Emerging Ghana

Emerging Ghana is a solution for an eco-affordable single family house for the emerging middle class of Ghana. The project seeks an architectural scheme that is recognizable in the context of Ghana, therefore making the plan familiar to those who will be living in it. It is this aspect that will contribute positively to the acceptance and respectability of the home. The courtyard - frequently used in tropical climates, such as in the Ashanti compound (Ghanaian ethnic group) - becomes the heart of the house, with its central open fire it works as a unifying element around which other spaces are organized. Many daily activities take place here from cooking and washing to playing or resting. The project is based on 3 fundamental principals: Local, using a recognizable architectural scheme and the use of local and sustainable materials which reduces import and transportation, saves energy and uses less packaging while also favoring the development of the local industry; Modular, standardized dimensions make building, transportation and reuse easier; Energy Efficiency, over the entire life cycle of a building it is the single most important goal of sustainable architecture. Low-tech design solutions such as using natural ventilation, passive solar, sustainable materials, waste management and water management respond well to the local climate of Cape Coast. The house can grow over time, allowing the extended family to be taken care of and installations are flexible and adaptable depending on the needs and current family situation. Flexibility is obtained through the use of repeated modules with simple and dry connections between construction elements facilitating maintenance, expansion, replacement, recycling and reuse. The modular lightweight panels of bamboo and Dahoma wood are symbiotically unified with heavyweight rammed earth walls. The design offers a nice variety of modular elements that create a desirable relationship between inside and outside spaces creating a rich living environment. Above all, the goal in the long run is to promote local community involvement, the design may be built by anyone from a skilled laborer to the homeowner himself. The project aims to generate choice and provide knowledge and creativity where it is most needed, bringing it one step closer to Ghana Emerging.