Daniel from Ethiopia joined us for the architects’ residency

Daniel from Ethiopia joined us as part of the architects’ residency program that we are preparing in Malý Berlin. In the interview, he shared his feelings about his stay in Slovakia, the work he did with us, and the experiences that the residency brought him.

Dani, first of all, I would like to ask what the residency at Malý Berlín gave you, especially from a professional point of view.

First and foremost, I am truly honored to have been a resident at Maly Berlin for the past three months, starting in October. I can confidently say that this experience represents one of the key turning points in my professional path. I am an architect by profession, and the open call was focused on the adaptation of landscape design in response to climate change. Therefore, the work mainly emphasized landscape and greenery, while also requiring a strong understanding of urban design principles. This approach allowed me to engage deeply with the city’s landscape and to broaden my perspective as an architect. Moreover, being immersed in a new cultural and contextual environment opened my eyes to how design problems are addressed differently across contexts, which is an essential and valuable skill for an architect.

How did you adapt to Slovakia and to Trnava?

As someone encountering Europe for the first time, the early days were a bit challenging for me, both in adapting to the climate and to the people. The Global South, where I come from, is characterized by a relatively hot climate and a highly connected social life. In contrast, I initially found Slovak people somewhat reserved, and the period when I arrived was particularly cold. However, thanks to the team at Maly Berlin, who were welcoming and supportive, I was able to adapt to the city more easily. As time went on, I got to know more people through the events organized at Maly Berlin, which helped me feel increasingly at home. Regarding the climate, I invested in proper winter clothing, which, admittedly, made me look bigger in picture. My mom thought I gained some weight. Over time, I began to truly enjoy my stay in Trnava, and I can say that my residency concluded at its peak, just as I had fully adapted to the Slovak context. Which is a bit sad ofc.

How long did it take you to decide whether you would actually come to Slovakia in the end?

When I first received the email informing me that I had been awarded the residency, I was genuinely surprised, as I had not expected it at all. At the time, I was visiting my family since the Ethiopian New Year was approaching, yet I did not hesitate to decide to come to Slovakia. I immediately began processing my visa and wrapped up my personal projects at home. I even spent the holiday away from my family in order to complete the visa process in Kenya.

Tell us more about yourself, your work, and your career. What did you study, and which interesting projects have you been involved in in the past?

I come from Ethiopia, a country located in East Africa. I am an architect and have been active in the professional industry since 2021. I studied Architecture at Addis Ababa University for five years and graduated with high honors. Since then, I have been involved in projects ranging from small to large scale in Ethiopia, as well as in several international competitions across different continents.

I began my early career at Alebel Desta Consulting Architects, based in Addis Ababa. My first project with the team was an international competition to design a memorial landscape project for the Boeing 737 crash in 2019. I learned a great deal from this project, and it further inspired me to engage in international competitions. From then on, my partner and I at the office started participating in several competitions, and recently we won a school design competition in Palestine, which brought us both international and national recognition. Although I have been involved in various projects, these two projects are particularly crucial and meaningful to me.

What was your stay at Malý Berlín actually about? What exactly did you work on while you were here?

My stay at Maly Berlin focused on the adaptation of Trnava’s greenery to climate change. The concept of climate change is, of course, very broad; however, our work specifically concentrated on water-sensitive urban landscapes. The city of Trnava is characterized by a scarcity of natural water resources and is currently facing challenges in maintaining urban greenery due to high water consumption. Therefore, together with the city administration, we analyzed existing green areas in selected locations and proposed solutions to make urban greenery less water-demanding.

The assignment mainly focused on identifying and analyzing existing conditions and proposing plant species that require lower water input and can thrive in low waster input environments. In addition, we studied possible policies and strategies adopted by other international cities in relation to water-sensitive landscape design. We are also planning to further develop this project and aim to realize it through the construction of an actual prototype park.

What goals did you have before the residency? Did you manage to achieve them?

Before starting my residency, I set several goals for myself. Besides completing the residency, I aimed to explore at least ten cities and build as many professional connections as possible. I believe I achieved most of these goals, as I visited five different countries during my stay and had the opportunity to see their capital cities. Thanks to the people at the municipality, I was able to meet professionals in person and conduct several interviews with them. Overall, I can say that I almost achieved all of the goals I had set for myself.

You presented your work to audiences at Malý Berlín several times. What was that experience like?

Before Maly Berlin, I can say that I had never given a public presentation. For my first presentation, I did several rehearsals, thinking it would be a very serious event. However, I found the atmosphere to be extremely friendly, and the audience was highly engaged. People were open to asking questions, and their positive feedback was truly inspiring. It was also the first time I met new people outside the staff of Maly Berlin.

What surprised me the most was that people from different backgrounds showed interest and attended the event. I initially thought that only architects or artists would come to the presentation, but the majority were not from these fields. I truly appreciated their perspectives on architecture and on my work, as it allowed me to see my projects through a broader and more diverse lens.

Did you establish new professional contacts in Trnava?

