A Study on the Formation of an Imperial City in Tigray

計画系 702 号

【カテゴリーⅡ】 日本建築学会計画系論文集 第79巻 第702号，1753-1759，2014年 ₈ 月 J. Archit. Plann., AIJ, Vol. 79 No. 702, 1753-1759, Aug., 2014

A STUDY ON THE FORMATION OF AN IMPERIAL CITY IN TIGRAY, A STUDY ON THE FORMATION OF AN IMPERIAL CITY IN TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA, ETHIOPIA,AT THE AT THETURN TURN OF THE OF 20TH THE CENTURY 20TH CENTURY ConstructionConstruction of of Mekelle Mekelle During during and Afterafter the reignReign of of Yohannes Yohannes Ⅳ IV エチオピア・ティグレ州における帝政期の首都形成に関する研究 エチオピア・ティグレ州における帝政期の首都形成に関する研究皇帝ヨハンネス４世によるメケレの建設とその後の都市発展について 皇帝ヨハンネス4世によるメケレの建設とその後の都市発展について Rumi OKAZAKI＊ 岡崎 瑠美 岡 崎 瑠 美 Rumi OKAZAKI

This paper aims to analyze the urban formation of the historical city of Mekelle, the current capital of Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia. Mekelle has once been the capital of Ethiopia in the second half of the 19th century during the reign of Emperor Yohannes IV. A series of surveys have revealed the construction process of this imperial city, which gathered nobles and warriors around the imperial palace. Their residences, first loosely connected, came to be more concentrated in accordance with the population growth. The typological observation of the case study area clarifies the chronological development of such residences since the end of the 19th century up to the Italian occupation of the 1930’s. The planning will of the locals of this period succeeded in generating an exceptionally proper townscape of a stone city.

Keywords: Mekelle, Yohannes IV, Urbanization process, Hidmo, Land adjustment, Historical Heritage メケレ, ヨハンネス4世, 都市形成, ヒドゥモ, 土地区画整理, 歴史遺産

1. Objective and Research Method After the mid-20th century, the gridded streets were extended by the master 1.1. Objective planning of 1967 by Arturo Mezzadimi. The objective of this paper is to clarify the formation of the imperial city during and after the reign of Yohannes IV at the end of the 19th century. Great masonry buildings still remain in the central historic area creating a unique landscape which helps to trace the urban history of Mekelle. However, the recent population growth and the change in people’s lifestyle have brought new developments in the historic center. Therefore urgent evaluation of this site is in need in order to develop a sustainable plan for the future development.

Fig.1 Map of Ethiopia with regional boundaries 1.2. Research Method to be Applied The investigation of central Mekelle started in 2008 when the Institute Mekelle is the present capital of Tigray Regional State, one of the eleven of Paleo-environment and Heritage Conservation of Mekelle University regional states in Ethiopia [Fig.1]. In the course of the long history of launched a project for the evaluation of the central district. As a fellow of this Ethiopia, Mekelle is a young city, born only in the second half of the 19th institute, the author gathered all the initiatives of the interested bodies such as century. Despite its short history, the city is renowned with the presence of a the municipality, Tigray Cultural Association, the public library, the Institute palace in the middle of the city. This palace has always been considered as a of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University as well as the representatives symbol of the history of Mekelle. In comparison with other historical cities of residents. In order to evaluate the present situation of heritages, a case study registered in the UNESCO World Heritage list such as Aksum, Gondar and area was set up in the central district for sampling purpose. The area is situated Harar, historical value of Mekelle is not highly estimated, but the old town in Kebele 14, renamed Ketena Maebal afterward, in Kedamay Weyane Sub- stretched itself in the heart of the urbanized zone, surrounding the palace. city. Two field surveys were undertaken successively there, in March 2009 The development of Mekelle can mainly be divided into four stages: 1) and June-July 2009, targeting all the buildings and the households of the case Before the end of the 19th century, there were nine villages structured in an study area as complete surveys. All the housing units were measured one by organic way, 2) At the end of the 19th century Emperor Yohannes IV built a one to complete a comprehensive site plan of the target area. The interview palace and urbanization started when aristocrats and warriors immigrated to with the inhabitants helped to understand the history of old families and have their residences around the palace, 3) In the 1930's the Italians occupied buildings. The typological observation of the heritages in the research area the town and created a gridded urban plan next to the indigenous quarter, 4) and the analysis of old documents collected from various archives clarified

＊ Researcher, French National Center for Scientific Research フランス国立科学研究センター 研究員

研究員, フランス国立科学研究センター Researcher, French National Center for Scientific Research

－ 1753 － the urban formation process of central Mekelle.

2. Identification of Preexisting Settlements It is believed that the imperial city of Mekelle was constructed by the strong initiative of Emperor Yohannes IV in the second half of the 19th century, but the historical documents do not prescribe the detailed process of the urban construction. Only a few existing documents including the diary of the Italian architect-carpenter Giacomo Naretti, who served the emperor and was commissioned to design Yohannes Palace, dictate the construction of the palace between 1864 and 1876, but documents related to the formation of surrounding towns are not found and it is uncertain weather or not Mekelle had already become a concentrated settlement. However, the written documents of contemporary European travelers and sketches are useful to understand the pre-Yohannes state of Mekelle. Among them, the publication by a British traveler, Henry Salt, who was an artist and collector of antiquities accompanying the trip of Viscount Valentina to Ethiopia as secretary and draughtsman in 1809-1810 [Fig.2], provides a realistic landscape drawing of Mekelle. Salt’s drawing remains as a hand-colored engraving executed by D.

