abana coffee farm 

Gera, Ethiopia

A 3km² site in the mountains of southwestern Ethiopia is being developed into a coffee farming community that will ultimately become a place of residence and work for more than 1,500 people.  IDD was assigned the task to provide a master plan for the first of three phases on the site including design of the needed utility infrastructure.  The proposed master plan included design of coffee farming facilities, housing, site roads, and water/waste water and electrical utilities.  The master plan was also designed with consideration for the two future phases as well as future public facilities such as a school building and community center.

IDD responded to the client’s wishes by incorporating several important design guidelines into both the master planning and detailed design elements.  The client desired that the residential portion of phase 1 feel “separate” but still “connected” to the coffee farming facilities.  This was achieved by locating the housing units on a hill opposite a ridge where the proposed coffee farming facilities will be located.  Residents will feel like they have a private space separate from the work area, but the residents will still be able to maintain a watchful eye on the expensive coffee farming facilities.

Simple building designs common to the region were utilized throughout the project to allow for ease of construction.  Improvements to the local building methods were included wherever possible to raise the standard of living and provide safer, more hygienic housing units.  Improvements included concrete floors and separating the living facilities from the cooking units and the restrooms.  A design theme was incorporated throughout the site to create a community feel.  The theme included the use of trusses to frame building entries, gable roofs, verandas in front of buildings, and plastered walls.

Minimizing impact to the site was also key to providing an environmentally friendly design.  This was achieved by designing erosion control measures for the proposed site road and improving the existing road at locations already experiencing negative impacts from erosion.  A constructed wetland will provide advanced treatment for site-generated waste water thereby allowing the treated effluent to be returned to the existing stream without any adverse effects.

Abana coffee is nearing construction completion for the Phase 1 facilities which includes housing and support infrastructure for approximately 500 people.  Coffee farming facilities have also been constructed and are currently being utilized in order to begin harvesting the more than 1 million coffee plants on site.  IDD is extremely proud to be part of such a healthy community development project which will ultimately provide work and a place to live for more than 1,500 Ethiopians.
​