Ghanaworkshopkit by mamoth

EARTH ARCHITECTURE

WORKSHOP

MUD HUT

DESIGN GHANA 12 2015 > 10 2015 JAN

APR

3. prelude 4. project preview 5. abetenim ART village 6. challenges 8. Aims 9. course of the workshop 11. WORKCAMP 12. THE SANKOFA HOUSE 20. Appendices

An international research, design and built workshop, related to the Mud Hut Competition by NKA Fondation. This explorative project aims to develope hands-on and practical experience of vernacular building techniques and to apply this knowledge in collaboration with local community members on the Sankofa House project for the sustainable development of the village of Abetenim, Ghana. This three months workshop challenges the participant to understand the logic and strength of the traditional ghanian architecture as well as their possible contribution to the challenges of contemporary architecture.

ÂŤONLY PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF MATERIALS CAN MAKE ART USING THE MATERIALSÂť WANG SHU, architect

project preview Project type: Building a single-family unit prototype. Workshop timeline : January 2015 to April 2015. Workshop will be running for three months. Site : Abetenim, in the Ashanti region, center Ghana. The NKA fondation is actively working in the village, organizing many workshops over there since several years. Audience : 20 participants (students, architects, craftmen...) from all around the world. Supervisor : >Members of the M.A.M.O.T.H association Matthieu Fauve, architect, working site supervisor on March: Manuel Aldeguer, graphist on March: Kristel Pelliet, architect, visual artist on March: Dorian Vauzelle, architect, CRAterre

Participants

nka m.a.m.o.t.h

sankofa house local community members Minimum participation of 2 weeks / 20 places available each session

-PARTICIPATION | 400 € (your donation is directly used to buy materials and pay local labor) -FOOD | 60 € / week (it is possible for people to cope themselves with food, for buy and cook) -ACCOMODATION | 60 € / week (in guest house) Personnal expenses, airfare, visa and vaccination are on your behalf

abetenim ART village Nka Foundation is a non-profit organization that create relational spaces for arts mission in developing countries, such as West Africa. The mission of the Foundation is, thus, to build cultural bridges between Africa and the rest of world for human capital development through a focus on the arts. In Ghana, the foundation has two arts village sites, Abetenim Arts Village near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and Sang Arts Village near Tamale in the Northern Region.

KUMASI

ACCRA

Abetenim is located 40 km Southeast of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

challenges “... I have always felt that the materialisation of architecture takes place not in the drawing but in the construction. Otherwise, architecture is meaningless. Vernacular architecture, born in situ and fashioned by local constraints, is more contextual by definition. ...” Partrick Bouchain; foreword of the book “Learning from Vernacular” written by Pierre Frey, Actes Sud 2010.

The state of the current economy has left a lot of young architects wondering if what they learned in modern education is relevant and useful in today’s world. In a global perspective, around 90% of the world’s population cannot afford an architect, who is trained to design from behind his computer and prescribe mass-produced materials. The pre- industrialized concept of a master-builder might just come back. It reflects the idea of an integral approach to architecture, embedded in local context, local materials and local craftsmanship. For 11 millennia mankind has shown the versatile possibilities of building with earth and other local materials. Constructions that vary from simple residences to palaces and even entire cities. Even today, in very different contexts and areas, earth is the most commonly used building material. Considering the fact that there is not (and will not) be enough fossil energy to produce industrial construction materials for everyone; more than a half of the world’s population lives and will live in buildings constructed with rammed-earth, adobe blocks, straw, bamboo, cob, daubed earth, stones, wood, ... Beyond the economic and environmental reasons, the genius loci within architecture focuses also on the cultural importance of local materials and techniques. This workshop explores the vernacular architecture of past and present buildings which can inspire new designs and thoughts. The workshop wants to bring upfront the need of research coherent to local and traditional values in order to bring innovation to the vernacular architecture by correct interpretations. Doing so we manage to valorise these materials and techniques within the framework of contemporary physical requirements and normations. This workshop is set-up to suport a reflection on the future of the ghanaian housing. This international workshop supported by the NKA fondation focuses on research, design and built initiatives in a Southern context to highlight the many challenges of such a context. Within this framework the “Thinkning of Akniabiche” workshop gives the students an intens introduction into the potential of non-industrial materials in today’s architectural landscape.