Havell by the name of "Mucculla in Abyssinia", specially made as an artwork Fig. 6 Transformation of the urban area of Mekelle: 1) Nine villages for sales. Although there exists a different version of this drawing, no other were associated following the topographical condition 2) Parallel to the construction of the Palace by Yohannes IV, residential quarters of noble image of Mekelle during and before the reign of Yohannes IV was found. were formulated 3) After Abraha Castle was constructed in 1910, Italian Salt’s drawing is suggestive because the topography indicated in the drawing occupation government planned a new quarter with a large market in a rectangular system during the 1930’s and was completed during the 1940's. corresponds clearly to the present view of the district called Gonay Daero, 4) By 1960’s the city developed almost to as it is today. eastern hillside of the city [Fig.3]. The original sketch must have been drawn deformed in exaggeration in this picture, stands on the top of the mountain in 1809-1810, when Salt passed by Mekelle, but this picture was executed on the right side. The shape of the mountain on the left slightly differs from sometime afterward. The observation point of this picture is easily identified the present due to the installation of a radio tower. However, the profile of the as the starting point climbing up to Enda Meskele Church. Enda Yesus Church, mountain on the right matches the sketch. A group of huts with thatched roof form a village alongside an alley upward the church. The site of this village is identified in the map, following the position of the alley and rocks. Provided that the description of Henry Salt is reliable, the original state of Gonay Daero district at the beginning of the 19th century was regarded as a village formed by some 15 houses grouped in the middle of the mountain. The projection of these buildings on to the present map of Mekelle defines their location. Today this site is built up with new structures, but the aerial photo from the 1960’s shows the original state of this area [Fig.4,5]. Land division Fig. 2 (left) View of Mt. Enda Yesus Fig. 3 (right) Trace of old path by a limited number of hidmo-type compounds clearly corresponds to the and Gonay Daero, Sketch "Muculla in from Gonay Daero to Enda Yesus Abyssinia" by Henry Salt, 1809 Church, reconstructed by author territory of the old village of the early 19th century. According to Tadesse Sequar, who analyzed the local legend, proved that, before the reign of Yohannes IV, the area of what is now known as the city of Mekelle consisted of nine villages: Enda Meskel, Gonay Daero, May Degene, May Liham, Chomea, Enda Gabir, Enda Anania, Ada Gafaf, and May Gafaf. The topographic identification of the site of Gonay Daero from Salt’s drawing justifies the reliability of this legend as far as this village is concerned. The recent investigation on Enda Meskele district clarified the existence of an old hidmo which was constructed even before the foundation of the Yohannes Palace. The ancestor of the family residing in this hidmo, who served Mirtcha Wolde, father of Yohannes IV, had settled in this village in the middle of the 19th century. The typological feature of this area is similar to that of Gonay Daero, that is, spontaneous layout of some 10-15 hidmo Fig.4,5 Aerial photo of Gonay Daero area (left: taken in 1960’s, collection of Abraha Castle Hotel, right: Google map, 2012) compounds according to the aerial photo of the 1960’s. This typology could

