A House for Crossed
Crocodiles
Ghana’s social aspiration
for development is moving faster than they can accommodate—there is a desire to
have the technology of the developed world, but the formal infrastructure is
not yet established. For Woe, a small
agricultural community on the coast of Ghana, this is most evident in their
built environment. While adaptive and
resourceful in other aspects of life, the community invests a disproportionate
amount of money into construction, diverting funds away from education,
healthcare, and economic development. Nearly
a quarter of the housing stock has halted construction or fallen into disrepair.
These unsuccessful attempts at modern building
are a costly waste.
This thesis is founded on
the goal of making construction attainable, and in turn, redirecting funds back
to the community. These design strategies help reconcile the challenges
associated with modern construction by re-framing traditional and modern
building techniques into an additive, resilient building system. Each implementable strategy is designed for
progression, offering incremental resolution even before the ‘final’ house is
complete. If a family is forced to stop
construction, their built investment is already available for use.
Tested through a house
design and development plan for the Setsoafia’s, a typical multi-generational
family in Woe, this design proposal is more than just a case study; it can serve
as a reference for the community.
Illustrating step-by-step guides for material selections and sourcing,
building details, and strategic phasing, A House for Crossed Crocodiles proposes
a new Ghanaian architecture which is affordable, resilient and culturally
significant.
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