The document summarizes a symposium on tapping local resources for sustainable development in Ghana's building and construction industry hosted by ARC Ghana and The Architects' Project. It provides an overview of several presentations on completed, ongoing, and conceptual projects utilizing local materials in Ghana. These include a rammed earth workshop building, an earth bag structure as an alternative to traditional mud buildings, and the expansion of a luxury hotel utilizing local materials. The goal of the event is to promote the use of local resources to reduce construction costs while creating jobs and retaining foreign exchange.

1. 4.0 :Exchangetap
ARC Ghana
tapping local resources for sustainable development
A collaborative symposium between
ARC and #tap to promote the use of
local materials in Ghana’s building
and construction industry.
thearchitectsproject.org
Architects
Registration
Council Ghana
The
Architects'
Project#tap
Ministry of Water Resources,
Works and Housing
Ministry of Environment, Science,
Technology and Innovation

2. Thursday 9th October 2014
Dear friends and colleagues:
Welcome to tap:Exchange 4.0 - tapping local resources for sustainable development
We hope you enjoy today’s symposium of presentations, discussions, exhibitions and social networking
themed on the above subject.
The selection of case studies exploring completed projects, on-site and on-going projects, and speculative
projects from an array of contributors in the building industry are aimed at equipping relevant actors in the
field with applicable knowledge and understanding of the use of local resources for sustainable development.
Sincerely,
The Organising Team

3. Some macro benefits of this programme are as follows;
1. Reduce construction cost.
2. Provide employment for the youth especially within the localities of the processing plants and the
areas with ongoing construction.
3. Retain foreign exchange capital.
4. Improve upon the ambience of the local built environment
The positive multiplier effect of these benefits cannot be over emphasized.
To ensure the feasibility and sustainability of the programme, government, through the Architects Registration
Council, is sensitizing the various levels of the built environment professionals on the need to use Local
Building Materials in their construction projects. The ARC has organized a number of seminars bringing
together expertsin the research, development and production of some LBMs, built environment professionals
and the general public which were very successful. A competition on the use of LBMs was also held to
encourage built environment professionals to explore new and innovative ways of employing them in design
and construction.
Through feedback, the ARC has observed one major challenge being the availability, standardization and
perception of the Ghanaian on the use of LBMs.
The Architects’ Project has so far formed a strong network of young built environment and allied professionals
who have a passion for promoting and utilizing available local resources to create innovative designs and
construction techniques. With the collaboration between the Architects Registration Council (on the LBM
programme) and The Architects’ Project (on the tap:Exchange programme), the ARC will reach the young and
upcoming professionals with rich and unlimited ideas on The Architects’ Project’s platforms as peer advocates.
We believe our collaborative effort will produce the expected impact on stakeholders to help us achieve the
multiplier benefits as Ghanaian built environment professionals.
ARC: LBM, the SPECIFIER, GHANA
Background Information
Physical development is an expensive venture. More than eighty five percent (85%) of materials for construction
are imported. The basic construction material used in Ghana, cement, is produced from imported clinker and
gypsum at an average annual cost of One Hundred and Eighty Million U.S. Dollars ($180,000,000.00) to the
country. The cost of a fifty kilo bag of cement has increased from Ghc 3.20 to Ghc 31.00 in the past decade, an
increase of over 720%. This high cost of imported construction materials is not only as a result of price hikes
emanating from an unstable foreign currency exchange rate but also the profit mark up of players in the supply
chain process of these materials.
This has adversely affected the construction of critical facilities for nation building overtime, some of which
include education and health facilities and houses. Currently, Ghana has a housing deficit of over a million units
in urban centers. This simply means a very high demand for both domestic and non-domestic accommodation
thereby driving rents upwards.
There is however, abundant, diverse raw material in the country which can be used in the construction industry.
These include clay, lime, laterite, both soft and hard wood, various types of rock deposits just to mention a few.
Some of these raw materials can be found in most districts within the country.
