Villaggio Vista | Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Responding to local conditions, but also creating its own, Villaggio Vista has created a new landmark for Accra. By demonstrating the possibility of building high-rise in an equatorial, earthquake-risk location, the scheme offers a new housing prototype for Ghana’s emerging middle class. Four thermally-massive buildings, ranging from seven to 30 storeys, are positioned to capture a central leafy landscape. Each building has a patterned skin inspired by Kente weavings and cantilevering upper floors that address specific local and more distant landmarks. Developed in collaboration with engineers AKT II, these cantilevers harness local conditions by maximising high-level internalised spaces; apartments centre on large, semi-enclosed sky courtyards that bring light into the deep plans. Window openings – limited, tall and narrow – are recessed into the inner line of the façade to reduce solar gain. The project’s first stage (completed in 2011) offers 36 apartments across two connected buildings and a roof top terrace with pool, while stages two and three (completed in 2016) provide a further 110 apartments, offices, retail accommodation and a gym.