Ghana, a vibrant nation on Africa’s west coast, is experiencing an architectural revolution. As we delve into the heart of this transformation, we’ll explore how modern trends are reshaping the landscape of Ghanaian homes. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the latest architectural trends that are redefining Ghana’s skyline and inspiring homeowners across the country.
The Evolution of Ghanaian Architecture
To understand the current trends, we must first look back at the evolution of Ghanaian architecture. This rich history has set the stage for the exciting developments we’re witnessing today.
Traditionally, nearly all the housing structures in Ghana were inspired by cultural norms and the country’s climate. The following are the types of traditional houses:
- The most common house type is the compound which is made of blocks of houses surrounded by mud walls. Most encompass a main residence, auxiliary structures, and an open area in the middle of the structure.
- There are also houses with one room for the living space, which are also considered traditional and are typical for the countryside. These huts are usually round or square and are made of mud with palm; leaves used in making the roofs.
Due to these, the properties in Ghana has been colored by great change, especially with the growth of the urban civilization of the country.
Emerging Trends in Modern Ghanaian Architecture
Several key trends are shaping the future of housing in Ghana:
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Smart Home Features
As Ghana’s tech sector grows, so does the demand for smart home features.
Vertical Living
In urban centres like Accra, where space is at a premium, vertical living solutions are becoming more prevalent.
Adaptive Reuse
As Ghana’s cities grow, there’s a growing trend towards adaptive reuse of historical buildings.
Biophilic Design
Biophilic design, which seeks to connect building occupants with nature, is gaining traction in Ghana.
Community-Focused Spaces
Modern Ghanaian architecture is increasingly focusing on creating spaces that foster community connections.
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Climate-Responsive Design
Ghana’s hot and humid climate presents unique challenges and opportunities for architects.
Types of Modern Houses in Ghana
The properties in Ghana have been colored by great change, especially with the growth of the urban civilization of the country.
- Apartments: Due to factors such as high population density and shortage of land, apartments have gained prominence in the center of cities.
- Townhouses: Overlooking the idea of the single, self-contained looking home, townhouses give the flexibility of an apartment while being an independent house and this is becoming prevalent in the land of the increasing hundreds, Ghana.
- Detached Houses: They are individual houses and depict the modern houses in Ghana perfectly well.
Factors Influencing Housing Choices
Several factors influence the type of housing available and chosen by Ghanaians:
- Income: Income affects significantly the type of housing available.
- Lifestyle: Housing requirements are unique to the people and the number and composition of the families they are going to be housed.
It is necessary to be specific that the current situation in Ghana suggests that it is characterized by significant changes in the type of housing. Despite the heritage still present in the buildings, this country is gradually turning to contemporary trends in architectural designs to cater to the rising population demands.
Inspiring House Designs in Ghana
We love to see house designs, plans and pictures that make us go wow. We are fascinated by the picturesque houses seen on our favourite TV shows and on social media, and fantasise how fantastic our dream home could be. But what if I told you that there were such dream homes here in Ghana? Chancing upon such inspiring homes is not quite common, by their mere definition they are quite rare, yet this list should give us a peek at some of what we would certainly qualify as inspiring homes right here in the country.
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Various elements come into play that make us love this home designed by Mobius Architecture. The tasteful use of stone, wood and glass materials within this build gives it the warm vibe of a resort right at home. And who wouldn’t want to have a go at the open-air shower featuring in the master bedroom?
When you picture your dream home, you may want many rooms where you could do many things. But then you remember you only have a small building plot and you start to mentally cut out some rooms and features you had included in the original dream till all you are left with is but a shell of what you wanted. Good news is, it does not have to be so. The cleverly designed Ark by IAC Consults proves small-sized lands can still birth magnificent homes. Small house designs are possible.
Open the gates, though, and you are in for a series of surprises: first off being that this semi-detached house has 4 levels. Other surprises include the 3-level sky-lit atrium that greets you at the entry foyer, the 180-degree bulletproof glazing enclosing the sunken living/office basement from whose windows you can see the manicured garden outside and the rooftop garden viewpoint! Did we mention that these were only on one half of this semi-detached building?
For those among us who believe in having their homes be a true reflection of their cultural heritage and identity but yet have no interest in living in the traditional mud house, you may love this one.
Although, widely regarded as a less sustainable material, concrete is king in building mostly everywhere, and more certainly in Ghana. However, the people who lived here before us prove better to have better sustainable measures and building materials that, more appropriately, respond to the climate of our region. When such indigenous building measures are refined by modern minds like that of Arch.
With a heart to bring the nativity of its people to the homes they live in, the Innonative House defies the tradition of building with concrete and, in essence, makes this house more environmentally responsive and energy-efficient. This simple house design, unlike your conventional home, doesn’t need an air conditioning system to keep it cool! Yes, you read that right!
