Massawa is a port city in Eritrea known as ‘the Pearl of the Red Sea’. However, the combination of earthquakes and a century of war have left an indelible mark on this city which now sits in ruin with little or no maintenance or attempt at restoration. The question is raised of how to prevent the ultimate decay and disappearance of such an important city whilst not wallpapering over its important historic scars.

This project looks to encapsulate the ruinous state of the Imperial Palace, home to Haile Selassie and the oldest building in Taulud Island. Through minimal intervention the scheme does not repair the building back to a set moment in time but provides a living museum showing the many layers to the building and to Massawa’s history.