Michael Dinka is originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and graduated in May of this year from the Architecture program at Howard University; after studying Urban Design in his native country. He describes himself as “an Architect at heart who is trying to fulfill his ambitious dream.” Architecture Caribbean spoke with Michael about his thesis, an Airport Terminal in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and his career. Hope you enjoy.

Architecture Caribbean: Why did you want to become an architect? What inspired you to study architecture?
Michael Dinka: Ever since I was a child, I enjoyed designing objects.  I remember times where I would make toy cars from paper and a model city by piling books from my father‘s shelf.  My younger brother… always wanted to play with these objects. I strengthened my talent by successfully enrolling at the University in Ethiopia to study urban design. I was the favorite student in my classes because my works were extremely functional, neat and on time, if not early.  My commitment to my talent brought appreciations from my professors, and it drew the government’s attention.  I was one of 5 students the government selected to work for Urban Development Bureau even before I graduated. I worked on the master plan expansion of major cities. One of my best urban design experiences was the industrial master plan I designed on a 60 hectare plot of land, and the residential master plan I did on a 100 hectare plot of land. In addition, I worked in residential and manufacturing industries building designs. I always think that if I study further in architecture I would be more efficient and my commitment to design continued to grow when I moved to the United States.  When I looked at the Chicago and New York skyscrapers I see an opportunity for me to be not just an urban designer, but also be an architect, I was so thrilled.

AC: What do you read and/ or do for inspiration?
MD: I read architectural magazines and follow new building designs on the web.

AC: Who are your favorite architects (International and Caribbean) and what do you admire about their work?
MD: Santiago Calatrava is my favorite architect. I admire the way he express movement in structural motif.  

AC: Tell us about your thesis project?
MD: My thesis – Culture in a Machine Age - focused on the architecture of an airport terminal that reflects not only as an international flavor of modern air travel through its efficient function, but also magnify the local image to romanticize nationalism. Airports are great national gateways, where culture … has to be expressed. The traveler who flew from Dallas airport to the airport in Addis Ababa has to see the cultural difference in the airport terminal. As much as terminals buildings are great modern assembly hall for the floods of people arriving and departing, it has also to demonstrate cultural identity and signify the national image of the country. The mission of my thesis was to find an architectural image that expresses the traditional life style of Ethiopia and transforms it into terminal design while simultaneously delivering efficiency.

AC: What was the concept?
MD: The iconic historical building “ Lalibela Church”  hewn from a rock in 14 century is one of the cultural image used in my thesis. It was built downward to the ground at a time when the western church architecture emphasized gothic style pointing to the sky. The notion looking down to the source, origin or the obsession by gravity is the one of the concept in the terminal design. The organization system of the terminal has also designed in the vernacular of the traditional architecture. The terminal emulates the appearance of a holiday village rather than a modern airport. From this idea the airport architecture was drawn from the geometrical characteristics of a traditional house (tukul) in Addis Ababa. This reference to the local method of building in the airport terminal design will evoke cultural memories to the passengers. By making the local architecture a driving force of the design, and the airport can become an expression of a true gateway to Ethiopia.

AC: What was the program?
MD: The program was to design the airport terminal, the control tower and the master plan of the site that includes the runway and other accessory facilities to the air travel services.

AC: What was the most challenging part of the project?
MD: The most challenging part of the project was to design an efficient movement system with cultural context. The transformation of the cultural form to architecture is the most challenging process.

AC: What advice would you give to those currently in college studying architecture?
MD: Architecture is not only a profession but also a lifestyle, so persistence is the way to be a successful architect.

AC: Our Theme for the launch of Architecture Caribbean is RHYTHM. What does Rhythm mean to you?
MD: Rhythm means an expression of beauty embedded in consistency and proportion.

AC: What do you think about Architecture Caribbean and its goal to highlight Architecture and the Arts in the Caribbean and other parts of the world?
MD: I think it is a noble idea that will be an example to other parts of the world.