This week’s Room Without a Key Tour brings us to the lobby of an intriguing hotel in Dire Dawa, home to the only occasion of secular mid-century modern design cosmopolitan traveler A. Davey witnessed in Ethiopia. Can you imagine lunching amongst these gorgeous room mid-century modern inspired room dividers?
Intrigued by the presence of such western design in Ethiopia, A. Davey was kind enough to delve into the history of Dire Dawa, whose existence was largely influenced by a railroad that connected Addis Ababa to Dijibouti on the Gulf of Aden. Decades ago, passengers frequently traveled this route, but its prevalence in commerce and leisure has since diminished.
As a French-Ethiopian enterprise, the railroad ran through Dire Dawa, creating a resting point for passengers. Subsequently, the French may have very well influenced the design of this lobby, especially considering that the imagery on the room dividers represent coffee service — much more European in influence than Ethiopian. A. Davey concludes that the brass containers that are showcased in the room dividers are most likely shell casings.
According to A. Davey’s research, the Dire Dawa hotel dates back to 1964, which concurs with the heyday of mid-century modern design. I love how there is such strong mid-century modern aesthetic, made even more unique with the influence of local materials. Thank you so much A. Davey for sharing your beautiful photos, knowledge, and travel experience for this fascinating Room (or rather, lobby) Without a Key Tour!