In Ghana, as in other countries in West Africa, stereotypes about buildings made of earth persist because of poor construction. Earth architecture is fast giving way to modern dwellings made of cement blocks and other modern materials that are not simply expensive but thermally and acoustically problematic. From the cities to the low-income villages, use of concrete - despite its dependence on imported resources - is considered indispensable for building. The rising cost of the modern building materials manufactured from imported resources makes it very difficult for low-income families to become homeowners. Yet an excellent, cheap and local alternative called laterite, red earth, is available everywhere in Ghana. For example, in the Abetenim area, 98% of the homes are made of earth, however local stereotypes about buildings made of earth persist because there are several examples of mud homes that have eroded over time due to poor construction and water damage. That is why there is local stigma associated with mud architecture. The local perception is that mud buildings are only for the very poor. We reason that a design intervention can help generate alternatives to resolve the problem.

Design Problem: A Typical Mud House at Abetenim

aims Gaining practical knowledge Investigating the vernacular architecture of the ghanaian landscapes. Reading, understanding, measuring and mapping out a site according to its environmental characteristics. Hands-on workshops concentrating on the basic fieldtest (how to test and recognize good earth), rammed-earth technique, adobe technique and earth-plasters. An in depth research on local solutions connected to the site and the local craftmanships. Experiment and build prototypes so to understand better materials and their constructional behaviour. Converting practical knowledge to specific needs of a design and community Designing in close collaboration with local community members and workshop supervisors.

course of the workshop 1.Prospective mission Investigating the vernacular architecture of the ghanaian landscapes. Reading, understanding, measuring and mapping out the site according to its environmental characteristics.

2.Materials and local resources analysis List and analyze the available materials. Make a library of these materials. Practicing basics field tests to select a good soil suitable for construction. Perform simple tests for different earth building techniques (adobes, rammed earth, plasters...).

3.Project refinements Together, with the assistance of the M.A.M.O.T.H team reshape and refine the designs of Sankofa project. Think of the details of the structure, of the framework, of doors and windows frame ... .

4.Prototyping Experiment and build prototypes so to understand better materials and their constructional behaviour. These prototypes will help to determine the best choices for the scale 1/1 project.

5.Working site Build the Sankofa house with local workers and craftmen. The schedule of the construction is not final and depends on the progress on site.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

STONE MASONERY ADOBE WALL

MARCH

APRIL

STRAW AND EARTH

CLAY PLASTER THATCHED ROOF

workcamp You will be immersed in a local life in Abetenim village and share the daily life of the group through multi-cultural exchange. Accommodation will be of guest house at the village. The cost is 60 euros a week. You will share a common life with all participants and manage organization all together (food, lectures, visit, journey...). For further informations you can refer to the pre-departure guide from the NKA. (APPENDICES). BOOKS YOU CAN/SHOULD/MUST READ - Learning from Vernacular - Architecture for the poor - Informalize (Michel Ecochard essay of Tom Avermaete) - B창tir en terre Free books on earth constructing techniques to download on: http://craterre.org/diffusion:ouvrages-telechargeables/ What should participants bring with them for the workshop A lot of paper (all types) All drawing equipement Tracing Paper Measuring equipement USB-stick Camera Laptop (up to you but not necessary) To organise your trip and list the others things to carry with you (gifts, luggage, health...), please read carefully the pre-departure guide from NKA.

THE SANKOFA HOUSE

SANKOFA Symbol meaning ÂŤ reach back and get itÂť (san - to return; ko - to go; fa - to look, to seek and take).

The Sankofa symbol appears frequently in traditional Akan art to represent the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future.

