"Barnwood project is led by Ghanaian British architect Theo Obeng-Sackey and reflects a housing typology central to Symbolic Spaces' ongoing research. Since 2017, the studio has explored the relationship between architectural form, materiality, and climate-responsive strategies within the humid conditions of Aburi, a context distinct from the drier and more intense climatic conditions of Accra. This setting provides a framework for testing construction approaches that balance expressive massing with economic efficiency, while positioning color and surface texture as integral components of regional architectural language."
"the project aims to inspire the community but also to challenge prevailing narratives of modern African architecture the design draws subtly from local building traditions entirely through local craftsmanship Symbolic Spaces studio selects Laterite as the primary external skin a red clay pigment was introduced to enrich the surface, referencing regional vernacular architecture the facade's texture resembles the contours of nearby anthills"
Barnwood in Gyankama, Aburi, comprises clay-pigmented, monolithic villas emerging from the region's red earth. The project is led by Theo Obeng-Sackey of Symbolic Spaces and selects laterite as the primary external skin, enriched with a red clay pigment to reference regional vernacular. The design responds to Aburi's humid climate through material choices, massing, and climate-responsive strategies the studio has explored since 2017. Construction emphasizes local craftsmanship and draws subtly from local building traditions. Facade texture references nearby anthills. The approach seeks to balance expressive massing with economic efficiency while engaging community and regional identity.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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