Architecture of Ghana
Indigenous structures, such as the Asante and Mole-Dagbani buildings were constructed using techniques like wattle and daub, with decorative bas-relief patterns, and features cultural symbols such as Adinkra motifs.
With the arrival of the Europeans in the 15th century, architectural styles such as Gothic Revival were introduced, influencing the design of churches, and Neoclassical elements became prominent in government buildings and residential structures.
[1] In Pre-colonial Ghana, traditional buildings were primarily made from materials such as mud, wood and thatch, chosen for their availability, affordability, and climate adaptability.
[4] Historical influences, including European and Muslim penetration introduced elements like louvered jalousies and sun-dried bricks, which were assimilated into Ghana's traditional architecture over time.
[6] A major characteristic of Ghana's indigenous style is its reliance on locally sourced materials, environmental adaptability, integration with nature, and cultural significance of building practices.
[7][8] Traditional Ashanti buildings were primarily constructed using a wattle and daub method,[9] with a timber framework filled with clay and reinforced with bamboo, and had thatched roofs that were steeply pitched using raffia palm.
[13] The walls of Ashanti buildings were plastered with mud,[14] embellished with elaborate murals and bas-relief decorations featuring geometric patterns, animal motifs, and representations of plants.
[18] The spatial organisation of Mole-Dagbani settlements were hierarchical, with the chief's hut centrally positioned,[19] and surrounded by the dwellings of family members and other community structures.
Important structures, such as palaces, incorporated cultural symbols like the tortoise, lion, crocodile, and leopard, representing wisdom, strength, and fertility.
[22][23] This period spanning until the early 20th century,[24] saw the introduction of European architectural styles that melded with local traditions, resulting in hybrid forms.
These forts and castles along Ghana's coast were constructed over a 300-year period between 1482 and 1786,[note 1][25]: 7 and were occupied at different times by European traders from countries such as Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Britain.
[25]: 8–9 The Castle of St George at Elmina, built in 1482 by the Portuguese, stands as the oldest European stone structure south of the Sahara, and was later expanded by the Dutch.
[29][30] Architecturally, these forts were typically designed as large squares or rectangles, with outer components consisting of four bastions or towers located at the corners.
These homes often combined: European-inspired designs, such as Palladian symmetry, arches, and verandas, and local construction methods using materials like laterite, rammed earth, and wattle and daub.
The arch has been described as symbolising a "door of no return", signifying efforts to encourage the African diaspora to reconnect with their heritage and contribute to the country's development.
The centrepiece of the fair, the African Pavilion, featured a circular design with an aluminium roof, inspired by the royal umbrellas of the Akan chieftains and the baobab tree.
[31] Following the 1972 Aliens Compliance Order, which led to the departure of many expatriate architects, some remained in Ghana and collaborated with local professionals to foster architectural development in the country.
This style combined modernist principles with designs suited to the tropical climate, incorporating features like brise soleil, wide overhangs, natural ventilation, and protective shade areas.
[42][43][44] One of the early examples of Tropical Modernism in Ghana is the Unity Hall at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), designed by Ghanaian architect John Owusu Addo.