－ 1754 － the urban formation process of central Mekelle. be considered as a typical rural settlement pattern. Field surveys including interviews to the locals proved that the names of the nine villages are still 2. Identification of Preexisting Settlements kept in each area. This fact enables the identification of the location of these It is believed that the imperial city of Mekelle was constructed by the villages although some of them are completely absorbed into the condensed strong initiative of Emperor Yohannes IV in the second half of the 19th townscape of today. century, but the historical documents do not prescribe the detailed process The identified sites of the nine villages, plotted on the map [Fig6], of the urban construction. Only a few existing documents including the diary indicate certain characteristics. The villages are situated in a certain distance of the Italian architect-carpenter Giacomo Naretti, who served the emperor among them but the different topographical levels make them visible to one and was commissioned to design Yohannes Palace, dictate the construction another creating a "dispersed" pattern. Visual and even acoustic relation is a of the palace between 1864 and 1876, but documents related to the formation key factor for such a community. This type of urban and rural formation is Fig. 7 Engraving of Mekelle, “L’Illustration”, No. 2758, 4 January, 1896 of surrounding towns are not found and it is uncertain weather or not not only found in Mekelle but many examples are found in Ethiopian villages Mekelle had already become a concentrated settlement. However, the written both in Amhara and Tigray regions. documents of contemporary European travelers and sketches are useful to 3. Yohannes’s Palace and the Settlements of His Subjects understand the pre-Yohannes state of Mekelle. Among them, the publication One of the most important events in the urban history of Mekelle was the by a British traveler, Henry Salt, who was an artist and collector of antiquities construction of the imperial palace starting from 1872 by Emperor Yohannes accompanying the trip of Viscount Valentina to Ethiopia as secretary and IV. Although the detail of its construction process has not yet been analyzed draughtsman in 1809-1810 [Fig.2], provides a realistic landscape drawing of despite the existence of the 400 page dairy of an Italian architect-carpenter, Mekelle. Salt’s drawing remains as a hand-colored engraving executed by D. Giacomo Naretti, urban formation caused by this palace construction could Havell by the name of "Mucculla in Abyssinia", specially made as an artwork Fig. 6 Transformation of the urban area of Mekelle: 1) Nine villages Fig. 8 Diagram of the transformation (land adjustment) of a hidmo be recognized by its topographic condition. The site of the palace is slightly for sales. Although there exists a different version of this drawing, no other were associated following the topographical condition 2) Parallel to the compound to contemporary residence, drawn by the author construction of the Palace by Yohannes IV, residential quarters of noble elevated, which looks down on the stream of May Liham River in the south. image of Mekelle during and before the reign of Yohannes IV was found. were formulated 3) After Abraha Castle was constructed in 1910, Italian the expropriation her family possessed much wider area in the south of the This hill is also a focal point among existing nine villages. Salt’s drawing is suggestive because the topography indicated in the drawing occupation government planned a new quarter with a large market in a palace. Even from the land division system of this block, it is not difficult to rectangular system during the 1930’s and was completed during the 1940's. To understand the urban situation of Mekelle at the end of the 19th century, corresponds clearly to the present view of the district called Gonay Daero, 4) By 1960’s the city developed almost to as it is today. trace the original wider compound that her family possessed. the picture shown in the French magazine, L’Illustration, in 1896 reporting eastern hillside of the city [Fig.3]. The original sketch must have been drawn According to Tadesse Sequar, Ras Bitwodid Gebre Kidane, who married deformed in exaggeration in this picture, stands on the top of the mountain the Ethiopian-Italian war, provides whole townscape of this city [Fig.7]. in 1809-1810, when Salt passed by Mekelle, but this picture was executed Empress Dinqinesh after she returned back from Gondar, resided in this on the right side. The shape of the mountain on the left slightly differs from This picture may have been drawn based on a photo taken from a western sometime afterward. The observation point of this picture is easily identified area, but no descendent was found during the field survey by the author. the present due to the installation of a radio tower. However, the profile of the hill. Hidmos were dispersed loosely around the palace. Road system was as the starting point climbing up to Enda Meskele Church. Enda Yesus Church, However, the residence of Dejazmach Tefari Gebre Kidane, another nephew mountain on the right matches the sketch. A group of huts with thatched roof not clearly identified as the vacant spaces among hidmos served as passage of Yohannes IV, was identified in the west of the already formulated central form a village alongside an alley upward the church. The site of this village is connecting each district. New masonry houses were constructed on such loose city in the aerial photo taken in the 1960’s. This residence still kept the form identified in the map, following the position of the alley and rocks. and natural urban tissue. of a round compound shape, the same as in Enda Meskel. Currently this Provided that the description of Henry Salt is reliable, the original state of "Land adjustment" process is the key to understand the formation of the compound is occupied by the church, probably due to the concession to the Gonay Daero district at the beginning of the 19th century was regarded as a built-up area of the central district. The settlement of nobles and warriors church by his family. village formed by some 15 houses grouped in the middle of the mountain. The in the surrounding areas of the newly constructed palace resulted the Other examples of noble families within the central districts could be projection of these buildings on to the present map of Mekelle defines their distribution of large compounds loosely connected at the first stage as shown referred as well. Descendants of noble families who possessed the aristocratic location. Today this site is built up with new structures, but the aerial photo in L’Illustration. This semi-rural pattern was rather similar to that of Enda titles of Ras, Dejazmach, Kegnazmach, Blata, Etege according to the court from the 1960’s shows the original state of this area [Fig.4,5]. Land division Meskel, a village dominated by some important noble families, but in the Fig. 2 (left) View of Mt. Enda Yesus Fig. 3 (right) Trace of old path and military hierarchy were found in this area. Descendants of a Blata who by a limited number of hidmo-type compounds clearly corresponds to the course of time, the central district became more concentrated. Each large- and Gonay Daero, Sketch "Muculla in from Gonay Daero to Enda Yesus was known in the Battle of Adwa of 1896 still live in the house constructed in Abyssinia" by Henry Salt, 1809 Church, reconstructed by author territory of the old village of the early 19th century. According to Tadesse scale compound was divided into several parcels and inter-related each other 1898 while another descendant of a Kegnazmach possess the largest masonry Sequar, who analyzed the local legend, proved that, before the reign of by inheritance and concession [Fig.8]. The land was thus "adjusted" for more house in Mekelle constructed in the early 1930’s. All these residences were Yohannes IV, the area of what is now known as the city of Mekelle consisted urbanized block-and-street pattern. constructed in much smaller parcels. of nine villages: Enda Meskel, Gonay Daero, May Degene, May Liham, The investigation of one of the most historical areas in the central district In 1910, 20 years after the death of the cousin of Emperor Yohannes IV, Chomea, Enda Gabir, Enda Anania, Ada Gafaf, and May Gafaf. of Mekelle, Kebele 14, or Ketena Maebel, brought about many new findings Dejazmach Abraha Araya constructed his own castle in the south of the already The topographic identification of the site of Gonay Daero from Salt’s about the families who have lived in this area for generations as well as the formulated central city. It is said that due to the delicate political relation with drawing justifies the reliability of this legend as far as this village is origins of their residences. Many of them were proved to be the descendent the contemporary Tigray Prince Ras Seyum Mangasha, grandson of Yohannes concerned. The recent investigation on Enda Meskele district clarified the of important nobles and warriors who served the emperor in the court. They IV, who resided in Yohannes Palace, this rich nobleman, who made a fortune existence of an old hidmo which was constructed even before the foundation settled here in accordance with the construction of the palace and stayed. by salt trading, dared to build his own castle neighboring to the old village of of the Yohannes Palace. The ancestor of the family residing in this hidmo, The most peculiar case is the descendent of Ras Haile Mariam Gugsa, May Gafaf with a certain distance from the existing built-up district. Although who served Mirtcha Wolde, father of Yohannes IV, had settled in this village nephew of Yohannes IV and governor of Wadla (1878-1889) during his reign. his family abandoned this residence in the 1930’s, the outstanding feature of in the middle of the 19th century. The typological feature of this area is similar An old woman, born around 1930, still holds the tenure in the area although this castle became a landmark for the future expansion of the city. In fact the to that of Gonay Daero, that is, spontaneous layout of some 10-15 hidmo the land was nationalized by the Derg (socialist government) in 1973. Before Fig.4,5 Aerial photo of Gonay Daero area (left: taken in 1960’s, collection Italians, who occupied Ethiopia from 1935, made use of Yohannes Palace of Abraha Castle Hotel, right: Google map, 2012) compounds according to the aerial photo of the 1960’s. This typology could

－ 1755 － time of the survey. Besides the attributes of the residents, the building aspects of each units such as building age, material, building use, and type of housing units were investigated. Building age of each building could be detected by interviews with local residents as well as observation in situ. Piano Regolatore, master plan published by the Italians in 1937 and the aerial photo around 1960 were used to verify the building situation. Although their shape and the position were not accurate, the former plotted the existing buildings in the middle of the 1930’s and the latter showed existing buildings around 1960. The building age was divided into the following four periods:

