Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
Voltascapes: Re-thinking ModernityRedevelopment proposal of Danyigba, a Volta Region New Town in Ghana
Sirron-Kakpor ArchitectsBroederschaplaan 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
[email protected]: i.sirron-kakpor
Current occupation: Project Architect inno-nativetm design+buildJoe Osae-Addo. Constructs llc. Cantonments - Accra. Ghana
Architecture
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 hasnt 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 date20 12 2012
Commission membersBerend van der Lans (mentor) Janneke BiermanChris Scheen
External commissionersJoe Osae-Addo
Additional members for the examinationBart Bulter (chair)Tom Bergevoet
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-KakporVoltascapes: Re-thinking ModernityRedevelopment proposal of Danyigba, a Volta Region New Town in Ghana
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
second skin
construction
core skin
the base
Headmaster House
Architecture
Backbone lane model
rezoning concept
Reinvent traditional building methods and local materials
Danyigba
Danyigba
TAMALE
Obuasi
Prestea
Tarkwa
Akwatie
KibiTafe
SekondiCape Coast
HO
KOFORIDUA
ACCRA
Kaiser Engineers Reassessment proposals and subsequent construction. 1959 - 1966
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KUMASI
Takoradi
Akosombo Dam & Power House
Tema Sea Port and Smelter
Eco Farm
Eco Farm Re-BlockingZone B
Zone BRe-Blocking
community greenary
Host City
Back
bone
Lan
e
Back
bone
Lan
e
community greenary
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
Design Problem
Modernization of Ghana and Volta River Authority Project
Research Location
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
Node program
Concept
Urban axis - Backbone Lane
Social economics
KEYWOORDS
Environment
Building matters
Landscape, Sun and Wind
Generic building method = Reinvent traditional building methods with local materials
Attractive social economic , living and learning environments
Garment makingTailoring and Fashion Design
Automotive engineeringAuto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
Building ConstructionMasonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
HealthNursery and Pharmacy
CosmetologyHairdressers andBeauticians
Aqua & Agriculture
Plant Nursery
Fish Breeding & Nursery
departments under one roof/one gate compus
network of departments
Garment making
Cosmetology
Health
Automotive engineering
Building Construction
Tailoring and Fashion Design
Aqua & Agriculture
Auto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
Adult education
Masonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
Nursery and Pharmacy
Hairdressers and Beauticians
Fish Breeding & Nursery, Plant Nursery
Basic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
Adult educationBasic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
Garment makingTailoring and Fashion Design
Automotive engineeringAuto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
Building ConstructionMasonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
HealthNursery and Pharmacy
CosmetologyHairdressers andBeauticians
Aqua & Agriculture
Plant Nursery
Fish Breeding & Nursery
Adult educationBasic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME
THEMATICPROGRAMME
DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE OF EDUCATIONVillage as network of educational facilities
collective
public
private
+ + =
PERFORMING AREAFOR CENTRAL STAGING
Ou
tdo
or
colle
ctiv
e p
rog
ram
Headmaster Housing
Automotive engineeringAuto-mechanic, Auto-welding and other allied auto-engineering services
Building ConstructionMasonry, Carpentry, Aluminium and Metal fabrication, Electricals
Aqua & Agriculture
Plant Nursery
Fish Breeding & Nursery
Adult educationBasic Numeracy, Literacy Training, Library, ICT
EntranceParking
CafetariaAmphitheatre
Amphitheatre
Toilets
Water
Clothes washing
Landing Stage
Garment makingTailoring and Fashion Design
HealthNursery and Pharmacy
CosmetologyHairdressers andBeauticians
CHIEF/QUEEN HOUSING
CHILDREN DAYCARE CENTRE
EntranceParking
Toilets
Cafetaria
Administration PERFORMING AREAFOR CENTRAL STAGING
eadmaster Housing
EntranceParking
GarmaTailoFash
CHIEF/QUEEN HOUSINGG
Addmin
Architecture
Housing: Re moulding VRA housing typology
Waterfront: wood/metal workshop with headmaster house Remoulded Housing with crafts studio Community Center
Community Center
Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor
low tech
applied high intelligentThe House: Architectural Craftsmanship
The Village: Urban Development StrategyThe Backbone Lane: Urbanism
VRA
Current DanyigbaLost of identity re-thinking modenity
Danyigbae - Crafts Villageorganic growth
Top down approach
bottom up strategic approach
Role of Architect
Breeze in Morning and Late Afternoon Mid afternoon heat escape upper ventInterior Stack heat escape through roof vent
Double roofing skin and lager window opening for for natural ventilation system
The People
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 fel low 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 cur riculum.
Master of Architecture / Urbanism / Landscape Architecture
Amsterdam Academy of Architecture
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 well-known 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 Masters