ANALYSIS

HOUSE

SANKOFA

MUD HOUSE DESIGN COMPETITION Reinventing the African Mud Hut Together

ADAPTABILITY

TRADIT

BIOCLIMATIC

COURTY

SITE PLAN OF EDWINESE 1:500째

SUSTAI

# 326440275 mud house is a subject that involves rediscovering and reinterpreting symbols, qualities and techniques of traditional Ashanti architecture. Here, contemporary design is inspired by the architecture

Reinventing the

SHADES AREAS

TIONAL ASHANTI ARCHITECTURE

ORNAMENTAL VALUE

THATCH ROOF

STEEP SLOPES

COURTYARD HOUSE

of Ashanti palace and by the pragmatism of popular house, simple and practical. This particular architecture, almost disappeared, is recognizable by its thatched steep roofs, its plastered walls, its decorative ornements and its large base which highlights all. Not only cultural, this typology is a response to the various constraints of a tropical climate. The steep fiber roof minimizes surfaces exposed to sunlight and heat. It also ease discharging heavy rainwater. Traditionally, buildings are raised on large bases to prevent the house from animals and water during the monsoon. This detail is not used anymore, provoking important structural damages on modern houses. Ashanti house, like most modern compound houses, are all

organized around a courtyard, which offers a private outdoor space and allows natural cross ventilation of the house.

STREET

PLOT

Like the Sankofa symbol, meaning «return and get it» or «look behind to go further», the Sankofa House is a reinterpretation of

SUSTAINABILITY

DOUBLE SKIN ROOF

traditional architecture that uses local and affordable materials and local labor.

The Sankofa House

STREET

is a project that promotes a constructive system that meets the climate constraints of

Ghana, easy to implement by local workers. The Sankofa House is a single family unit composed of two volumes connected by

PROGRESSIVE HOUSE BY BUILDING BLOCK

YARD HOUSE MODEL

a courtyard and a «pato» which is an outdoor covered area

ORNAMENTAL VALUE

dedicated to social activities of the family. Based on the needs and means of the family the house can be built step by step, module by module. The owners may decide to build one building or several, connected or not by a double skin roof. Because in classic ghanaian urbanism, homes are rarely adjoined, the challenge is to work with continuous envelope which unify the different modules. Adobes walls are insulated from the outside by a timber frame filled with a straw and clay mix. Uprights of the frame create a pattern on the facade that can be plastered with different coatings.

SINGLE ENVELOPE

Designed from a traditional heritage with contemporary solutions, the project is designed simple and sustainable promoting local

DOUBLE SKIN ROOF HEATING PROTECTION

STRAW AND EARTH EXTERNAL INSULATION

bio-sourced materials and their aesthetic and technical qualities. The traditional typology of courtyard house offers a private outdoor area, shaded and well ventilated. In the court, the protected walls are open and bring the light inside while the outer walls have little openings and thermal insulation. The height under the roof provides good air circulation. The heat is evacuated by a roof rack system. Fresh air supply is provided by openings on top of fixed windows and by louvered wooden doors. The roof of the building is the most exposed element to heat and weather. Corrugated zinc sheets roofs are effective, waterproof and lightweight but have two major drawbacks: it distribute the heat from the sun inside and are very noisy during heavy rains. To prevent these phenomena, the frame is isolated in its thickness with a light mix of straw and earth supported by a mesh that can be plastered or not. A double skin roof made of natural fibers provides shadows and acts as a filter. Two metallic gutters are placed between the roofs to collect rainwater which can be easily stocked in a tank in the courtyard.

RAIN PROTECTION - RAINWATER RECOVERY

INABLE HOUSE

NATURAL VENTILATION FROM COURTYARD

This element reminds the old traditional Ashanti architecture, creating a remarquable skyline in the ghanaian landscape.

HOUSE

SANKOFA

The SANKOFA House can be easily reproduced and transposed in all parts of the Ashanti region. This project is situated in Edwinese, 30 km far from Kumasi on the Lake road. The client is a middle class family, with children.

