Rinaldo Olivieri's stepped concrete pyramid, built between 1970 and 1973, was conceived as a covered market and business centre for the confident young republic and is now cited as the emblematic work of African modernism in Abidjan. Apartments occupied the tiered balconies above a commercial hall on a massive cubic plinth. Abandoned during the political troubles of the 1990s, it has stood empty and closed for decades while renovation schemes have come and gone.
Designed by the Italian architect Rinaldo Olivieri and built between 1970 and 1973, La Pyramide was conceived as a covered market and business centre for a country riding the economic confidence of the Ivorian miracle, the rapid growth of the 1960s and 1970s driven by cocoa and coffee exports. The building's stepped concrete form, a series of setback tiers rising from a massive cubic plinth, was intended to combine a bustling ground-level commercial market with office space and residential apartments on the terraced balconies above, an ambitious mixing of functions rare for the period. It is now widely cited by architectural historians as the emblematic work of African modernism in Abidjan and one of the most significant Brutalist structures on the continent, admired for the sculptural boldness of its stepped massing and the way its market hall was designed to draw natural light and ventilation down through the tiers. The building thrived through the late 1970s and 1980s as a working market and business address in the heart of Le Plateau, but it declined through the economic crises of the late 1980s and the political instability of the 1990s and 2000s, and the market and offices were eventually abandoned. It has stood empty and closed to the public for decades, its concrete surfaces weathering and its interior stripped of most fittings, while successive renovation and redevelopment schemes have been announced and then stalled for lack of financing. Despite its closure, the building remains one of the most photographed structures in Abidjan and a reference point for architects studying tropical modernism, and its silhouette anchors the streetscape at the corner of Avenue Franchet d'Esperey.
| Admission | Free to view from the street |
|---|---|
| Hours | Exterior visible at any hour; the interior is closed pending renovation |
| Address | Corner of Avenue Franchet d'Esperey and Boulevard Botreau-Roussel, Le Plateau, Abidjan |
Why it matters
La Pyramide is regarded as the emblematic building of African modernist architecture in Abidjan, constructed at the height of the 1970s Ivorian miracle economic boom.
Location
Corner of Avenue Franchet d'Esperey and Boulevard Botreau-Roussel, Le Plateau, Abidjan
5.3223, -4.0164 View on map
Highlights
- Rinaldo Olivieri's 1970-1973 stepped concrete design
- Landmark of African modernist and Brutalist architecture
- Once a combined market, office and apartment complex
- Abandoned since the 1990s, pending renovation
Tips for visiting
- View the building from Avenue Franchet d'Esperey for the best angle on the stepped facade
- The interior is closed to the public; there is no scheduled tour
- Visit with an architecture-focused guide for context on the design
- Photograph in the morning when the light picks out the tiered concrete massing
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors go inside La Pyramide?
No, the interior has been closed since the building was abandoned and is not open to visitors.
Is there a fee to view it?
No, the exterior is freely visible from the street.
Why is the building historically significant?
It is considered the emblematic work of African modernist architecture in Abidjan, built at the height of the country's post-independence economic boom.