Government Intervention
With this background, the government of Ghana, acting through the Ministry of Environment, Science
Technology Innovation and the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has prepared a policy on
the utilization of local building materials in the construction industry. This policy seeks to ensure that by the
year 2015, at least 60% of materials used in the building and construction industry shall be indigenous raw
materials. Local building materials such as pozzolana cement, bamboo, clay brick and tile to mention a few are
being promoted to drive the interest in their use for construction. There is also a compilation of useful empirical
data on some local building materials by stakeholder Ministries, Departments and Agencies for public use.
Government is also encouraging private sector in establishing plants to process these raw materials for use
in the construction industry. Currently, some micro and small scale establishments are being equipped on
periodic basis on skills and equipment upgrade by COTVET…..and other institutions.
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4. #tapping local resources
For this symposium, the Architects’ Project wishes to open up a dialogue between all actors of the built
environment, including policy makers (government agencies), practitioners (architects, engineers, contractors,
etc) and developers (private and public sector developers), with the aim of identifying an approach towards a
sustainable development in the building industry.
Architects and actors in the building industry have the power to influence a more sustainable urban and rural
Ghana in terms of development (economic, social, environmental, etc). We strive to develop Ghana but does
development mean we should source the most part of what we use from foreign countries? To the point where
we need to source the skills required for construction techniques and materials from foreign countries too?
Can we sustain this approach? Further to my curiosity, I’m keen to explore how, who and what influences
our design/construction palette; and a way forward to change perceptions on the use of local materials in
contemporary architecture - there’s an urgent need for innovation.
JULIET SAKYI-ANSAH
RIBA Part 2; Probationer GIA
Founder, The Architects’ Project
THE ARCHITECTS’ PROJECT
The Architects’ Project or #tap in short, is an automous initiative focused on advancing the cause of context-
specific architectural learning and practice using a ‘bottom-up approach’. #tap engages all actors in the
built environment, i.e. thinkers, users and makers. The initiative started in December 2013 with three key
programmes: tap:Exchange, tap:Build and tap:Journal.
tap:Exchange
+ is a component of tap, which comes under the umbrella of tapping Ghana;
+ is concerned with both the education and practice of architecture in Ghana;
+ is a real live platform for constructive critical thinkers, doers, and users of the built environment;
+ feeds into the Research strand of tap’s overall agenda; the part where we identify and understand the
common problems;
+ wants to bring together local and international researchers and practitioners, groups and/or individuals, to
provide solutions to the common problems; and
+ is held every quarter of the year – a tap year runs from December to September.
tap:Build
+ project facilitates learning through making;
+ is where we achieve innovative design through research, and research through design;
+ is a design process coupled with the challenge of building live, for live clients; and
+ explores the relationship between the design process and the construction process.
Find out more about the tap:Build team and how you can get involved by emailing juliet@thearchitectsproject.
org. Or you can get in touch about for a collaboration.
tap:Journal
+ is an annual publication, rounding up each year, always with other related matters in the built environment;
+ is a peer-reviewed journal which brings both academic and practice work in Ghana together for national and
international consumption; and
+ intends to make knowledge in the field accessible and relative to the local context.
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5. 15:30 arrivals.
16:00 - Welcome notes by Arc. Stella N.D. Arthiabah, Registrar ARC
16:15 talks. built project presentations
Arch. Giulia Fortunato
Arc. Daniel Kwadwo Teye
Hon. Johnny Osei Kofi
Brandon Rogers
17:30 exchange. interactive session
Moderators - Arc. Kwadwo Abankwa
- Arc. Nana Akua Oppong
MCs - Arc. Robert Frakue
- Arc. Kofi Koomson
18:30 exhibition. cocktails. social networking
17:30 close.
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME
tapping local resources for sustainable development
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6. talks.AQUA SAFARI RESORT
Bricklane Development Group

7. The house design is very elementary, as it is the composition of three independent volumes (activity room,
bedrooms, and washroom) gathered under the same roof. This idea of composition affecting the use and
shape of both the interior and the exterior spaces comes from the direct observation of the life in Ghanaian
rural villages: functions are usually scattered in the village, and people share spaces to cook, eat, sojourn.
