La Pyramide, Brutalist office building in Plateau, Ivory Coast
La Pyramide is a brutalist office tower in Plateau, Abidjan, built with a distinctive pyramid shape topped by horizontal balconies. The structure sits on a solid cubic base and was designed to accommodate commercial spaces on lower levels with offices and residences above.
Italian architect Rinaldo Olivieri designed this building between 1968 and 1973 during a period of economic expansion in Ivory Coast. The project emerged when Abidjan was developing as a modern metropolis and large-scale developments were shaping the city's character.
The architectural design incorporated elements from African markets, creating a modern interpretation of traditional commercial spaces within an urban setting.
The building sits at the intersection of Avenue Franchet d'Esperey and Boulevard Botreau-Roussel in central Plateau, making it easily visible from nearby streets. Access is limited due to ongoing renovation work, so viewing the structure from its surroundings provides the best perspective on its architecture.
The building features a layered mix of market stalls within the pyramid form, a central pillar serving as the main circulation spine, and residential units stacked in the upper block. This vertical mixing of commercial and residential functions was an experimental approach for Abidjan at the time.
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