位于埃塞俄比亚首都亚的斯亚贝巴(Addis Ababa)梅卡尼萨(Mekanisa)地区的佐玛博物馆(Zoma Museum)并不是那种冷冰冰的白盒子展厅。这座生态艺术中心在 2019 年 3 月正式对外开放,背后的筹备和建造足足花了创始人伊利亚斯·西蒙(Elias Sime)和梅斯克雷姆·阿塞格德(Meskerem Assegued)将近二十五年的时间。它把埃塞俄比亚传统的建筑智慧搬到了海拔 2350 米的高原闹市,占地大约 1.2 万平方米,现在已经成了当地最出名的文化地标之一。
走进园子,最先抓人眼球的是那些曲线起伏的建筑。它们没有用一砖一瓦,而是采用了一种叫作 Cob 的传统工艺。简单说就是把红土、稻草、石灰和水按比例混合,再加入醋酸发酵几个星期。这种材料干透后硬如磐石,而且特别能适应东非高原的昼夜温差。你在墙面上能看到艺术家亲手雕刻的纹路,有的像电路板,有的像部落织物的经纬线。这种把原始材料玩出未来感的做法,让它在刚开馆时就登上了《纽约时报》的年度旅游推荐。
园内的图书馆不仅藏书丰富,建筑本身也是一件艺术品。每一根木梁和每一扇窗框都有手工打磨的痕迹。这里还有一个半圆形的露天剧场,经常会举办当地的爵士乐演出或当代舞表演。即便不看展,光是看这些建筑在不同光影下的质感,也足够磨掉一个下午的时间。
这里以前曾是城市的废弃垃圾堆场,现在却被改造成了郁郁葱葱的阶梯式花园。整座园林利用天然坡度进行重力灌溉,收集的雨水通过不同高度的水渠流经各种耐旱植物和药草。你会发现园子里种满了埃塞俄比亚特有的香料和蔬菜。这些植物不需要化肥,全靠园子里养的小牛和小羊产生的有机肥。这种自给自足的闭环系统,在缺水且城市化迅速的亚的斯亚贝巴显得极其超前。
逛累了可以直接去园内的咖啡馆坐坐。这里的食材几乎全是从旁边的有机菜园里现摘的,牛奶也是当天从牛棚里挤出来的。说真的,在这样一座尘土飞扬的非洲大都市里,能坐在泥墙草顶的建筑里喝一杯正宗的埃塞原产咖啡,闻着泥土和薄荷的清香,这种主观体验上的反差非常奇妙。这里的餐厅在周末经常满座,如果想吃午餐建议早点过去占个靠窗的位置。
去佐玛博物馆千万别指望路边随手拦的出租车,司机很可能找不到具体的弄堂。建议手机里先装好当地的打车软件 Ride 或 Feres,直接定位 Zoma Museum。它离博莱国际机场(Bole International Airport)大约 20 分钟车程。如果是清晨出发,亚的斯亚贝巴的空气有点凉,最好带件轻便的风衣,到了中午太阳直射时紫外线又很强,帽子是必需品。
目前的成人门票针对外国游客大约在 500 到 700 比尔(ETB)之间,价格偶尔会随当地通胀调整,建议备好现金或使用当地电子支付。博物馆在周一闭馆,平时的开放时间是上午十点到下午六点半。至于什么时候去最好,那肯定是每年 10 月到次年 6 月的旱季。这时候天空透亮,园子里的植物颜色最丰富,拍出来的照片不用滤镜也很有质感。
展厅内部和特定艺术装置通常禁止使用专业单反相机摄影,但手机拍照在大部分公共区域和花园里是被允许的。如果需要进行商业拍摄或使用三脚架,必须提前向管理处申请并支付额外费用。目前园方对保护建筑纹路和版权非常看重,建议在每个区域入口留意标识。
这里非常适合家庭出游,园内专门设有一个自然风格的儿童中心和滑梯游乐区。孩子们可以在有机农场里看到奶牛和羊,观察灌溉系统如何运作。博物馆还经常在周末举办手工泥塑课,让小孩亲手尝试那种发酵过的泥巴材料,门票里通常不包含这些课程费,需要现场咨询预约。
由于主打有机和农场直供,这里的餐费比街边的普通餐馆贵一些,人均消费大约在 800 到 1200 比尔左右。不过考虑到食材的新鲜程度和整体环境,这个价格在当地中产消费圈里算是物有所值。餐厅提供的英杰拉(Injera)酸饼配有机时蔬非常地道,建议尝试一下这种埃塞国民美食。
Ermias Alemayehu The place is more of a green garden than a Museum. It's a very amazing place to relax and have time with Nature. I loved it. A simple comment: need to work on the service for the food and beverage outlets.
THE MK7 "Zoma Museum", I believe this place isn't accurately named. It's more of a garden than a museum but regardless it is a really nice place to visit. During my visit I got to see a variety of native plants, birds and some mammals. The cows definitely steal the show. The whole place is beautiful, calm and peaceful. The serene environment makes you feel at peace while you look around. There are some really interesting architecture worth exploring. I don't know how and what the buildings are made of but it has a beautiful appeal. There are many food courts where you can get snacks, drinks and meals. The meal I had was super and I want to believe it's same with everything else. You definitely have to pass by this place when you're in Mekanisa. Entrance was 150 Birr at the time I went there. Overall I loved the place. It has an amazing vibe and people who love quiet places in nature will love it.
Habib It's not a museum, just a small garden and plantation. It's nice and calm for a little walk among trees and water. Don't expect too much to see, just a couple of old turtles and cows. The entire walking around, it takes less than 15 minutes. There are cafe and souvenirs shop.
Abreham Mulie This place is really amazing garden, ideally fantastic location for those who loves garden. The sound of birds, water flows sound, different plant species are really making the best place. There is also special house design, and it’s built by mud. There’s also souvenir shops, food and beverage service, sometimes there will be small handmade craft bazaar.
Kells Leggese I love this place! The most tranquil place in the heart of a super busy city. The trees and the gardens just relax you. So many native plants including fruit trees and coffee plants...I enjoyed the cafe for almost 3 hours before coming back to the crazy traffic refreshed. :) Check out their K-6 school that is next door where the kids are exposed to gardening and raising animals and connecting them to nature. An awesome concept and I hope for the success of this unique place.