Yes, I established new professional connections in Trnava thanks to the people from the city administration and to some friends I came to know during my stay. I also managed to visit architectural studios in Bratislava, where I had one-on-one conversations with practicing architects. In addition to this, I met several highly inspiring artists. During my first presentation, which took place at a PechaKucha night, I had the chance to connect with many talented creatives. I still remember having a long conversation with an installation artist that lasted until midnight, and the wine was good. Meeting such people was truly inspiring, as it encouraged me to push myself beyond my usual boundaries.

What did your stay in Slovakia give you, and what are you taking away from it?

For me, one of the major takeaways from my residency in Slovakia was learning how to adapt to a new culture and context. I had never been outside my country before this residency, so it was my first experience of adjusting to a new place and new people. I can say that this experience made me fall in love with discovering new places and engaging with different cultures.

Another important takeaway from my stay was realizing that most of the people I met have a strong appreciation for quality of life. They are curious about other cultures, passionate about music and art, and, most importantly, very positive and open when approached. In addition, my stay in Slovakia allowed me to better understand what living in Europe looks like, and how cities and systems are designed to support comfortable and balanced everyday life.

You also attended some events at Malý Berlín. Which one interested you the most?

Among the events I attended at Maly Berlin, I especially enjoyed the PechaKucha night. One of the reasons was the large and diverse audience, where many creative professionals presented their work to the public. It was truly a great networking event, and I found myself wishing that similar events existed back home. During the night, presenters shared their work through a format of 20 slides, each shown for one minute. I was particularly amazed by the works of illustrators, landscape architects, and musicians. And of course, I loved the wine, it made the night even more memorable.

I know that you often travelled to Vienna. Why did you choose that city in particular?

My attachment to Vienna began unexpectedly. Just a week after arriving in Slovakia, I traveled to Vienna out of curiosity to see what the city was like. After sharing some posts online about my stay in Vienna, I discovered that one of my friends was living there as an exchange student. She had been a colleague at my previous office, and she later introduced me to the Ethiopian community in Vienna. I was genuinely surprised by how welcoming and hospitable the Ethiopian community there was.

Not only did I get to know them, but I also began spending my Saturday nights at one Ethiopian family’s apartment. Other friends would join us, and we often spent Saturday nights past midnight talking, debating, and enjoying ourselves. On Sundays, I attended the Ethiopian church and returned to Trnava in the afternoon. Throughout my stay, I visited Vienna almost every weekend. To this day, my time in Vienna remains deeply memorable and truly felt like home, and saying goodbye at the end of my residency was especially difficult.

Tell us more about what you experienced in Slovakia – do you have any unexpected, interesting, or funny stories?

My stay in Slovakia became more interesting as time went on. The first couple of weeks were mainly about getting to know Trnava and Bratislava, identifying stations, routes, and basic places around the cities. Then the municipality provided me with a bicycle, and that day I was so excited that I stopped my work and went for a long ride around the city. From then on, whenever I felt overworked, I would take the bike and explore Trnava. I can say that I covered most corners of the city. I even took my bike to Bratislava and Vienna to explore the cities, which I truly enjoyed.

Moreover, the friends I made in Trnava introduced me to new places, and we spent quality time together. One of the funniest experiences during my stay was getting lost on the train. I once traveled to Nové Zámky, a city about an hour and a half from Trnava, with colleagues from Maly Berlin. On my way back, I did not realize that the railway line was under maintenance and that there was no direct train to Trnava. I was supposed to get off at a station and continue part of the journey by bus, but I missed that stop and ended up traveling in the wrong direction. I could not find anyone who spoke English, and my mobile data had run out. I returned and repeated the same mistake, once again heading in the wrong direction.

For the third time, I came back and finally met an Indian man who was also trying to get to Trnava. I felt confident that I would make it home, but we ended up getting lost together in yet another direction. After nearly six hours of traveling, switching trains, and changing stations, I finally returned to my apartment. Each of those three wrong turns had its own funny story, and when we eventually arrived in Trnava, the Indian man and I laughed together about all the mistakes we had made along the way.

How would you sum up your experience here in one sentence?

I asked myself this question as well and could not find a better way to express it in a single sentence. However, if I had to summarize my experience, I would say: “My time in Trnava was like falling in love with your high school crush for the first time.” From the very beginning, I fell in love with Trnava, and each day and each week of my stay was memorable and full of new experiences. Although it lasted only three months, it felt like a lifetime and I find myself thinking about Trnava from time to time. I sincerely hope that I will have the chance to visit the city again.

Do you have any last words?

I have so many agents to thank here. First, I want to thank God for guiding me throughout this entire process. And secondly, without the support of my family, who have always encouraged my activities, I may not have made it this far. Most importantly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Maly Berlin for giving me this opportunity. I truly felt at home during my stay there. Last but not least, I would like to thank the Ethiopian community in Vienna and my friends back home for their constant support and encouragement.

Ján Janočko

Photo: Lívia Martvoňová