Modern building with concrete roof and brick walls featuring geometric patterns and a diamond-shaped window, surrounded by a garden.

A modern building with a concrete roof and brick walls featuring geometric patterns and a diamond-shaped window. The structure is surrounded by a lush garden with trees and plants.

A modern building exterior featuring a flat concrete roof supported by columns, with a brick wall displaying geometric patterns. The foreground includes a neatly maintained lawn with a stone pathway, and a tall palm tree is visible in the background.
A modern building with a flat, overhanging concrete roof and textured brick walls. The facade features geometric patterns and openings. A car is parked on a cobblestone driveway, and there is a landscaped garden with grass and a small tree.
A modern building with a unique folded roof design, featuring exposed brick walls with geometric patterns and large glass windows. The structure is supported by concrete columns and surrounded by a well-maintained lawn and tropical plants.
A modern building with a flat roof and brick walls featuring geometric patterns. There are concrete columns supporting the roof, and a pathway leads through a grassy area with surrounding lush vegetation.
A modern architectural entrance featuring brick walls and concrete steps leading to a door, with a textured ceiling and wooden slats above.
A modern exterior view of a building featuring a brick wall with geometric patterns, a concrete overhang supported by columns, and a well-maintained lawn with tropical plants.
A modern house exterior with brick walls, large glass windows, and a flat roof, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
A modern house exterior with a folded concrete roof, large glass windows, and brick walls. The house features a veranda with hanging lights and a view of the interior living space. Palm trees and a grassy area are visible in the foreground.
A modern building with a distinctive folded roof and large glass windows, surrounded by a lush green lawn and palm trees.
A modern building exterior with a flat roof and brick walls, featuring geometric patterns and large glass windows. The entrance is illuminated, and a cobblestone path leads to the doorway, surrounded by greenery.
A modern architectural structure with a concrete roof and columns, featuring a brick wall with a diamond-shaped opening. The building is surrounded by a grassy lawn and tropical plants.
A modern house exterior with a unique folded roof design, featuring large glass windows and brick walls. The house is surrounded by lush greenery, including palm trees and other plants. A person is sitting on the porch, and the scene is set during dusk, with warm lighting emanating from inside the house.
A modern house exterior with brick walls and a concrete roof. The wall features a diamond-shaped window and decorative brick patterns. A glass sliding door opens to the interior, which is softly lit. The surrounding area includes grass, a small garden, and trees.
A modern interior living space featuring large glass windows overlooking a courtyard with plants. The room includes a gray sofa, a wooden chair, and a ceiling fan. The floor is light-colored, and the ceiling has a concrete finish.
A modern interior hallway with a polished floor, large windows, and a decorative ceiling light. The walls are a mix of concrete and brick, and there is a circular decorative piece on one wall. A glimpse of a sofa and indoor plants is visible.
Interior view of a room featuring wooden slatted walls and ceiling, a terrazzo floor, and a modern pendant light fixture. A glimpse of a sofa is visible through an open doorway.
A detailed map showing the layout of Abidjan with labeled areas, including Cocody.
A site plan showing a building surrounded by gardens and other structures.
Architectural elevation drawings of a modern villa with a folded roof and surrounding palm trees.
Architectural floor plan of a residence with multiple rooms, central patio, and surrounding garden.
Architectural section drawing of a building with a flat and folded roof, surrounded by palm trees.

Story

A Diplomatic Residence Blending Swiss Values with Local Craftsmanship Villa Crocodile in Abidjan serves as the Deputy Chief of Mission’s residence for the Swiss Embassy, designed by LOCALARCHITECTURE. The project is a testament to cultural exchange, integrating Swiss architectural values with the local context of Ivory Coast. The residence is strategically organized around a central patio, which introduces daylight and facilitates passive cooling, essential in Abidjan's warm and humid climate. The material palette is a dialogue between raw concrete and compressed earth bricks, sourced locally from the Bonoua quarry. These materials serve as a bioclimatic strategy, reducing the need for air conditioning through thermal mass and natural ventilation. The folded roof, adorned with crocodile-shaped gargoyles, channels rainwater efficiently, while the veranda and lush gardens enhance the living experience.

## Design Highlights

Central patio for daylight and passive cooling Dual circulation paths for family and diplomatic functions Use of locally sourced laterite for compressed earth bricks Folded roof with sculptural gargoyles for rainwater management Integration of native plant species in landscape design

## Key Facts

Detail Description
Location Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Floor Area 305 m²
Built Volume 1,254 m³
Construction Timeline 2022-2025
Architects LOCALARCHITECTURE

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • Wall Finish: Exposed compressed earth bricks with geometric patterns and recessed joints.
  • Ceiling Finish: Concrete finish with wooden slats in some areas.

Materials

  • Concrete — Structural frame, roof, and columns.
  • Compressed Earth Bricks — Exterior and interior walls.
  • Glass — Windows and large openings.
  • Wood — Decorative elements and ceiling slats.
  • Terrazzo — Flooring in some interior spaces.

Construction / Systems

  • Structural System: Concrete frame with compressed earth brick walls.
  • Facade System: Compressed earth bricks with geometric patterns and recessed joints.

Products

  • Brick — Compressed Earth Bricks — by Local craftsman using imported manual hydraulic press (Exterior and interior walls)

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: Rust, Gray, Natural wood tones
  • Lighting: Warm and inviting, with emphasis on natural light through large windows and central patio.

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