Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor - Master in Architecture

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

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26 24

32

KUMASI

18

31 1

2

3 5

Obuasi

Kibi

4

12 11

Tafe

9 8 6

KOFORIDUA

Danyigba

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6

Research Location

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HO

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Akosombo Dam & Power House

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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

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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

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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

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Community Center

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Waterfront: wood/metal workshop with headmaster house

Housing: Re moulding VRA housing typology

Remoulded Housing with crafts studio

Community Center

Immanuel Kwaku Sirron-Kakpor

    

    

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   

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   

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    

    

    

    

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 

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  

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 

   

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 

   

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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 fel­low 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 cur­riculum.

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