. Developed as part of Ethiopia’s “Dine for the Nation” initiative, the project reflects a quieter architectural ambition—one centered on belonging rather than spectacle.

The reinterpretation of the traditional tukul dwelling becomes central to the project, transformed through contemporary openings that frame the surrounding landscape while still retaining echoes of its original spatial character.

Check it out! 👇
https://ketemajournal.com/v-37-flipbook/

MARCH • APRIL • 2026

Printed versions available at:
Tomoca Coffee
And more destinations

@ketema_journal

Dear Readers,

In this special issue, we celebrate the completion and inauguration of the largest hydropower project in Africa, GERD.

Officially inaugurated on 9th of September 2025, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is far more than an infrastructure project; it is the physical embodiment of a nation’s collective will. Financed and built by its people, it transforms the long-untapped power of the Nile into a beacon of light, industry, and national pride. GERD represents a defiant step into a self-determined future, balancing Ethiopia’s aspirations with regional responsibility, and proving that a nation’s greatest resource is the unity of its people.

Check it out! 👇
https://ketemajournal.com/v-35-flipbook/
https://ketemajournal.com/v-35/

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER • 2025

Printed versions available at:
Abrehot Library
Tomoca Coffee (all branches)
And more destinations

Visiting FINEX is not about browsing — it’s about making informed decisions. In four focused days, visitors compare furniture, interior, and finishing solutions, speak directly with suppliers, and evaluate real options for real projects.
🗓 27 January – 30 February 2026
📍 Addis International Convention Center (AICC), Addis Ababa
Planning is on your list for 2026, FINEX belongs on your calendar.
#FINEX #VisitorBenefits #FurnitureExpo #InteriorSolutions.

ራዕይዎን ወደ ተግባር የሚቀይሩበት ጊዜ!
የሃገራችን የግንባታ እንቅስቃሴ በከፍተኛ ፍጥነት እያደገ ነው። እርስዎስ በዚህ የገበያ ፉክክር ውስጥ ቀዳሚ ለመሆን ዝግጁ ነዎት? ለፕሮጀክቶችዎ ስኬት ቁልፉ "ጥራት፣ ፈጠራ እና ትክክለኛ አጋር" ማግኘት ነው።
ለዚህም ነው ፊንቴክስ (FINTEX) ን እንዳያመልጥዎ የምንለው!
ይህ ኤክስፖ ፤ የዘርፉ መሪዎች የሚገናኙበት፣ ትልልቅ የጅምላ አቅርቦት ስምምነቶች የሚፈረሙበት እና የነገው የኢትዮጵያ ህንጻዎች ውበት የሚቀረጽበት ልዩ የንግድ (B2B) መድረክ ነው።
ለሪል እስቴት አልሚዎች፣የተለያዩ ሀንጻና መኖሪያ ቤት ገንቢው፡አርክቴክቸሮች፡ የዘርፉ ማህበራት ለኮንትራክተሮች፡ ለሆቴል ባለቤቶች የሚሆኑ እና ሌሎችም፦

✅ ዘመናዊ ፈርኒቸሮች (Furniture): ለቢሮ እና ለቤት የሚሆኑ ጥራት ያላቸው አቅርቦቶች።
✅ የማጠናቀቂያ ግብዓቶች (Finishing Materials): ከወለል እስከ ጣሪያ የሚሆኑ የቅርብ ጊዜ ቴክኖሎጂዎች።
✅ የውስጥ ውበት መፍትሄዎች (Interior Solutions): ለቦታዎ ነፍስ የሚዘሩ የዲዛይን ጥበቦች።

ጊዜዎን ይቆጥቡ፣ ከትክክለኛዎቹ ዓለም አቀፍ እና አገር በቀል አቅራቢዎች ጋር ይገናኙ!

ቀጠሮ ይያዙ: ከጥር 21 እስከ 24 ቀን 2018 ዓ.ም
ቦታ: በአዲሱ አዲስ ኢንተርናሽናል ኮንቬንሽን ሴንተር (AICC)
ለመመዝገብ
📞 0913 356 709
📧 [email protected]
🔗 http://www.fintexaddis.com/ ን ይጎብኙ

Call for Proposals 📢

The Embassy of France in Ethiopia and to the African Union has put out a call for proposals for the National Museum of Ethiopia exhibition scenography design and implementation.

The call is for consultancy services including:

Concept Development
Spatial Design
Material & Technical Guidance
Documentation
Advisory Role

Please refer to the link below to access the RfP and the four annexed documents for full details, including documents required for application.
https://et.ambafrance.org/Call-for-proposals

Submission deadline:
January 30th, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

No applications will be accepted after the deadline.

