Architecture Portfolio | Mahabhag Agbesi by mahabhagm

MARIE MAHABHAG AGBESI SELECTED WORKS 2024-2025 portfolio.

MARIE MAHABHAG AGBESI

agbogba, adenta. greater accra, ghana.

mahabhagm@gmail.com (+233) 50 858 7152

ethos.

‘why not’

A term I coined in my endeavor to bring users the best experience whilst also remaining as sensitive to the environment as possible. Architecture is for people, so it is the architect’s job to seek above and beyond solutions that are innovative, sustainable and above all efficient in solving problems.

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As a designer myself, I seek to challenge the status quo of what it means to design and create. My approach to design is deeply rooted in exploration and innovative methods of realizing conceptual ideas.

Dare to dream. I do.

2023-2027

2017-2022

2011-2015

2023-2023

2024-2025

2025-2025

2024-2024

education. experience. achievements. skills.

Central University College | Miotso

Bachelor of Architecture(B. Arch) 2023 Candidate

King’s School Robin Hills | Johannesburg

Student of Geography, Physical Science & CAT

Fernhill Preperatory | Johannesburg

CAD

3D MODEL

3D Vis.

Post Prod. & Docum. Other

Incept Architectural Consult | Adenta

Architectural Intern

Site visits to multiple projects of various typologies. Tasked with designing 2024 calenders. Created moodboards for interior design teams.

Consmark | Spintex

Sketch design for residential projects.

Sketch design for mixed-use projects.

Working Drawings for residential and mixed-use projects.

3D Visualization

ABOD | Spintex

Architectural Intern Impak Program Freelance

Working drawings for residential project.

3D Animation.

3D Visualization

LSG | Tema

3D Visualization

EDGE Student Design Competition

Revit

Blender

Sketchup

3rd runner up

Top 5 Advanced (w/ certification)

Rhinoceros 8

Beginner Freelance

D5 Adobe Suite

Lumion MS Office

Model Making

3D product visualization & animation

plastic recycling & innovations centre. re-b(earth)

carbon sponge compound community edge house. fihankra social hub.

plastic recycling & innovations centre.

Location: tema, greater accra, ghana

Project type: recycling & innovations centre

Year: 2025

introduction.

studio task.

To design our assigned individual projects with a handicap of only 20% blockwork allowed.

description.

This recycling centre is a bold statement to what industrial design can be and what the future holds for recyclable material. Utilizing molded plastic granulated pellet sheets for shading the facade and steel framing, the centre seems to come alive and breath out of mother earth.

softwares.

Revit

Blender 3D

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

D5 Render

contextual analysis.micro scale.

The site is located very close to a main road, offering excellent connectivity for vehicles, especially trucks. This makes it ideal for industrial use, ensuring smooth logistics and easy

There are a few existing industrial structures or sheds on the site. These may be repurposed, renovated, or removed depending on the functional requirements of the new facility.

The area has limited vegetation, consisting mostly of sparse greenery and open land. This minimizes the need for extensive clearing and simplifies site preparation for construction. access. existing. location. vegetation.

The site is easily accessible with no major physical barriers, allowing straightforward movement into and out of the area. This is beneficial for both construction and future operational flow.

concept. re-b(earth)

a play on the word “re-birth“

but so is the mindsets we have towards industry and waste renewed. The concept is a direct response to the Kpone Landfill which is not too far from the site. The rebirth in the concept is the immitation of a mass of land in response to the Kpone landfill and the earth is the juxtaposition between the degradation caused by the Kpone Landfill and the enhancement of the environment within the proposed recycling centre. narrative.

The concept re-b(earth), deals with the concepts of renewal and environment. It’s a concept that has its roots firmly joined to Hedonistic sustainability. A philosophy that aims at creating spaces and buildings that enable the design to enhance not only the human experience in a pleasing way but also benefit the environment. With this in mind, the intention of the concept is to create a design that acts as a bold and iconic statement on what it is to recycle. In such essence, not only is the plastic recycled,

North-south facing form to minimize harsh lighting, & seperated the industrial activities from the research.

Used a grid system to analyze and insert the modes of the various zones of the center.

Displaced the various zones on the horizontal plane to enhance natural ventilation and enable sufficient daylighting.

Morphed the form to mimic the natural outward massing of nature and mimic the Kpone landill.

site axonometric.

“Sustainability can’t be like some sort of moral sacrifice or political dilemma or a philanthropical cause. it has to be a design challenge.”

- Bjarke Ingels

the facade

As the concept was inspired by renewal and environment. Essentially “re-birth”, the facade took inpiration from the process of metamorphosis between the transitional phases of one life form to another, A good example is a butterfly.

The facade screen is likened to cell division a fundamental process of organisms for life, and is an emblematic representation of renewal, not only in construction but in the mindset towards sustainability

Structurally the design was conceived to be a shell structure that arched over the spaces with no internal supports, with the exception of the processing unit, which is arched over by the green roof and is supported by box steel columns.

The green roof ramp is supported by in-plane truss’ and box columns as mentioned, and then covered by a secondary support structure which hosts a coffered r.c. slab which sits under the green roof.

1. plane truss 2. fill 3. support structure

4. r.c. coffer slab

5. green roof green roof exploded.

1. glass fibre reinforced cement board

2. steel u-bracket frame

3. rigid insulation

4. space frame

5. anchor plates

6. space frame node

7. thickened abutment

8. j-bolt

9. exterior cladding

10. interior cladding

11. porcelain tiles

12. screed.