Fig. 9, 10 (left 1960’s, right 2010) Transformation (land adjustment) of a a. Yohannes and post-Yohannes period (mid-19C to mid-1930’s) hidmo compound to contemporary residential blocks, drawn by the author b. Italian and post-Italian period (mid-1930’s to mid-1950’s) c. Post-war growing period to Derg period (mid-1950’s to late 1990’s) d. Present time (1990 to present) The result of the survey suggested that the number of existing post- Yohannes period buildings is comparatively high (15 among 127 building units, or 11.8%) although those constructed before the end of the 19th century was scarce. Among them those forming the alignment of the streets are worth noting while several buildings are situated in the center of the parcels. These tendencies could be read among the old buildings in the study area: construction of row houses along the streets and the presence of detached houses in the middle of the compounds. Before the arrival of the Italian force in 1935, the urban pattern of central Mekelle had already evolved from a semi-rural type to a more urbanized block-and-street type. 4.2. Extraction of Old Historical Houses The interview carried out during the survey of 2009 proved the history of a certain number of old masonry houses existing in the target area. Besides the palace and the castle, these houses are the testimony of the life of the old families who settled in Mekelle since the second half of the 19th century although many of them are currently inhabited by the poor or immigrants from Eritrea. The author has tried to reconstruct their original aspect by Fig. 11 Aerial map of central Mekelle: 1. Yohannes Palace, 2. Abraha Castle, measuring all these buildings and observing their construction details. 3. Research area in Kebele 14 Among 127 measured buildings within the target area, a certain number of old and Abraha Castel as two important focal points for the master planning of residences were considered to have been built before the Italian occupation Mekelle. and were chosen for a detailed survey. In addition, a report published in 1971 Dejazmach Tefari Gebre Kidane, son of Dinqinish and nephew of by a Swedish research team who was invited for the purpose of housing Yohannes IV, also built his residential compound near this castle. The aerial amelioration provided plans and sections of characteristic houses situated all photo taken around 1960 shows both this castle and the house of Tefari over Mekelle. Two of them were identified as houses existing in the target although the latter was replaced by Mikael Church afterwards. This change area. This enables the comparison of the state of the houses from the late represents the transformation process from the loose and organic hidmo 1960’s to the present. The figure shows four typical houses erected before the pattern to the parcel-and-block pattern which occurred in the second half of Italian invasion. the 20th century. [Fig. 9,10] (1) Balambaras Getahun Hailu House Interview with the present owner, Kiros Girmay, revealed that this house 4. Typology of Early Residences had been built two years after the Battle of Adwa in 1896 by her grandfather, 4.1. Complete Survey on the Case Study Area in Kebele 14 Balambaras Getahun Hailu, a renowned military officer of Ras Aula. The The author has carried out field surveys in central Mekelle in 2009 in order Swedish team has conducted an interview in 1967 to Girmay Getahun, to examine the situation of heritages deriving from the 19th and the early 20th Kiros’s father. Their concern was limited to the living conditions, but the plan centuries. [Fig. 11] The research area was designated in one of the oldest published in the report shows the original state of the building. Some walls areas of central Mekelle, Kebele 14, or Ketena Maebel. This case study area have been added to enlarge the space and currently there are three families consisted of 4 blocks, comprising 400 inhabitants and 136 households at the living in this building. The original construction is clearly identified due to

－ 1756 － time of the survey. Besides the attributes of the residents, the building aspects major changes have been made. For example, the exterior stairway has of each units such as building age, material, building use, and type of housing been taken away and a new staircase has been added inside the building. By units were investigated. undergoing a reconstructive process, the original state was proved to be a two- Building age of each building could be detected by interviews with story building with tri-parted plan. The exterior masonry stairways are found local residents as well as observation in situ. Piano Regolatore, master plan only in two buildings for pre-Italian buildings. The exterior stairway could be published by the Italians in 1937 and the aerial photo around 1960 were used thought to have started during this period. to verify the building situation. Although their shape and the position were not (3) Blata Tsegay Seifu Mansion accurate, the former plotted the existing buildings in the middle of the 1930’s This mansion is one of the largest buildings built in Kebele 14 or Ketena and the latter showed existing buildings around 1960. Maebel, regarded as impressive architecture in Mekelle besides palace The building age was divided into the following four periods: buildings. The interview with the present owner, Kegnazmach Mekonen

