VILLA CROCODILE

• Architects

Following the completion of the new Swiss Embassy in Ivory Coast in 2016, LOCALARCHITECTURE continues its work in Abidjan for the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (OFCL) with the Deputy Chief of Mission’s residence. The project responds to a dual role as it is conceived both as family house and a reception area to serve the diplomatic objectives of the Swiss delegation.

The spatial organization reflects this duality. Public and private functions are arranged around central a patio that introduces daylight into the core of the house while contributing to passive cooling. Separate entrances distinguish the family’s daily use from the reception sequence. These two circulations intersect in the main living room, which opens onto a shaded veranda that wraps around the house and extends toward a lush garden planted with a variety of local species.

photo_credit Matthieu Gafsou — Matthieu Gafsou

Abidjan and its modernist context

Abidjan’s urban landscape bears the strong imprint of the modernist architecture that emerged following Ivory Coast’s independence in 1960. Monumental buildings throughout the city exemplify the architectural movement often referred to as “African modernism”1. Characterized by the expressive use of raw and precast concrete, these structures provided an important reference for the extension of the Swiss Embassy in the Cocody district.

Referencing this architectural heritage was also a pragmatic choice in the years following the unrest of 2010. Concrete was widely available locally, allowing the project to avoid costly imports of European materials.

For the new residence, LOCALARCHITECTURE adapted its material strategy to the evolving local context. Concrete forms the structural frame and the distinctive pleated roof, while raw earth is used for both the exterior and interior walls of the house.

Earth as a bioclimatic strategy and knowledge and craft exchange

The earth used for the project is sourced from the Bonoua quarry, located not far from Abidjan. Known as laterite, this iron-rich soil is distinguished by its deep rust color. Traditionally used in rammed earth or cut block construction, the material was utilized through the development of compressed earth bricks (CEB) specifically designed for the villa. Using an imported manual hydraulic press, a local craftsman produced two sizes of exposed bricks required for the villa’s double exterior walls and interior partitions. A small percentage of cement was added to stabilize the bricks while preserving the material’s natural qualities.

The thermal mass of the earth walls contributes to passive climate regulation. By buffering external humidity and temperature variations, the construction significantly reduces the need for air conditioning while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. In the warm and humid climate of Abidjan, it was one of the project’s central challenges. The use of compressed earth and doubled walls improves insulation against heat and humidity, limiting reliance on mechanical cooling.

The brickwork is arranged with recessed and spaced joints, generating a series of geometric patterns and claustra-like screens that animate the façades and openings. These textures filter light and ventilation while enriching the spatial character of the house.

Beyond its architectural role, the use of compressed earth bricks introduced a new material product to the local construction market. Often perceived as a modest material associated with rural construction, earth has here been reinterpreted within a contemporary architectural framework. The craftsman trained for the project has since continued producing the bricks independently, extending the knowledge transfer initiated during construction.

Folded Roof and Gargoyles

The roof constitutes one of the building’s defining architectural elements. Neither flat nor conventionally sloped, it adopts a folded geometry that responds to the intensity of rainfall during the rainy season. This folded surface directs water toward two sculptural concrete gargoyles shaped like crocodile heads, which discharge rainwater away from the building.

The varying orientations of the folded roof also optimize solar exposure, contributing to the building’s energy autonomy. The site was already home to abundant vegetation, which was carefully preserved during construction. The landscape strategy therefore focused on complementing the existing environment with a selection of native plant species.

Landscape and Cultural Exchange

With this residence, LOCALARCHITECTURE addresses the delicate balance inherent in diplomatic architecture. Such projects must represent Swiss values while integrating into a climatic, cultural, and constructive context very different from their origin.

Rather than imposing a predefined architectural identity, the approach is based on exchange - observing, learning from, and working with local knowledge and resources. The resulting architecture emerges through adaptation and dialogue.

The geometry of gentle slopes and diagonal edges, the composition of the veranda punctuated by slender “dancing” columns, and the interplay between raw concrete, rust-colored earth bricks and wooden friezes together establish a subtle architectural language. The project thus becomes an expression of cultural exchange, where materials, climate, and craftsmanship converge to form a new shared identity.