HOUSE A 710 sq feet

PATO 650 sq feet

HOUSE B 500 sq feet

MUD HOUSE DESIGN COMPETITION Reinventing the African Mud Hut Together

60,000

51,2

8,5

7,8

8,5

bath

60,000

bedroom

24,9

9,1 kitchen

«pato»

12,5

SECTION c-C

19,5

45,9

SECTION b-B

bedroom

courtyard

guest room

living

18,7

entrance

kitchen

7,8

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SECTION a-A

# 326440275

SECTION b-B

SECTION c-C

WEST FACADE 1:100°

22,50

9,00 8,5

19,5

12,5

2,00 0,00

HOUSE B SECTION a-A 1:100°

PATO SOUTH FACADE 1:100°

16,5

9,00

HOUSE A

24,9

9,1

2,00 0,00

SECTION b-B 1:100°

22,5

N 1:50°

18,5

9,00 12 2,00 0,00

SECTION c-C 1:100°

18,7

7,8

HOUSE

SANKOFA

MUD HOUSE DESIGN COMPETITION Reinventing the African Mud Hut Together

The clay plasters have a very important place in traditional building Ashanti. They are decorative items that reflect the ornamental value of this architecture. These plasters protect the straw and earth insulation from the rains, they may be stabilized or not. The timber frame facade creates patterns that can be coated in different colors to create a particular design according to the town or the family and dress up the house.

«Living Tebogo»- BaseHabitat- South Africa

The term «thatched» refers to all varieties of plant stalk used for construction.This kind or roofing is very durable and has waterproofing and insulating properties (around 0,056 W/m.k).The completion of contemporary thatched building with a modern aesthetic has contributed to a new image for this material. Thatched roof is a highly recognizable symbol of Ashanti architecture, to reintroduce this technique we propose to use it as a double-skin roof which is a climate system that shields the corrugated zinc sheets roof of solar radiation and heavy rains. «Living on the edge»- Arjen Reas- Netherland

The use of straw as insulation is a traditional technique that is experiencing a resurgence in Europe because of its efficience, its low carbon impact and its simplicity. The fibers, compacted between the uprights of a timber frame are used as external insulation. The earth that binds and covers the strands of straw protects it from mildew and from insects. We perform here a wall’s complex equivalent to those we find in europe on green building, with an external insulation using only local ressources.

Load bearing walls made of earth have an excellent thermal inertia, a low carbon impact and are affordable. It’s exist many techniques with earth, and each one get their own properties. The technique of «adobe» or mud-bricks requires no complex equipment and no technological inputs. It contributes to the development of a local trade. Also, local labor, as masons, who use to work with concrete blocks can easily laid these bricks. Here, the 15.5 inch thick wall is reinforced with vertical cane and a ring beam. The upper part of the walls is made of wattle and daub, lighter and more insulated. Adobe wall- ©Frank Stabel- Marocco

Foundations and bases of walls are basic construction details and are essential for the durability of the building. Too often overlooked, this part of the building should be a solid base, protecting the structure of the humidity raising up, rodents and insects. In Ghana, cement is an expensive and non local ressource it would be preferable to use stones stacked with a light concrete mortar. The damp proof course is made with a regular plactic.

SECTION [DETAIL] 1:20°

STONE MASONERY

ADOBE WALL STRAW AND EARTH INSULATION

THATCHED ROOF AND FACADE

CLAY PLASTER

# 326440275

VIEW FROM THE STREET INTERIOR VIEW OF THE COURTYARD

Appendices

M.A.M.O.T.H. is an ideas lab, a group of young architects from all backgrounds which focusing its studies on the existing interactions between matter, material and space. United by the desire to rediscover gestures and human postures that shapes the material to create beauty or useful, sometimes both, M.A.M.O.T.H likes to reinterpret the traditionnal techniques and old skills, inspired by a vernacular architecture, resourceful and pragmatic, in order to offer a thoughtful and humane architecture, between « lowtech « and « hightech ». As an experimental and creative lab , M.A.M.O.T.H works between research and creations, projects and dreams... Giving sens to matter, making the links between man, the hand and the object, in a sensitive and poetic way, defines the M.A.M.O.T.H desire. This approach, which calls for meetings and exchanges, sharing ideas and collective knowledge, involves the group in many projects based on participative workshops in France and elsewhere. « J’essaie toujours de faire ce que je ne sais pas faire, c’est ainsi que j’espère apprendre à le faire. »

Pablo PICASSO

Facebook @ M A M O T H