the Monologue | Kofi Essel-Appiah

The Monologue

This  project is located in the upper class residential area of Cantoments  in Accra, Ghana. The central idea of the Monologue is to create an environmentally friendly, simple but interesting   architectural composition. Environmental optimization is achieved through efficient special planning, building orientation, shade to fenestration, cross ventilation, underground parking etc.

The Monologue’s western and eastern facades, which naturally have to deal with the solar incidence challenges utilize the  tools of “brise soleil” to   give a feel of different small sub-screens coming together to form a single framed large urban screen. These elevations have transparent films of either glass or air ,painting a picture of a singular seamless screen with a bold frame. The sensation of a frame of the  urban screen is given a suspended feel through the use of recessed supports and the glazing of the floor beneath.

Additionally the  angled balcony walls reinforce the screen appearance as seen by the human eyes in varying perspectives which emphasize the façade recession feel giving the building a pure but iconic feel.

The façade treatment to the west and east  elevations though seemingly  random, follow a poetic pattern inspired from the ubiqitous Ghanaian "Kente"  that come together to form  an urban screen composed of simple masonry white walls and glass.

Flat concrete roof is used with parapet wall to give a horizontal roof line. On the roof slab is a thermal insulation membrane with solar blocks on top. These layers are introduced to reduce thermal heat gain via the roof into the top floor spaces.