If you wanted to be free from the confines of the city and its bustle and be nestled right in the heart of nature between land and sea, you might want to take a look at this next entry. Defying the conventional rules that make your normal house… well, a normal house. These artists let the site dictate more of this house’s design. Simple, yet profound. The deck beyond is a diving spot to the pool right below.
This is, by no means, an exhaustive list of the inspiring house designs that dot about the regions of Ghana. Though rare to come by, when found, such houses do provoke an appreciation for great design and inspiration, defying the conventional and blazing trails to show what is possible. Being fascinated with the prospects of great design, Seshiena Lotsu has spent close to a decade working, studying and learning the design disciplines of architecture.
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Compact House: A Case Study in Accra
Black houses are unusual in Ghana. It’s a colour associated with death, melancholy and harshness, so Compact House, located on a sleepy, residential street in the capital city of Accra, naturally stands out. Still, it is a project that its author, architect Alice Asafu-Adjaye, has noticed stops people in their tracks - in a good way.
‘Black buildings, let alone houses, are pretty much unheard of in Ghana,’ she says. ‘People rarely dress all in black, unless in mourning.’
During construction, it became a talking point as workers on the estate would walk up to see the ‘black house’. Where the initial response was tinged with alarm and suspicion, they softened into curiosity and marvelling at how so much (pool, garden, parking) could be done on such a small plot size and still pack a punch in comparison to the larger houses on the estate.’
Asafu-Adjaye set up her studio, Mustard, in Accra in 2015, following training in the UK, and working both there (her experience includes a position at Foster + Partners) and in her home country of Ghana, where she moved with her daughter in 2012. The boutique practice now works across a range of residential, commercial and cultural projects, as well as installations such as her participation at the London Design Biennale in 2021, but Compact House, the architect’s own home, has a special place in her heart.
Inside the Urban Compact House by Alice Asafu-Adjaye
The house is located in a development in the Tse Addo neighbourhood, not far from the city’s Cantonments district, an affluent part of town with a buzzy feel, where many embassies are located. Set in a gated community, the site would have typically been sold with a simple, ready-made home. Asafu-Adjaye, however, bought just the land - a narrow 40ft x 80ft plot - and decided to build her own design.
‘I wanted something small that would contain my life. I am a bit of a hoarder so I wanted it to fit my and my daughter’s lifestyle and hold all the things I have amassed over the years,’ she explains. ‘I also wanted it to be a bit of a case study to test out building small contemporary homes in Ghana.’
The traditional domestic compound in Ghana is built around a central open-air courtyard and often needs to accommodate extended family. So the housing market tends to offer either larger homes for multigenerational living or smaller cookie-cutter residences that are ready to buy. As lifestyles change, there is an opportunity, argues Asafu-Adjaye, to take a more design-led, customised approach to single-family housing.
‘What I wanted to do here is create a mini version of the courtyard compound typology that reflects both our environment and culture,’ she says.
Asafu-Adjaye’s daughter trained for years as a swimmer so a slim lap pool was the first thing the architect wanted to include. Placing the 2.5m x 15.5m pool against a boundary wall helped to define the house’s footprint. Carving out the volume, its relatively blank street façade was designed to be minimalist and provide a bit of mystery. The front door is discreetly placed at the side and visitors have to walk around a small patio to find it. A cantilever to the north and east, as well as recessed windows on the west side, ensure the interior is protected from rain.
The house has also been constructed to work with the local tropical climate and to avoid the use of artificial air-conditioning as much as possible - louvres incorporated into the façade and operable windows ensure a steady breeze runs through the rooms, cooling them down. Ventilation is aided by ceiling fans if required, although additional help is needed during the harmattan season, when the Saharan winds blow sand south, as the windows have to stay shut to ensure it doesn’t enter.
The volume is clad in black galvanised steel at the top and black porcelain tiles below, set on a concrete block construction (the region’s typical building method). Asafu-Adjaye hopes to install solar panels on the roof in the near future to take the house off the national grid, which suffers frequent power outages.
Spread over two storeys, the home has a high-ceilinged, open-plan ground level that accommodates the living spaces, while upstairs are three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small family room. The banister-free staircase, clad in walnut, adds warmth to the composition, while simultaneously acting as a piece of furniture (the absence of a handrail means that Asafu-Adjaye can use it as seating when guests come over). It also offers a great view of the small garden - the outdoor space on the ground level may be bijou, but it’s awash with greenery from potted plants (‘I am not much of a gardener,’ she admits, ‘but I have overloaded it with plants’).
Inside, a crisp grey colour palette forms a contemporary backdrop to all her furniture and objects - from a Norman Foster-designed ‘Nomos’ glass table and Arne Jacobsen chairs to a collection of vintage Asante objects, such as stools, and a chief’s customary staff and chair, some acquired and some inherited from her mother, who is of royal Asante heritage. ‘It was satisfying to see it all come together in the house,’ she says.
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