Colonial architecture in Luanda

Luanda is a town born in 1575 because of the Atlantic slave trade which continued to the end of the 19th century when international pressure forced it to stop. The next significant growth of the city was based on the coffee industry (1930s-1950s) and now oil is the driving force behind Luanda’s expansion. These historical periods of economic expansion can be understood through Luanda’s architecture.

Tropical Modernist architecture of Angola:

As an engineer and art lover I have always been a passionate of architecture and in Angola we have amazing heritage that at Last Tribes Angola we like to put in value in every trip. Here we present different architectonic styles that represent key moments of the Angolan history.

Tropical Modernist architecture of Angola

During 1930 and 1950 Angola enjoyed an economic boom mainly due to coffee and diamond export to Europe and Brazil. Thanks to this sudden wealth many families and local governments decided to invest in their homes, amusement sites and public buildings. The architecture of this period is known as ‘Moderno Tropical’ –Tropical Modernist- and is characterized by a mixture of Art Deco and Moderniststyles. Good examples of this architecture can be found in Luanda, Lobito, Benguela, Lubango, Namibe, and Tombwa

São Miguel fort

Was built in 1576 by Paulo Dias de Novais. It became the administrative center of the colony and was a major outlet for slave traffic to Brazil. Inside the fort, elaborate ceramic tiles tell the story of Angola from early years, and in the courtyard are large, imposing statues of Portugal's first king, the first European to reach Angola, Diego Cao, renowned explorer Vasco da Gama and other notables. Today, it holds the Museum of the Armed Forces.

Our Lady of Conception Church

Founded in 1583/1590. This church became the Luanda Cathedral, something which lasted until 1818.

Jesus Church

Founded in 1612/1636. The style is Baroque and the Church was considered at the time "the grandest structure in the southern hemisphere". With the Dutch occupation in 1641, the Church served as a Parliament and Government Council. With the re-conquest by the Portuguese in 1648, became a Church again. In 1978, became the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Luanda.

Our Lady of Nazareth Church

Founded in 1664/1965. The small church of Our Lady of Nazareth was built in 1664, almost on the water. The facade was in front of the Bay and to the Church of Our Lady of the Cape. In 1922 the Church was regarded as a national monument. It is a replica of the Our Lady of Nazareth, a picturesque fisherman's Beach in Portugal, full of tiles that tell stories and miracles. Inside there is a black image of Santa Iphigenia of Ethiopia. Today is the Church of the parish and a shrine.

Church of Our Lady of the Remedies

Founded in 1655/1679. Here lie the remains of the first Archbishop of Luanda and the last Angola/Congo Bishop.

Palacio D. Ana Joaquina (1755)

Original house dated from 1755 was house of slave trader Ana Joaquina dos Santos da Silva.

Museo de Antropologia (S-XVIII)

Palace of another slave trading family. Hosts Angolan ethnographic art since 1976.

Palacio de Ferro -Iron Palace- (1890)

Reputedly designed and built by Gustave Eiffel. It is believed to have been pre-built in the 1890 in France and was destined to be placed in Madagascar via boat. Instead, the building ended-up in Angola's Skeleton Coast after the ship carrying was drafted by the notorious Benguela currents. Portuguese rulers of the colony then claimed the ship along with all its contents, including the palace.

Grande Hotel (1910)

First Luxury Hotel; located close to dock housed dislocated families from civil war. Today is a cultural centre.

Banco Nacional

Founded in 1926.

Grande Universo Hotel (1949)

With paintings of Neves Sousa and Globo Hotel (1953) are good examples of Modernist Tropical architecture

Cine-Teatro Restauração (1946)

Today it hosts the National Assembly.

Museo de Historia Natural (1956)

Outdated but yet interesting collection of stuffed animal species from Angola.

Cine Tropical (1956)

In Art Deco style.

Cine-Teatro Moçamedes (today Namibe)

Built in 1939 Art Deco style.

Cine Estudio (1965) in Namibe.

Futurist style made of concrete. Today abandoned.

The Cine Impala in Namibe

A 600-person theatre, designed by architects Botelho Pereira in 1972 – takes its name from the African antelope, which is a symbol of the city.

Cine-Teatro Tombwa and surroundings (1952)

Today abandoned with the classical.

Mercado Municipal and surroundings –Namibe- (1957)

Namibe- (1957)

Port Authority

Namibe- (1953)

Vernacular architecture of Angola

Vernacular architecture is commonly recognised as the fundamental expression of the world’s cultural diversity. In Angola best examples of vernacular architecture are found among the remote tribes in the Southwest. An outstanding example of sophisticated and beautiful is the one of Ngendelengo tribe with two-storey constructions that serve as home and granary. Other beautiful more basic type of structures are found among nomadic groups in desert areas such as Cubal, Dimba and Himba tribes. The desire for modernisation and the well-known globalisation phenomenon are some of the most frequent evoked issues responsible for endangering the survival of vernacular heritage in Africa. In Last Places we aim to highlight the outstanding universal value of vernacular architectural heritage in Angola and to raise awareness to the increasing need, not only the protection of these structures’ integrity but also for the preservation of such ancient and sustainable building techniques as a living heritage.

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