Bringing together members from diverse locations, the Addis Ababa Living Lab team came together this November to collectively kick-start the project. With joint efforts from TU Delft and EiABC, the consortium met in the Ethiopian capital to delineate long term plans via interdisciplinary workshops, meetings, and site visits. Amongst professors, designers, geographers, public workers, and non-profit officers, the reunion included the participation of the doctorate candidates responsible for much of the initiative’s research, permitting the exchange of key information for the preliminary stages of their investigations. Aside from the presence of project advisors and reesearchers, sixteen masters-level students from TU Delft joined for an in-depth fieldwork experience that included visits to highly relevant districts such as Kolfe, Mickeyland, Gerji and Kechene. Developing case studies from housing conditions in these areas, students gained knowledge of special relevance to their upcoming graduation studio design prompts. Through such positive inauguration, the team feels strongly connected and holds optimistic expectations for the project’s continuation.