📐 Architecture in Practice: In Ethiopia and North America

Join Merachew Mersha Sahle, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, as he shares insights from 27 years of architectural practice across Ethiopia and the United States; covering design leadership, project delivery, and working across cultures.

📅 Dec 31, 2025 | 🕠 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 The Urban Center

🔗 Registration is mandatory
Link : https://forms.gle/myKAwq5Sy29d5CuL6


#Architecture #Innovation p #DesignThinking #UrbanDevelopment #DesignInspiration #ProfessionalJourney

The Association of Ethiopian Architects has been selected as a recipient of the 2017 E.C. Grand African Successful Organization and Best Leadership Higher Honor Award by the Grand African Institutions and Leadership Awards Organization, and received the trophy, medal, and Higher Honor Diploma on December 21, 2025.
This recognition was granted following a comprehensive evaluation process that included on-site assessments and feedback gathered from clients and stakeholders, based on key criteria such as institutional longevity and reputation, innovation and digitalization, branding, leadership excellence, corporate social responsibility, and overall organizational performance.
This prestigious honor is the result of the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and collective effort of our members, as well as past and present Executive Committee members. This recognition belongs to each and every one of you, and stands as a shared milestone in the continued advancement and excellence of our Association.

✨🏛 JU ASA EXHIBITION — 3 DAYS LEFT! 🏛✨

The countdown is on. In just 3 days, the campus transforms into a space of ideas, creativity, and architectural expression.

Explore student works, models, drawings, art pieces, and visual displays — all brought together in one immersive exhibition experience.

👥 Guests are invited
🎓 Open to all batches & all fields
📅 December 27

Don’t just hear about it — come experience it.
Join us and be part of the moment.

Join us
https://www.instagram.com/ju.asa_ | https://www.tiktok.com/@ju_asa | https://t.me/JU_ASA

#JUASA #JUASAExhibition #3DaysLeft #CampusExhibition #StudentWork #ArchitectureLife #ComingSoon #AllBatches

የኢትዮጵያ አርክቴክቶች ማህበር (ኢአማ) ለሁለት ቀናት በኢሊሊ ሆቴል ታህሳስ 10 እና 11 ቀን 2018 ዓ. ም ሲያደርግ የነበረውን አመታዊ ጠቅላላ ጉባኤማህበሩን በቀጣይ የሚመሩ ስራ አስፈፃሚ አባላትን በመምረጥ አጠናቋል። ጠቅላላ ጉባኤው በመጀመሪያ ቀን ውሎው "The Future of Building Consultancy in The Construction Industry Transformation Initiative: vision, excellence and competitiveness" እንዲሁም "Interior Design in Ethiopia: practice, identity and professional boundaries" በሚሉ ሁለት ርእሶች ላይ የፓናል ውይይት ያካሄደ ሲሆን "Guardians of Memory: Conserving Ethiopia's built heritage for future generations" በሚል በሚኪያስ ቴዎድሮስ የቀረበለትን ጥናት አዳምጦ ተወያይቷል።

ጠቅላላ ጉባኤው በሁለተኛ ቀን ውሎው በስራ አስፈፃሚው የቀረበለትን ሪፖርት መርምሮ ያፀደቀ ሲሆን፣ የስራ ዘመኑን ያጠናቀቀውን የስራ አስፈፃሚ ኮሚቴ ላሳካው ውጤት እውቅናን ሠጥቷል። ማህበሩ በመቀጠልም ቀጣይ የስራ አስፈፃሚ አባላትን የመረጠ ሲሆን በዚሁም መሰረት የቀድሞውን የማህበሩን ፕሬዚደንት አቶ ሀብታሙ ጌታቸውን በድጋሚ በፕሬዘዳንትነት ሲመርጥ የማህበሩ ምክትል ፕሬዝዳንት የነበሩትን ወ/ሮ ራሄል ለማን እንዲሁ በድጋሚ በምክትል ፕሬዚዳንትነት መርጧል። በተጨማሪም
ዶ/ር ነብዩ ዳንኤልን በፀሃፊነት፣ አቶ ናትናኤል መስፍንን በምክትል ፀሃፊነት፣
አቶ በእምነት ደምሴን ሂሳብ ሹም፣ ወ/ት ሴማዊት አየለን በገንዘብ ያዥነት፣
አቶ መጥምቁ ዮሃንስን በህትመት ክፍል ሃላፊነት፣
በመምረጥ ጉባኤውን አጠናቅቋል። ለአዲስ አመራሮች መልካሙን እንመኛለን።