Palais présidentiel d'Abidjan, Presidential palace in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The Presidential Palace of Abidjan is a pale, multi-storey classical building with a dark hipped roof, designed by Pierre Dufau with Jean-Maurice Lafon. Its main facade has rows of rectangular windows and a projecting central section, and a slender lattice radio mast rises from the roof behind that block. A lower wing on the left links it to a flat-roofed pavilion with a colonnade; the complex also holds the president's private residence and ministerial offices, facing the Ébrié Lagoon.
Built at the request of Félix Houphouët-Boigny around independence, the palace was inaugurated in 1961; it was designed by architect Pierre Dufau with Jean-Maurice Lafon. When the capital moved to Yamoussoukro in 1983, a new palace was built there, yet Abidjan's remained the head of state's de facto residence. Partly destroyed during the 2010–2011 crisis, it was repaired over several weeks to receive Alassane Ouattara.
The palace's decoration was assigned to named artists: Bernard Buffet made the paintings, René Collamarini the outdoor sculptures, Louis Dideron the indoor sculptures and Jean Lurçat the tapestries. The complex in the Plateau district also holds the president's private residence and the ministerial cabinets, overlooking the Ébrié Lagoon.
The grounds are not freely accessible to visitors as it is an active government seat. In rare cases, exterior views can be seen from surrounding areas.
The palace's decoration was assigned to named artists: Bernard Buffet made paintings, René Collamarini the outdoor sculptures, Louis Dideron the indoor sculptures and Jean Lurçat the tapestries. In 2011, after the post-election crisis partly destroyed the building, weeks of repairs were needed before Alassane Ouattara could move in, and Olivier Payet was put in charge of the palace household in April that year.
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