An alternative proposal for the densification needs of Gerji site in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The design itself is systematic and highly flexible, on a larger scale, it could be an example of a gentler way of deification that is caring for the people involved.

This graphic novel is the result of a micro-ethnographic research to Kolfe, a neighbourhood in Addis Ababa. Using graphic techniques borrowed from the architecture discipline, this graphic novel aims at bringing together representations of everyday life in Kolfe, that show how human life shapes its environment and vice versa. This graphic novel not only represents the architectural qualities and spatial relationships, but also reveals the hidden narratives of ordinary stories.

This research booklet brings together a selection of data and spatial analysis of Ethiopia’s and Addis Ababa’s urban transformation. This booklet uses historical maps, new maps and a selection of bibliographic references, to produce a wide range of graphic outputs that trace the urban transformation of Addis Ababa in seven stages, from its foundation (c. 1887) until the current process of urbanisation under the auspices of globalization.