Fig. 9, 10 (left 1960’s, right 2010) Transformation (land adjustment) of a a. Yohannes and post-Yohannes period (mid-19C to mid-1930’s) Tsegay, revealed the founder and the date of the construction. It was Blata hidmo compound to contemporary residential blocks, drawn by the author b. Italian and post-Italian period (mid-1930’s to mid-1950’s) Tsegay Seifu, the father of current owner, who constructed this mansion in c. Post-war growing period to Derg period (mid-1950’s to late 1990’s) 1934, one year before the Italian invasion. A series of pictures were taken by d. Present time (1990 to present) the Swedish team in 1967 and published in their report of 1971. The building The result of the survey suggested that the number of existing post- forms the shape of L along the border of the parcel. Its major part is two- Yohannes period buildings is comparatively high (15 among 127 building story building with an exterior stairway while its wings consist of row houses units, or 11.8%) although those constructed before the end of the 19th century containing smaller housing units. The roof of this row house is used as a kind was scarce. Among them those forming the alignment of the streets are of roof terrace. Besides the fact that some parts of the building have been worth noting while several buildings are situated in the center of the parcels. collapsed and that the first floor ceiling has water leakage, the building is well These tendencies could be read among the old buildings in the study area: in shape and has not much changed since the 1960’s. The roof and the eaves construction of row houses along the streets and the presence of detached have been transformed to some extent. Currently there are seven families houses in the middle of the compounds. Before the arrival of the Italian force residing in this mansion all of which are rented by the owner who has his own in 1935, the urban pattern of central Mekelle had already evolved from a house in a different place. semi-rural type to a more urbanized block-and-street type. (4) A. H. and S. M. House 4.2. Extraction of Old Historical Houses This building, currently divided into two housing units, is a typical row The interview carried out during the survey of 2009 proved the history of house along a street. Banal, but its masonry suggest the construction in the a certain number of old masonry houses existing in the target area. Besides same period as the Balambaras Getahun Hailu House, that is, around the turn the palace and the castle, these houses are the testimony of the life of the old of the century. Today the building was possessed by kebele as public housing. families who settled in Mekelle since the second half of the 19th century The present occupants, A.H. and S.M., one prostitute another unempoyed, had although many of them are currently inhabited by the poor or immigrants resided there only for one year. No record was left with regard to the former from Eritrea. The author has tried to reconstruct their original aspect by owner before the house had been expropriated by the government during Derg Fig. 11 Aerial map of central Mekelle: 1. Yohannes Palace, 2. Abraha Castle, measuring all these buildings and observing their construction details. Fig. 12 Housing typologies found in the research area: 1. A.H./ S.M. House period. Its plan resembles the tri-parted hidmo with a moderate size, but no 3. Research area in Kebele 14 (demolished in 2010), 2. Balambaras Getahun Hailu House (demolished in Among 127 measured buildings within the target area, a certain number of old 2010), 3. Grazmach Gebru Gebrumikael Mansion, 4. Kegnazmach Mekonen specific interior composition was to be seen. Most probably, this house was Tsegay House, all drawings are reconstruction of the houses and Abraha Castel as two important focal points for the master planning of residences were considered to have been built before the Italian occupation constructed by one of the landlords as a tenant house for speculation purpose. Mekelle. and were chosen for a detailed survey. In addition, a report published in 1971 its regularly layered bond of stone materials. The plan was quite simple: Dejazmach Tefari Gebre Kidane, son of Dinqinish and nephew of by a Swedish research team who was invited for the purpose of housing rectangular plan with symmetrical façade. Since the title of balambaras 5. Land Adjustment and Evolution of Typologies Yohannes IV, also built his residential compound near this castle. The aerial amelioration provided plans and sections of characteristic houses situated all equals to a military officer, this house could be regarded as the ordinary house The typological difference among the above-mentioned mansions and photo taken around 1960 shows both this castle and the house of Tefari over Mekelle. Two of them were identified as houses existing in the target of a middle-rank warrior. houses could be read as the variation and the evolution of housing typology although the latter was replaced by Mikael Church afterwards. This change area. This enables the comparison of the state of the houses from the late (2) Grazmach Gebru Gebrumikael Mansion in accordance with the transformation of the investigated area as seen in the represents the transformation process from the loose and organic hidmo 1960’s to the present. The figure shows four typical houses erected before the The interview with the present owner, Asmelash Gebru, proved that this preceding paragraph. To verify this process, the author will focus on the pattern to the parcel-and-block pattern which occurred in the second half of Italian invasion. house had been built by his father, Grazmach Gebru Gebrumikael, one of relation of the mansions and houses with parcels they belong to. Except the the 20th century. [Fig. 9,10] (1) Balambaras Getahun Hailu House the highest rank nobles in Mekelle, before the Italian invasion, and extended current cadastral map, no precise maps related to the cadastral system in the Interview with the present owner, Kiros Girmay, revealed that this house in 1943 after the Italian retreat. Although the date is uncertain, it could have central district is found, but the presence of Italian documents made during 4. Typology of Early Residences had been built two years after the Battle of Adwa in 1896 by her grandfather, been in the 1920’s considering his father’s age. The house was succeeded the occupation period would assist the understanding of the land and the 4.1. Complete Survey on the Case Study Area in Kebele 14 Balambaras Getahun Hailu, a renowned military officer of Ras Aula. The to Gebru’s daughter, Almaz Gebru, however since she left the country, the building system even before their occupation. The author has carried out field surveys in central Mekelle in 2009 in order Swedish team has conducted an interview in 1967 to Girmay Getahun, present owner, her brother, received the ownership of the house. Currently, The viceroy of A.O.I (Africa Orientale Italiana) made decree for master to examine the situation of heritages deriving from the 19th and the early 20th Kiros’s father. Their concern was limited to the living conditions, but the plan half of the building is being rented to another family. In 1996, an Italian planning of major occupied cities as soon as they finished the process centuries. [Fig. 11] The research area was designated in one of the oldest published in the report shows the original state of the building. Some walls research team published the plan of this house in their report based on the of conquering Ethiopia. The master plan of Mekelle was elaborated in areas of central Mekelle, Kebele 14, or Ketena Maebel. This case study area have been added to enlarge the space and currently there are three families fieldwork carried out during 1993-1994. When comparing the current house comparatively early stage of the occupation. Although the original plan was consisted of 4 blocks, comprising 400 inhabitants and 136 households at the living in this building. The original construction is clearly identified due to with the plan made by this Italian team, it is easily recognized that some not found, the report by the Italian Government called "Gli Annali dell’Africa

