Mussolini, Ethiopia and round vs. square houses.

One thing leads to another. First, a passage that caught my attention in an essay about Mussolini's desire to remake Addis Ababa: "The round houses of the Ethiopians were regarded by Italian architects as irrational and unhygienic."

When Fascists Tried to Remake Ethiopia, by Jonathan Coppage (The American Conservative)

When Mussolini’s army invaded and ultimately occupied Ethiopia, the Italian fascists did more than expand Italy’s African empire; in their eyes, they obtained an opportunity to build a capital from scratch.

As Rixt Woudstra details at Failed Architecture,

The idea of Ethiopia as a tabula rasa—a blank slate—was omnipresent in the writings of architects and urban planners occupied with the designs of the colonial capital between 1936 and 1939, who considered the country devoid of any structures of architectural significance. Contrary to the fascination of Libyan whitewashed courtyard house – their simplicity, colours and volumes perfectly in tune with modern taste – the round houses of the Ethiopians were regarded by Italian architects as irrational and unhygienic.

So what's the issue with round houses? Not a lot. Here's an old but good explanation.

Why Our Ancestors Built Round Houses - and Why it Still Makes Sense to Build Round Structures Today, by Rachel Ross (Inhabit)

The oldest forms of indigenous shelter were often round in shape. (Think the Southwest USA Hogan, Mongolian Yurt, North American Teepee and the Greek Tenemos, among others.) Why did our ancestors choose to build round? Because the ovid shape -- eggs, earth, tree trunks, and stones -- is what they saw reflected in the surrounding natural environment. And, as usual, Mother Nature knows best. There is some nifty natural science that makes round buildings more comfortable, more energy-efficient and safer -- especially if you combine the ancient shape with modern materials!