Africa Hall receives international recognition as a cornerstone of African modernism

A building that has quietly shaped modern African political and cultural history has now been formally recognised on the world stage. The United Nations’ Historic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa has been named the 2026 World Monuments Fund Knoll Modernism Prize winner, marking the first time an African site has received the award since its inception.

Presented by World Monuments Fund in partnership with Knoll, the prize honours the decade long restoration of Africa Hall led by the Australia based architecture firm Architectus. The award will be presented during Palm Springs Modernism Week on February eighteenth twenty twenty six, a milestone moment not only for the project, but for African modernist architecture as a whole.

A building rooted in continental history

Completed in nineteen sixty one, Africa Hall was conceived by Italian architect Arturo Mezzedimi as the headquarters for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and as a meeting place for African nations at a pivotal moment of decolonisation and self determination.

Two years later, in nineteen sixty three, the building became the birthplace of the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor to today’s African Union, cementing Africa Hall’s role as a foundational site in modern African political history. From the outset, Mezzedimi envisioned a building that combined functional clarity with symbolic openness, offering sweeping panoramic views across Addis Ababa and a sense of optimism rooted in modernism’s belief in the future.

The interiors reflected this ambition. Carrara marble sat alongside Ethiopian stone, while three monumental stained glass windows by celebrated Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle became defining features of the building’s cultural expression. Integrated artworks by artists including Nenne Sanguineti Poggi and Brunetto Buracchini further embedded art into the architecture itself.

Restoring vision and purpose

By the early twenty first century, Africa Hall faced mounting challenges. Structural deterioration, intrusive alterations, outdated systems and limited accessibility threatened both the building’s integrity and its continued use. Loose furniture designed by Mezzedimi, including ceremonial chairs once used by Emperor Haile Selassie, had been displaced, while artworks and finishes showed the effects of time and earlier renovations.

Beginning in twenty fourteen, Architectus led a comprehensive restoration guided by deep archival research and technical analysis. Reinforced concrete structures were stabilised, original materials reinstated, and more than five hundred bespoke furniture pieces were restored to their historic positions. Tekle’s stained glass windows were conserved with extraordinary care, including treatment by the grandson of the original fabricator, reconnecting generations through craft.

Crucially, the project balanced preservation with adaptation. Seismic resilience was improved, contemporary technologies were discreetly introduced, and functionality was enhanced without compromising the building’s modernist character.

A model for accessibility and sustainability

The restoration also set new benchmarks for inclusive and sustainable conservation. Aligned with the United Nations Greening the Blue initiative, the project reused salvaged materials across the campus and restored the surrounding landscape using African native flora.

Accessibility became a central priority. Africa Hall served as a pilot for the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, with all public areas made fully accessible and circulation routes redesigned to support delegates and visitors alike. Today, the building includes a new museum and exhibition space, visitor centre, café, improved signage and revitalised public landscape, allowing Africa Hall to function as a world class venue for diplomacy and culture.

Recognition beyond Addis Ababa

The jury described Africa Hall as one of the most important expressions of modern architecture on the African continent, noting how the restoration allows the clarity and ambition of Mezzedimi’s design to speak once again. Its selection represents a significant expansion of how modernist heritage is understood and valued globally.

Alongside Africa Hall, the jury also introduced the inaugural Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes, recognising exemplary private conservation. The twenty twenty six award was presented to the Umbrella House in Sarasota, Florida, designed in nineteen fifty three by Paul Rudolph, and restored under the stewardship of Anne and Bob Essner with conservation led by Hall Architects. The project reinstated the home’s iconic shading structure and architectural clarity while ensuring it remains a viable place to live.

A wider legacy

For nearly two decades, the World Monuments Fund Modernism Program has drawn attention to the vulnerability of mid twentieth century architecture, which often falls between historic reverence and contemporary neglect. The recognition of Africa Hall marks a defining moment within that mission.

More than a restored building, Africa Hall now stands as a living symbol of African modernism, international cooperation and the belief that architecture can embody shared ideals. Its recognition affirms not only the importance of preservation, but the power of place to carry memory, identity and ambition forward into the future.