－ 1757 － were not drawn by the Italians, may have existed within the area. As a matter of fact, the slightly meandered layout of Blata Tsegay Seifu Mansion could be recognized to have reflected on the curve of such alleys. The interview with its owner supported this hypothesis. 5.2. Typology Comparison between the Italian and the present plan as well as the dating of the existing buildings clarifies the coexistence of three different housing types in the target area: hidmo type noble’s residence with large compound, middle class warrior’s residence with much smaller parcel, and street-side row houses following the line of the streets. The early example of the first type has already Fig. 13 Map of research area in 1930's (left) and 2009 (right). Numbers correspond to the drawings of Fig. 12 disappeared except a few. The Grazmach Gebru Gebrumikael Mansion which is judged to have been erected sometime before the Italian occupation, was Italiana" was published in 1939 as "Piano Regolatore di Macalle 1937". This typical of this. The second type is found mostly in the southern part of the master plan is useful to understand the urban situation of the central district target area. Such is the case for the Balambaras Getahun Hailu House, built as the Italians plotted existing buildings by using aerial photos [Fig.14]. in 1898. This is a detached house independent from the street plan. The streets Although some of the plotted streets and buildings do not correspond exactly delimiting and piercing the target area suggest the presence of the third type. to the existing pattern, it gives some descriptions and characteristics of this A.H./S.M. House built around the turn of the century and Blata Tsegay Seifu area. For example the street system as well as large mansions and street- Mansion, which is the combination of the noble’s mansion and the street-side side buildings are illustrated distinctively in this plan although the cadastral row houses constructed in the early 1930’s, as well as other row houses on its system was not recognizable. Overlapping this master plan and the measured opposite side are regarded as the completion of the urbanized housing layout site plan of the target area suggests the urban situation just after the Italian on the basis of the block-and-street pattern. The streets are considered to occupation, that is, in the middle of the 1930’s. The master plan does not have been completed with a planning will around the 1920’s or early 1930’s. trace the exact street pattern, which could be detected by field surveys and Row houses correspond to the population growth in the 1920’s due to the interviews, nor the buildings. Although it suggests the general layout of the settlement of merchants dealing with salt trading and other activities. indigenous area, they may have been drawn using an aerial photo with a tilted 5.3. Cadastral aspect perspective. What is noteworthy is the fact that the notion of urban blocks had Tracing around the borders of certain parcels enables the reconstruction of appeared already before the master planning by the Italians. Although their the original compound of nobles. In fact, the old compound of the descendant shapes are not rectangular, street-side buildings delimited the blocks. This of Ras Hailemariam Gugsa, nephew of Yohannes IV, is still readable, but means that the idea of alignment was already present. some smaller parcels were already cut off in order to house new residents. Currently the target area of Ketena Maebel is well divided by grid pattern, The northern part of the study area must have been occupied with several but in the middle of the 1930’s the streets were pierced partly within the groups large compounds of the nobles, but already adjusted to the street system. of hidmo compounds. Interviews were made during the surveys in 2009 and On the contrary, the southern part was characterized by the presence of observation of structural details enabled the buildings within the target area smaller parcels, including that of the Balambaras Getahun Hailu House. classified according to the building age. At least 15 among 127 buildings in The development of the land adjustment process made the former large- the area were supposed to have been erected before the Italian occupation. scale compounds of high-class nobles reduce to compact size and fit to the They correspond to the Italian master plan of 1937. Some of them were found newly set street system. Lower class warriors who set their residences in the constructed following the alignment. This is apparently different from the outer areas in the south also adjust their parcels to the new streets, but kept "dispersed" system attributed to the original period of the urban formation appearance of single houses. On the contrary, to house new comers including in the second half of the 19th century. The followings are the considerations the merchants, the nobles set up smaller but oblong parcels along the streets. abstracted from the comparison between the Italian master plan and the result This is an early stage of speculation by the landlords. The case of the Blata of the investigation on the building age and the typology. Tsegay Seifu House, which possesses row houses for renting purpose, attests 5.1. Street Pattern this process as a matter of fact In the 1930’s the study area was already delimited by wider streets, which 6. Conclusion would become the main streets of this central area. It is uncertain whether The origin and the urban formation of Mekelle has not been discussed as the lines drawn by the Italians indicate the exact border of the parcels many scholars, Ethiopian and foreign, thought that Ethiopian cities took the and the streets in the European sense, but it could be understood that the form of urbanized complex after the intervention of Italian master planning central district was systematized by streets as long as continuous row houses in the late 1930’s. The indigenous district was regarded as the extension of appeared along the streets. A.H./S.M. House is typical of this phenomenon, rural villages. However, the survey undertaken in 2009 revealed the early most probably generated by speculation by the landlord. Besides, crossings urbanization process from the end of the 19th century. were well designed by situating row houses in L shape. Small alleys, which

