1977-1984
La Cité Administrative comprises five tower blocks that are home to the majority of Côte d’Ivoire’s government departments. They were designed by Louis Renard and Jean Semichon and built in two phases, completed in 1977 and 1984.
These buildings are a striking feature of Plateau, Abidjan’s modernist commercial and government centre, and contribute to Abidjan’s image as the ‘Manhattan of west Africa’.
For Ivoirians, the collection is a prominent but inaccessible feature of the city. They offer an image of a look-but-don’t-touch state.