13. r.c. slab 150mm

14. waterproof membrane 15. blinding 16. hardcore filling

I. Feeding Conveyor

2. Crusher

3. Screw conveyor

4. High speed friction washing machine

5. Washing tank

6. Vertical feeding and dewatering machine

Horizontal dewatering machine

Washing control cabinet,

9. Granulator host machine,

I0. Granulator auxiliary machine

II. Granulator die

I2. Cooling tank

I3. Roller cutter

I4. Wind-blown storage bin

I5. Granulator control cabinet.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

granulating machine line

approach view.

cepa lodge.

Location: miotso, greater accra, ghana

Project type: museum & office complex

Year: 2025

introduction.

The Centre for Creative Expression & Policy Advocacy (CEPA) is a newly formed Central University Unit which seeks to bring together under one function, the University’s efforts at Creative Expression, Policy, Community Relations, Advocacy and Public Discourse. The Centre works under the direction of an Advisory Board studio task. description. softwares.

After redesigning the central university’s campus layout, the studio members were assigned various projects on the newly designed campus.

InDesign

contextual analysis.micro

scale.

Site is located between the existing female hostels and cafeteria. Close to the cafeteria and flat in topography.

location. access.

Site is mainly accessed by pedestrians. For vehicles it is mainly limited to the east.

existing.

Surrounded by buildings of educational, residential and recreational zoning.

vegetation.

Abundance of vegetation surrounds the site which will be intergrated into the design.

concept.

“I

am because we are.”

narrative

The Ubuntu philosophy is an African worldview that emphasizes interconnectedness, shared humanity, and collective well-being. It is often summed up by the phrase “I am because we are,” highlighting that individual identity and success are deeply tied to the community.

iterations

Paths within the site intersect implying a central gathering point.

This informed the major focus of the site which was to be a museum inspired by the circular symbol of unity.

With that in mind the idea was to create a building that gaurantees interaction and better yet inter-connection between diverse individuals.

Since the major access points were to the east and west, entrances and exits were informed by this.

Final form rendition

site layout.

The layout in itself expresses this yearning for interconnection at the heart of the design (the courtyard). All paths lead to the centre, emphasizing its importance.

Individuals are always certain to find themself in the centre of this design if they are to use any of the paths. That is the manifestation of the concept of Ubuntu. To gaurantee interaction and benefit from interconnection.

steel truss

carbon fibre roofing sheet 3. plasterboard ceiling 4. waffle slab 5. 300mm x 300mm column

column config.

slab config.

roof structure. sectional

x-x

connection detail

6. anchor plate

7. steel L-bracket

8. ceiling batten

9. bolt

section

the giving house.

Location: oyarifa, greater accra, ghana

Project type: residential

Year: 2024

4th overall competition brief. description. softwares. place.

Design a net-zero carbon house using the EDGE software for a family of 5.

“The Giving House” represents an ambitious architectural endeavor to produce a house that gives more than it takes. It intends to create a serene & comfortable living space that not only gives back to its inhabitants but to the environment and context as well. At the heart of this project lies a compelling vision to create a building that is not merely net zero, but net positive. The concept for this project is rooted firmly in the belief that for a sustainable future, buildings should benefit their environment rather than just balance out the scales. That concept being the “Carbon sponge”.

Revit

Blender 3D

Adobe Photoshop Adobe InDesign D5 Render

concept. carbon sponge

narrative.

The design of the building was compared to a sponge, aiming to sequester CO2 and release O2 back into the atmosphere, similar to a sponge absorbing and releasing water. The building was designed to be highly passive, prioritizing natural ventilation, light, and minimizing solar heat gain. Hydroponic.

skins were used on all facades, particularly the east and west facades, with a window to wall ratio of approximately 23 percent, to absorb CO2 and keep rooms cool. The building’s design aims to create a passive environment that minimizes solar heat gain.

blockplan.

Simple, minimal and linear building form to decrease impact on the site and to maximise on natural ventilation.

The first floor sits within a green roof to accomodate plants (which sequester carbon) and create a tranquil environment for the residents

Overhanging the firstfloor to shade the groundfloor and to give privacy to residents.

Hydroponic skins were used on the west and east facades to accomodate greenery, grow plants, mitigate heat gain and sequester even more carbon.

1. living & dining

2. kitchen

3. visitors w/c

4. mechanical room

5. bedroom

6. master bedroom

7. walk-in closet

8. washroom

9. green roof

sectional perspective x-x

hydroponic skin detail 3D

Legend

1. stabilized earth blocks

2. steel framing

3. waterproof boarding

4. irrigation pipe

5. hydroponic skin

6. shading device

7. shading device

section y-y

bamboo facade screening

section y-y detail

fihankra social compound.

Location: oyarifa, greater accra, ghana

Project type: residential

Year: 2024

introduction.

studio task.

Identify a problem on central university’s campus and find a solution to it through architecture.

description.

Addressing the issue of the lack of identifable and comfortable space for leisure . The Fihankra social compound is an engaging plaza whereby people would traverse throughout their day and be prompted to sit (on bean bags), socialize, walk around and interact with the structure and one another. Using the principles of our root

softwares.

Inspired by the word Fihankra, the design takes inspiration from the old Akan word, which means, protected compound. This informed the selection and iteration of forms and spaces.

The design was to be inviting yet still harbour a sense of privacy and community. The circular shape is a bold juxtaposition to the rectilinear forms on campus and is intentional to create a distinct and inviting atmosphere.

1. exhibition space

2. summerhuts

3. plaza

4. multi-purpose space

5. bus stop

6. social pit

7. green roof 8. storage

The form was largely inspired by the existing footpaths that were existing on site. As the designer, these footpaths were extrapolated and interpolated to form enclosed chapes and gathering spaces

roof plan

Individuals are invited to explore the structure as a pioneer would discover a new land. Paths around the design lead individuals from one end to the other in a continuous loop, hence everything feels connected and secure.