－ 1758 － were not drawn by the Italians, may have existed within the area. As a matter Before the reign of Yohannes IV, Mekelle was only a vast area consisting of Ethiopia”, Svensk Byggtjanst, Stockholm, 1971 of fact, the slightly meandered layout of Blata Tsegay Seifu Mansion could be nineBefore villages. the Howeverreign of Yohannes the urban IV, formation Mekelle process was only took a vast place area in consisting a rapid way of 12) Ethiopia”,Istituto Universitario Svensk Byggtjanst, di Architettura Stockholm, di 1971 Venezia “Urban Land Management in 12) IstitutoEthiopia Universitario – the Case of di Makalle” Architettura Post di Graduate Venezia School “Urban of Land Urban Management and Regional in recognized to have reflected on the curve of such alleys. The interview with soonnine villages.after the However construction the urbanof the formation palace started process by tookthe emperor’splace in a rapidinitiative. way EthiopiaPlanning from – the Developing Case of Makalle” Countries, Post Venice, Graduate 1996, School pp.68-69 of Urban and Regional soon after the construction of the palace started by the emperor’s initiative. its owner supported this hypothesis. The settlements of his subjects, that is, nobles and warriors, around the palace 13) PlanningPiano Regolatore from Developing of Mekelle Countries, by the ItaliansVenice, in1996, 1937, pp.68-69 from “Gli Annali dell’Africa 5.2. Typology promotedThe settlements the urbanization, of his subjects, first that is, with nobles large and hidmo warriors, compounds around connectedthe palace 13) PianoItaliana Regolatore”, A.O.I., Numero of Mekelle 4, 1939 by the Italians in 1937, from “Gli Annali dell’Africa Comparison between the Italian and the present plan as well as the dating of loosely.promoted Great the mansions urbanization, built firstwith high with masonry large hidmo technique compounds at that connected time still Italiana”, A.O.I., Numero 4, 1939 和文要約 the existing buildings clarifies the coexistence of three different housing types remainsloosely. Greatin the mansionsold historical built quarter with high of themasonry town whichtechnique is now at that inherited time still by 本論考はエチオピア北部ティグレ州の歴史都市メケレにおける都和文要約 in the target area: hidmo type noble’s residence with large compound, middle theirremains descendants. in the old The historical prosperity quarter of the of citythe bytown salt which trade inis earlynow 20thinherited century by 市形成について分析を進めるものである。メケレの成立は 本論考はエチオピア北部ティグレ州の歴史都市メケレにおける都 19 世紀後 class warrior’s residence with much smaller parcel, and street-side row houses promotedtheir descendants. the densification The prosperity and the of theextension city by ofsalt the trade built-up in early zones 20th despite century the 半に時の皇帝ヨハンネス市形成について分析を進めるものである。メケレの成立は 4 世が宮殿を建設し、その周域に宮廷貴族 19 世紀後 following the line of the streets. The early example of the first type has already transferpromoted of the the densification capital to Addis and Ababa. the extension of the built-up zones despite the Fig. 13 Map of research area in 1930's (left) and 2009 (right). Numbers を中心とする家臣団が移住したことによる。メケレ中心市街地の建半に時の皇帝ヨハンネス 4 世が宮殿を建設し、その周域に宮廷貴族 correspond to the drawings of Fig. 12 disappeared except a few. The Grazmach Gebru Gebrumikael Mansion which transferFrom of the the building capital to typology Addis Ababa. point of view, village type masonry houses 築調査ならびに住民へのヒヤリング調査、各国の古文書館等に散在を中心とする家臣団が移住したことによる。メケレ中心市街地の建 is judged to have been erected sometime before the Italian occupation, was withFrom large the compounds building typologywere introduced point of at view, the first village stage, type but masonry in the course houses of する古絵図や古写真、文献等の分析を通じて、メケレの成立と発展築調査ならびに住民へのヒヤリング調査、各国の古文書館等に散在 Italiana" was published in 1939 as "Piano Regolatore di Macalle 1937". This typical of this. The second type is found mostly in the southern part of the densificationwith large compounds of the central were districts,introduced the atsurrounding the first stage, areas butof thein the palace course came of について追跡し、1935する古絵図や古写真、文献等の分析を通じて、メケレの成立と発展 年のイタリア占領以前の都市環境の成熟につ master plan is useful to understand the urban situation of the central district target area. Such is the case for the Balambaras Getahun Hailu House, built todensification be adjusted ofso the as tocentral formulate districts, a street the surrounding and block pattern.areas of Newthe palacetypologies came いて明らかにする。とりわけ、調査地区に現存する古建築は、文化について追跡し、1935 年のイタリア占領以前の都市環境の成熟につ as the Italians plotted existing buildings by using aerial photos [Fig.14]. in 1898. This is a detached house independent from the street plan. The streets suchto be asadjusted street-side so as mansions to formulate and rowa street houses and appearedblock pattern. corresponding New typologies to the 財的な価値も高く、今後のメケレの歴史的景観整備にとってきわめいて明らかにする。とりわけ、調査地区に現存する古建築は、文化 Although some of the plotted streets and buildings do not correspond exactly delimiting and piercing the target area suggest the presence of the third type. changesuch as ofstreet-side land management mansions and and row rental houses housing appeared system. corresponding These are unique to the て重要な要素である。財的な価値も高く、今後のメケレの歴史的景観整備にとってきわめ to the existing pattern, it gives some descriptions and characteristics of this A.H./S.M. House built around the turn of the century and Blata Tsegay Seifu housingchange oftypes land with management properly ordered and rental masonry housing construction. system. These are unique て重要な要素である。 area. For example the street system as well as large mansions and street- Mansion, which is the combination of the noble’s mansion and the street-side housingThe basistypes ofwith the properly present townscapeordered masonry with concentrated construction. masonry buildings side buildings are illustrated distinctively in this plan although the cadastral row houses constructed in the early 1930’s, as well as other row houses on its originatedThe basis in theof the early present 20th townscapecentury when with the concentrated urban economy masonry reached buildings to a （2013年 ₁ 月10日原稿受理，2014年 ₅ 月 ₂ 日採用決定） system was not recognizable. Overlapping this master plan and the measured opposite side are regarded as the completion of the urbanized housing layout certainoriginated level in ofthe maturity. early 20th It is century crucial whento proceed the urban onto economythe future reached planning to of a site plan of the target area suggests the urban situation just after the Italian on the basis of the block-and-street pattern. The streets are considered to historicalcertain level districts of maturity. on the Itbasis is crucial of the toevaluation proceed ofonto such the historical future planning buildings of occupation, that is, in the middle of the 1930’s. The master plan does not have been completed with a planning will around the 1920’s or early 1930’s. andhistorical urban districtssystems onstill the existing basis ofthere. the evaluation of such historical buildings trace the exact street pattern, which could be detected by field surveys and Row houses correspond to the population growth in the 1920’s due to the and urban systems still existing there. interviews, nor the buildings. Although it suggests the general layout of the settlement of merchants dealing with salt trading and other activities. Notes indigenous area, they may have been drawn using an aerial photo with a tilted 5.3. Cadastral aspect 1)Notes According to the census carried out by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, the population of Mekelle increased from 22,230 in 1965 to 215,546 in 2007. perspective. What is noteworthy is the fact that the notion of urban blocks had Tracing around the borders of certain parcels enables the reconstruction of 1) According to the census carried out by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, the 2) populationKebele