Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
Voltascapes: Re-thinking Modernity
Redevelopment proposal of Danyigba, a Volta Region New Town in Ghana
Sirron-Kakpor Architects Broederschaplaan 10. 3451 ZB. Vleuten. The Netherlands + 31 (0) 6233 49 340 accra office: No: 15, First Asoyi Road, East Legon - Accra. Ghana + 233 (0) 2040 72 500 i.kwaku@sirron-kakpor.com www.sirron-kakpor.com skype: i.sirron-kakpor Current occupation: Project Architect ‘inno-native’tm design+build Joe Osae-Addo. Constructs llc. Cantonments - Accra. Ghana
Architecture
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor Voltascapes: Re-thinking Modernity Redevelopment proposal of Danyigba, a Volta Region New Town in Ghana
In the years shortly after the Independence of Ghana (1957) modernism was made instrumental to prepare the country for a promising future. To remain able to deal with growing energy consumption, a huge power dam reservoir was realized by making use of a catchment area of the Volta River. Many villages in the area around the original river needed to be relocated to make this possible. An international team of planners and architects developed the blueprints for this major operation. A large percentage of these plans have been executed, although not always to the original ideas. At the moment, approximately 50 years after the commencement of the Volta River Project, one can conclude, that the foreseen development hasn’t reached the area or its inhabitants. The plans implemented by the Volta River Authority (VRA) for the resettlements have failed, because they neglected the existing culture while modernity ideologies were imposed upon the community. Strict division between functions, a formal and rigid educational system, strict control on building that prescribed building materials and types of houses; all of these were ingredients of a forceful development plan that was missing a link with the people it was developed for. The redevelopment needs of Danyigba bring to the surface the successes and the shortfalls of the original ‘top down’ plans. Re-thinking modernity aims to develop a bottom strategic approach at several scale levels form Danyigba, one of the cities of the resettlement programme. This bottom up strategy may lead to a meaningful perspective from the local community. A master plan was designed and an urban axis is developed, spanning between a community centre and a training institute. Additionally attention was given to the housing along the axis, to also illustrate how the strategy can be implemented here. The redevelopment plan of Danyigba aims to repair these failures by implementing a model that goes beyond building, and defining a new role for the architect. The redevelopment plan restructures the existing and weaves in new elements and impulses that ultimately may generate new ways of income, self-training, reconnection to the outside world and general development. Education is a key driver of development in the proposal. Practical training for building, health care, car repair, beauty, fashion etc. is intertwined with the basic theoretical education on reading, writing, mathematics etc. The proposed buildings make innovative use of local building materials and skills, and borrow from other professions like skills of boat builders, weaving for fishing nets, etc. The steps to the realization of the buildings are planned through an educational workshop run by the architect, through which a local training group is introduced to harness new innovative building skills, resulting in the realization of the first buildings. The builders will play a role in the realization of the next steps of the development plans, either communal or private. Design principles are based on local uses, materials and climatic conditions and form a strong basis for the buildings – an architect as an enabler.
Graduation date 20 12 2012
Commission members Berend van der Lans (mentor) Janneke Bierman Chris Scheen External commissioners Joe Osae-Addo
Additional members for the examination Bart Bulter (chair) Tom Bergevoet
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
second skin
construction
core skin
the base
Headmaster House
Architecture
TAMALE
52
43 48
42 41
45
49
44
47
40
39
46
37 38 36
35
30 29 27
28
26 24
32
KUMASI
18
31 1
2
3 5
Obuasi
Kibi
4
12 11
Tafe
9 8 6
KOFORIDUA
Danyigba
20 19 17 16
15 14 13
6
Research Location
25
34
10
HO
Akosombo Dam & Power House
50
51
Akwatie
ACCRA Prestea
Tema Sea Port and Smelter
Tarkwa Cape Coast Sekondi
Takoradi
Kaiser Engineers Reassessment proposals and subsequent construction. 1959 - 1966
Danyigba
Loss of identity No feeling of ownership Less community bonding Unable to build and maintain the community Loss of craftsmanship use of local material and building methods Internal immigration - Urbanisation
on e
La ne
Eco Farm
Ba c
kb
• • • • • •
rezoning concept
Reinvent traditional building methods and local materials
Backbone lane model
kb
Zone B Re-Blocking co m
Ba c
Design Problem
on e
La ne
Modernization of Ghana and Volta River Authority Project
Host City
mu
nit y
gr
ee na ry
community greenary
Re-Blocking Zone B
Eco Farm
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
Health
Nursery and Pharmacy
Environment
Garment making Tailoring and Fashion Design
Automotive engineering
Landscape, Sun and Wind
Auto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
Health
Aqua & Agriculture
Cosmetology
Nursery and Pharmacy
Fish Breeding & Nursery, Plant Nursery
Adult education
Hairdressers and Beauticians
Basic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
Cosmetology
collective
Hairdressers and Beauticians
Building Construction Masonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
Garment making
departments under one roof/one gate compus
Building matters Generic building method = Reinvent traditional building methods with local materials
+
+
Cosmetology
public
=
Basic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
Nursery and Pharmacy
Garment making
Adult education
Tailoring and Fashion Design
Basic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
Automotive engineering
Auto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
private
Fish Breeding & Nursery Plant Nursery
Automotive engineering
Auto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
Building Construction Masonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
network of departments EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME
THEMATIC PROGRAMME
KEYWOORDS
Building Construction Masonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
Aqua & Agriculture
Social economics Attractive social economic , living and learning environments
Fish Breeding & Nursery Plant Nursery
Adult education
Hairdressers and Beauticians
Health
Aqua & Agriculture
Tailoring and Fashion Design
DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE OF EDUCATION Village as network of educational facilities
Concept
Clothes washing
Automotive engineering
Water
CHILDREN DAY CARE CENTRE
Auto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
Aqua & Agriculture
Toilets
Fish Breeding & Nursery Plant Nursery
Cosmetology Hairdressers and Beauticians
Gar Garment ma making
Cafetaria Amphitheatre Outdoor collective program
Landing Stage
PERFORMING AREA FOR CENTRAL STAGING
Tailoring and Tailo Fash Fashion Design
Entrance Parking
Amphitheatre
CHIEF/ QUEEN HOUSING G Administration Ad dmin
Building Construction Masonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
PERFORMING AREA FOR CENTRAL STAGING
Cafetaria
Headmaster eadmaster Housing Adult education Basic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
Toilets Health Nursery and Pharmacy
Node program
Urban axis - Backbone Lane
Entrance Parking
Architecture
Community Center
Waterfront: wood/metal workshop with headmaster house
Housing: Re moulding VRA housing typology
Remoulded Housing with crafts studio
Community Center
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
The People
Interior Stack heat escape through roof vent
Breeze in Morning and Late Afternoon
Mid afternoon heat escape upper vent
Double roofing skin and lager window opening for for natural ventilation system
VRA
Top down approach
Danyigba
e - Crafts Village organic growth
Role of Architect
low tech
Current Danyigba Lost of identity
applied high intelligent
bottom up strategic approach
re-thinking modenity
The Village: Urban Development Strategy The Backbone Lane: Urbanism The House: Architectural Craftsmanship
Master of Architecture / Urbanism / Landscape Architecture Amsterdam Academy of Architecture
Architects, urban designers and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising felÂlow professionals. There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation. With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines. Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline. The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design projects form the backbone of the curÂriculum.
On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills. The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects. The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation. During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors. Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Urbanism (MUrb), or Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA). The Master’s