The Fiat Tagliero Building is an iconic example of Art Deco architecture located in Asmara, Eritrea. Designed by Italian architect Giuseppe Pettazzi, it is known for its futuristic structure that resembled an aeroplane incorporating a central tower with office space, cashiers desk and shop and supporting a pair of huge 15m cantilevered, reinforced concrete wings. The building resembles an airplane with its wings extended, which is a nod to the era's fascination with aviation and the future. The structure's sleek, horizontal lines, and decorative details on its exterior showcase typical Art Deco features. It stands as a remarkable testament to Eritrea's colonial history and the architectural influence of Italian architects in the region. Restored in 2003, the service station is "Category I" listed in Eritrea, meaning no part of the building may be altered: it is one of the most important Art Deco buildings that gave to the city of Asmara the UNESCO approval to be a World Heritage...
Read moreThe Eritrean government lobbied profusely for Asmara to join the World Heritage List. Unesco registered and called the city “an exceptional example of early modernist urbanism at the beginning of the 20th century and its application in an African context". A year has almost past and the paint buckets have yet to arrive. The Fiat Tagliero building, by the architect Giuseppe Pettazzi, is often called one of the most beautiful in the world, but its radical design was met with skepticism. When it opened in 1938, Mr. Pettazzi is said to have pulled out a gun and promised to kill himself if the structure collapsed when the temporary supports used to build it...
Read moreFiat Tagliero is noted as one of the foremost Art Deco buildings of Italian Asmara. The building on the reinforced decking without pillars is intriguing and a...
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