is an of end Mekelle administrative increased unit, from which 22,230 is inequivalent 1965 to 215,546 of neighbourhood, in 2007. created appeared already before the master planning by the Italians. Although their the original compound of nobles. In fact, the old compound of the descendant 2) Kebelein 1975. is Evenan end after administrative the evacuation unit, of which Derg is Government, equivalent of this neighbourhood, autonomous createdsystem shapes are not rectangular, street-side buildings delimited the blocks. This of Ras Hailemariam Gugsa, nephew of Yohannes IV, is still readable, but inwas 1975. inherited Even for after local the governance. evacuation ofKebele Derg ran Government, public housing, this autonomous forest management system means that the idea of alignment was already present. some smaller parcels were already cut off in order to house new residents. andwas otherinherited economical for local activities governance. to guarantee Kebele income.ran public Curently housing, it is forest replaced management by a new andadministrative other economical unit called activities ketena, to whichguarantee is the income. present Curently smallest it administrative is replaced by unit.a new Currently the target area of Ketena Maebel is well divided by grid pattern, The northern part of the study area must have been occupied with several 3) administrativeGiacomo Naretti unit (1831-1899) called ketena, was which an Italian is the architect, present whosmallest migrated administrative to Egypt duringunit. but in the middle of the 1930’s the streets were pierced partly within the groups large compounds of the nobles, but already adjusted to the street system. 3) Giacomothe period Naretti of construction (1831-1899) of Suezwas an Canal, Italian then architect, to Ethiopia who migrated as a carpenter, to Egypt together during of hidmo compounds. Interviews were made during the surveys in 2009 and On the contrary, the southern part was characterized by the presence of thewith period other ofengineers. construction He became of Suez an Canal, official then architect to Ethiopia at the as courta carpenter, of Yohannes together IV. He constructed the Palace of Mekelle, and Kidane Memeret Church of Mekelle and observation of structural details enabled the buildings within the target area smaller parcels, including that of the Balambaras Getahun Hailu House. with other engineers. He became an official architect at the court of Yohannes IV. HeEnda constructed Selassie Church the Palace of Adwa. of Mekelle, He died and in Asmara.Kidane Memeret His diary Church with 742 of pagesMekelle was and an classified according to the building age. At least 15 among 127 buildings in The development of the land adjustment process made the former large- Endaexcellent Selassie document Church on of the Adwa. reign He of Yohannesdied in Asmara. IV. His diary with 742 pages was an the area were supposed to have been erected before the Italian occupation. scale compounds of high-class nobles reduce to compact size and fit to the 4) excellentSee Henry document Salt “Voyage on the to reign Abyssinia, of Yohannes and Travels IV. into the Interior of that Country, They correspond to the Italian master plan of 1937. Some of them were found newly set street system. Lower class warriors who set their residences in the 4) Seeexecuted Henry under Salt “Voyage the Orders to Abyssinia, of British and Government, Travels into in the InteriorYears 1809 of that and Country, 1810”, Carey, Philadelphia, and Wells & Lilly, Boston, 1816 constructed following the alignment. This is apparently different from the outer areas in the south also adjust their parcels to the new streets, but kept executed under the Orders of British Government, in the Years 1809 and 1810”, 5) Carey,Hidmos Philadelphia, are traditional and masonry Wells & buildings Lilly, Boston, with 1816rectangular shape in Tigray region, "dispersed" system attributed to the original period of the urban formation appearance of single houses. On the contrary, to house new comers including 5) HidmosEthiopia. are traditional masonry buildings with rectangular shape in Tigray region, in the second half of the 19th century. The followings are the considerations the merchants, the nobles set up smaller but oblong parcels along the streets. 6) Ethiopia.Tadesse Sequar “The Establishment and Development of Mekelle”, Mega Enterprise, abstracted from the comparison between the Italian master plan and the result This is an early stage of speculation by the landlords. The case of the Blata 6) TadesseMekelle, Sequar 1993 E.C. “The (in Establishment Tigriniya) and Development of Mekelle”, Mega Enterprise, 7) Mekelle,See Tomohiro 1993 Shitara E.C. (in “A Tigriniya) Study on the Formation of Traditional Living Space and the of the investigation on the building age and the typology. Tsegay Seifu House, which possesses row houses for renting purpose, attests 7) SeeTransformation Tomohiro Shitara of Living “A Study Space on by the Modernization Formation of Traditionalin Gondar” Living doctor Space thesis, and Keio the 5.1. Street Pattern this process as a matter of fact TransformationUniversity, 2008 of (in Living Japanese) Space by Modernization in Gondar” doctor thesis, Keio In the 1930’s the study area was already delimited by wider streets, which 8) University,Ras (commander-in-chief), 2008 (in Japanese) Dejazmach (commander or general of the gate), 6. Conclusion Kegnazmach (commander of right wing), Blata (high court officials), Etege would become the main streets of this central area. It is uncertain whether 8) Ras (commander-in-chief), Dejazmach (commander or general of the gate), The origin and the urban formation of Mekelle has not been discussed as Kegnazmach(empress) are the (commander Ethiopian court of right and military wing), Blatahierarchy. (high court officials), Etege the lines drawn by the Italians indicate the exact border of the parcels 9) (empress)Ketena Maeble are the is theEthiopian sothern court district and of military Yohannes hierarchy. Palace which consists of 21 blocks. many scholars, Ethiopian and foreign, thought that Ethiopian cities took the and the streets in the European sense, but it could be understood that the 9)10) KetenaDue to Maeblethe war is between the sothern Ethiopia district and of YohannesEritrea which Palace broke which out consists in 1998, of 21Ethiopian blocks. form of urbanized complex after the intervention of Italian master planning central district was systematized by streets as long as continuous row houses 10) Duewho toresided the war in Eritreabetween were Ethiopia forced and to goEritrea out of which Eritrea. broke Since out Tigrinya in 1998, language Ethiopian is in the late 1930’s. The indigenous district was regarded as the extension of used both in Tigray and Eritrea, many of Tigrayans were working there, especially appeared along the streets. A.H./S.M. House is typical of this phenomenon, who resided in Eritrea were forced to go out of Eritrea. Since Tigrinya language is in Asmara, Eritrean capital. In Mekelle, these returners gathered and made their own rural villages. However, the survey undertaken in 2009 revealed the early used both in Tigray and Eritrea, many of Tigrayans were working there, especially most probably generated by speculation by the landlord. Besides, crossings incommunities. Asmara, Eritrean capital. In Mekelle, these returners gathered and made their own urbanization process from the end of the 19th century. were well designed by situating row houses in L shape. Small alleys, which 11) communities.Carlsson, P, Martensson, B, Sandstrom, R, Astedt, M, “Housing in Makalle, 11) Carlsson, P, Martensson, B, Sandstrom, R, Astedt, M, “Housing in Makalle,

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