Overview

Our Client, the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK) is a Pan-African Multilateral financial institution established in 1993, by African Governments, African private and institutional investors as well as non-African financial institutions and private investors.

The Harare Trade Center is 1 of 8 that will be built accross Africa in the comming years, with the intention of financing, promoting and expanding intra-African and extra-African Trade.

Following the global design concept from SVA, APS were appointed as project specific Architects for the design and construction of Afreximbank's Headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The Harare Afreximbank Africa Trade Centre (HAATC) is a collection of buildings, consisting of an 11 floor (118 room) hotel, 8 floor office block and 2 floor conference and exhibition centre, all clustered around a sheltered public space, that is partly internal and partly external in nature.

The interelationships between the different buildings and the interactions between diverse tenants and guests, within the main public space, makes the scheme unique locally and regionally.

The covered square or street, is envisioned as 'the heart' of the scheme, and a conceptual microcosm of the larger Trade Centre, providing a regional ‘melting pot’ for trade, business, accomodation and ideas exchange, allowing people from different back grounds the opportunity to comfortably network and socialise in a spectacular triple volume space.

The raw and honest use of locally available face brick and concrete, reflect the resouces of the region and its people. This is contrasted against the contemporary use of steel, glass and aluminium which make reference to projected ambition in a regional and global economic market.

The architectural aesthetic is informed by dominant 'V' columns, dynamic cantilevering forms, horizontal feathered lines, and projecting facades, reminiscent of a bird poised for flight.

Construction is underway and it is anticipated that completion will be in late 2026.