KNUST Architecture students are giving back to their communities by designing high-density sustainable housing for different income groups in Ghana. The imaginative mixed-use residential development proposed by the students were on display to the public on August 30, 2022 at the exhibition hall of the Travellion Block, KNUST.
The proposals were made by third (3rd) year students of the Department of Architecture following a two-week field study at Ejisu. According to the students, Ghana’s population is soaring, thus, placing high demands on our finite natural resources. Hence, there’s a need to encourage high-density mixed-use development to reduce our ecological and carbon footprints.
One of the key highlights of the exhibition was the use of local building materials (e.g. rammed earth, bamboo and laterite etc.) in the design of high-density housing to reduce the cost of buildings and deliver more environmentally friendly outcomes. Some observers commended this initiative as a sustainable approach to addressing Ghana’s housing crisis.
The occasion was graced by Prof. Robert J Chaskin (Faculty Director, Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, University of Chicago) who spoke on Mixed-use urbanism and social housing for low-income people. In his concluding remarks, Prof Chaskin noted that he was impressed by the proposals by the students and looked forward to future collaboration.
The coordinator of the exhibition -Dr Martin Larbi, also noted that they hope to work in partnership with industry and civil society organisations to implement some of the design proposals made by students during their annual peri-urban surveys. He added that such a collaboration will give students invaluable learning opportunities to implement their ideas in the real-world. Besides, the local communities will also benefit directly from the works of the students.
The event was organized by the third-year studio staff of the Department of Architecture i.e.: Arc Charles Essel, Dr Martin Larbi, Arc Benedict Owusu-Brown, Dr Alexander Eduful, Dr Victor Kootin Sanwu and Arc Nana Agyemang Cobbinah, under the auspices of the Head of Department of Architecture – Prof Christian Koranteng.
