Original architecture
The most astonishing evidence of prehistory in Djibouti are the tumuli or aowelos ("heaps of stones assembled by the ancestors") found in large numbers near the towns of Randa and Dasbyo. These stone structures bear witness to very elaborate burial rites and to a society that was already highly hierarchical. The burials of the high dignitaries are thus surmounted by imposing tumuli which shelter the most precious goods of the deceased. Flat in the Plains region or pyramidal in the mountainous regions, these tumuli, placed in the center of stone circles, 2 to 3 m high and 30 m wide on average, impress by the solid arrangement of their deep black volcanic stones. The oldest of these date back to around 3,000 BC. The Paleolithic site of Handoga reveals the foundations of small stone huts indicating that it was probably a staging post for nomadic peoples. The Neolithic site of Asa Koma contains circular pits topped by small cairns of basalt blocks where rich ornaments and ceramics were found. All these sites have not yet revealed all the secrets of these pastoral civilizations whose nomadic peoples are today the heirs, like the Afar who developed a light and easily transportable habitat on camel back: the daboyta, a tent whose structure is made up of arches and palm wood mats covered with tanned skins. Hemispherical or elliptical, these tents are on average 2 m high and 4.50 m wide. According to tradition, it is the women who are in charge of putting up and taking down this ingenious semi-permanent habitat. The tukul, on the other hand, is a permanent habitat in the form of a circular hut with a wooden frame and a conical thatched roof. This habitat developed with the arrival of populations from Ethiopia.
Colonial heritage
With the exception of Tadjourah, whose tangle of white houses still bears the charm of past centuries, the country's towns have all developed under colonial impulse from the end of the 19th century. Djibouti-Ville is the most obvious example. The city centre follows a grid pattern with long streets lined with perfectly aligned buildings and different neighbourhoods centred around large squares. The 27th of June square is the centre of all the major administrations, while theMahamoud Harbi square, watched over by the white and green minaret of the great mosque, hosts the market. An important work of irrigation was also carried out from the wadi of Ambouli in order to provide the city with green spaces. Functional, the city is gradually developing around three poles: the administrative pole on the Plateau de Djibouti, the economic pole on the Plateau du Marabout and the residential area of the Plateau du Serpent. The colonial buildings, with thick walls and large openings, are recognizable by their silhouettes fashioned from local materials (coral, black volcanic rock, limestone) like the Chaumière, a former meeting place for civil servants. Perfectly adapted to the climatic constraints (elevation avoiding humidity, open gallery allowing ventilation, shutters protecting from the sun), the colonial architecture is very cosmopolitan. The neo-Moorish style, which is recognizable by its highly elaborate arcatures and arcaded galleries (Presidential Palace in Djibouti City, the former governor's residence in Obock), is sometimes adorned with the sobriety and elegance of Yemeni architecture or the abundance of Indian decoration. The colonial heritage can also be seen in the railway infrastructures. The metal structure of the capital's first station was entirely built in the Eiffel workshops. Another architectural feat is the viaduct in the city of HolHol, whose imposing metal silhouette rises 29 m high. In Ali-Sabieh, the railway infrastructures are inseparable from the military infrastructures, the city having developed around a protection post for the railway line. Forts and casemates are also witnesses of this period.
Contemporary effervescence
From the 1960s onwards, a massive rural exodus led to an exponential and anarchic growth of the capital, which saw the birth of the slum of Balbala. Its growth is such that from the 1980s it officially becomes a district of the city. At the same time, the city continued to develop its port and industrial infrastructures, while creating new districts, such as the Haramous district, not far from the airport, whose grandiose villas surrounded by high concrete walls border avenues drawn to the cord. A striking contrast with the working-class districts. Since the 2000s, the government has set itself three objectives: to rationalize urban development, preserve the heritage and beautify the city. In the centre, they are trying to avoid constructions of more than 10 storeys, while the corniche, opposite the old port, is being rehabilitated with a lot of green spaces. Today, Djibouti has become the object of all covetousness, seeing foreign capital flowing in to finance pharaonic projects. The historic port of the capital is being transformed with luxury hotels and marinas reminiscent of Dubai, and the city centre is now home to gigantic malls with Middle Eastern influences, as well as the country's largest mosque. The Ottoman-inspired Abdulhamid II Mosque, with its two 46-metre minarets and 27-metre dome, is a gift... from Turkey. In 2020, it was the Russian architect Alex Wizhevsky who unveiled his skyscraper project: the Djibouti Towers, 243 m high with silhouettes evoking traditional swords. Projects on a human scale have also seen the light of day, such as the Children's Village designed by the Urko Sanchez Architects agency in Tadjourah. Praised for its environmental qualities, this village is inspired by traditional medinas while offering large open spaces, respecting the nomadic tradition in the interest of Djibouti's identity and authenticity.
