LA PYRAMIDE
Architecture Competition
Brief
La PyrAmIde: The Futuristic soul of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
In the heart of Abidjan’s administrative district, La Pyramide rises as a 62-meter monument to the era of the “Ivorian Miracle.” Designed by architect Rinaldo Olivieri and engineer Riccardo Morandi between 1968 and 1973, a 15-story brutalist landmark meant to announce Côte d’Ivoire onto the global stage.
Known as “The Lady of the Plateau,” the building is instantly recognizable by its rhythmic concrete geometry and its radical hollow-core design, allowing light and air to circulate naturally through the vast interior. Olivieri carefully adapted the project to Abidjan’s tropical climate: the open, exposed structure encouraged ventilation, while the exterior panels shielded the building from intense sunlight and gave it a futuristic, spaceship-like appearance.
At the time, La Pyramide was considered an engineering marvel. It was designed to contain a vibrant mix of boutiques, offices, and public spaces, all supported by an underground parking garage, a symbol of modern urban ambition in post-independence West Africa.
Over time, however, humidity, aging infrastructure, and rising maintenance costs led to the building’s gradual decline. Its silhouette never disappeared from Abidjan’s skyline. Today, La Pyramide is no longer viewed as a failed project, but as one of the most powerful symbols of African Modernism, a memory of extraordinary optimism and a challenge to a new generation of architects to rethink the future of the African city.
The objective is to repurpose La Pyramide to make it habitable, transforming a celebrated but empty monument into a functional, living part of the city.
The design should:
Make it Habitable:
Propose a program that breathes life back into the Building.
Respect the Existing Structure:
The primary task is the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the existing Structure. Any changes in the form should be justified by your conceptual approach to the building’s new life.
Social & Urban Integration:
Design a project that bridges the gap between the formal business district of Le Plateau and the vibrant life of Abidjan.
tIMELINE
All key dates and deadlines for the competition are outlined in the timeline.
01 jUNE
REGISTRATION STARTS
12:00 Central European Time
31 AUGUST
SUBMISSION ENDS
23:59 Central European Time
1 nOVEMBER
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
23:59 Central European Time
Prizes
All awarded projects will be featured on websites, in magazines, and across architectural platforms.
First Winner
600€
+
Full AI Course
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Fees
We offer free entry for 50 spots. After these are filled, participants can register by paying a fee starts from 5 euro only!
Individual
5€
Team
5 € / member
(Max. 4 members / 20 € total)
Studio/Office
30€
Our Collaborators
IDOARCH thanks all who have contributed to organizing the competition, generously sharing their time, materials, resources, and support.Through their efforts, new opportunities are created and a dynamic, collaborative environment continues to shape a distinctive experience for our community.
OUR JURY
Each jury is carefully selected, bringing together professionals whose expertise directly relates to the focus of the competition.
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Issa Diabaté
President - Chief Executive Officer of Koffi & Diabaté Architects
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Lucia Oberfrancová
Research assistent & teacher at Hochschule Wismar
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Mouaz Abouzaid
Founder and Design principal of VERFORM
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Maria Stasevich
Architectural Designer & Founder of OBLIK
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Saul Kim
Architect/Adjunct Professor at Kaywon University of Art and Design
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Thierry Gedeon
Architect
FAQs
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Click on (Register Now) Button.
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Participation is open to all, Students and Professionals.
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Yes, students are welcome to join all competitions.
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Yes, teams (Max 4 members) can participate, but be sure to list all team members during registration.
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Participants can submit one project per competition. Additional projects can be submitted by paying an additional fee.
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The accepted file format is strictly limited to PDF/JPG/PNG with a maximum combined file size of 20 megabytes. If you encounter any issues, feel free to contact us directly, and our support team will help you.
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Design criteria are provided in the competition Brief.
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Winners are chosen by a panel of experienced architects and designers. They evaluate submissions based on criteria that aligns with the competition’s theme, ensuring a fair assessment for all entries.
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Yes, we use Instagram platform to showcase the outstanding participants’ Submissions. we are currently in discussions with several international media representatives in the industry.