The entire building is laid on a concrete platform, an area defined by the projection of the roof above, where a
portico with teak columns for open air sojourning looking east is also realized.
Using the Atakpame method, the house walls are entirely made of earth: the main innovation consisting on
the fact that not only the walls lay on top of a concrete foundation, to visually and physically lift the building
from the ground… but the corners are made with concrete blocks, in order to have the walls well straight.
The roof is made of wooden beams and metal sheets, it lays on a top concrete lentil and thanks to its double
inclination lets natural light get into the activity room; earth walls are plastered and protected from rain thanks
to roof projection all around the building (1,5 meters). Interior furniture such as beds is in atakpame too, while
windows are in wood; the bedrooms’ are traditional wooden windows, while the activity room and wash room
have tailor-made wooden windows. The walls are now finished and the roof is expected for next month.
Together with 16 students of architecture, I dedicated my time and efforts to the realization of a house made
with natural materials and built with traditional Ghanaian techniques. The building consumes very low energy,
costs little money, and can be dismantled and reused to build another. In Africa the intelligent use of natural
resources in architecture and construction (such as earth, wood, straw bales, water) acquires a very important
meaning: if these are responsible for ensuring a continuously healthy planet, it is in this very part of the world
that these resources are immediately at hand. I think this very positive situation can help economic and
social development and give many benefits in terms of comfort and quality of life to local population, while
safeguarding the natural and cultural environment.
BUILD WITH EARTH - WORKSHOP IN GHANA 2014
Location: Abetenim Arts Village (Juben), Ashanti Region, Ghana
Cost of Project: Approximately 5000.00 EUR
Construction Duration: 4 Months
Project Blog: www.rammedeartharchitecture.wordpress.com
Arch. GIULIA FORTUNATO
Architect and Designer, Ph.D. – UN volunteering Program
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8. Earth Bag building is a do-it-yourself approach, which builds on the common methods of traditional Atakpamé
construction (a process of hand packing clay soil to form mud walls, which has been used for thousands of
years). The technique incorporates a method of flexible formed rammed earth, now more commonly known
as Earth Bag or Sand Bag building. This method involves filling large polypropylene bags (rice sacks) with
ordinary clay soil, similarly used for traditional mud buildings. The bags are then arranged in well laid out
wall courseS and rammed solid with large mallets. Each additional course of sacks are staggered to allow
overlapping. Individual lines of barbwire are used to create a scratch bond that helps prevent slippage as the
walls rise. The wall system is structurally reinforced with a continuous concrete bond beam (lintel) and columns
and rendered smooth with a plaster finish. Overall the Earth Bag building method is proven to produce stronger
sturdy wall masses that keep you cooler during hot days.
- This process of sustainable, eco-building is being promoted both as an advancement of the traditional
methods of Atakpamé construction and as an alternative to standard practices of solid, sand-crete block
construction done in rural communities.
EARTH-BAG BUILDING
A practical alternative to the traditional Atakpamé technique of mud building used throughout rural communities
Creatively I strive to define an authentic modern African design style, which moulds to the contextual
surroundings of the land and reflects the culture and traditions of the people. I have dedicated my time, energy
and skills towards the research, development and experimentation of alternative green building techniques,
in order to determine efficient methods of affordable housing for rural communities throughout Africa. My goal
is to use my background in architectural studies, green building and computer animation to showcase viable
approaches and to train individuals on the methods and benefits of these techniques. With positive youth-
to-youth development campaigns we can begin to teach both future home owners and builders on the many
benefits of green building.
– LET’S BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW. Hope for Africa’s principle is to help build a strong, perpetual,
economic, cultural, and spiritual bridge between Africa and the African Diaspora for the greater development
of Africa both continentally and globally.
BRANDON ROGERS
Architectural Intern / Project Coordinator
Hope for Africa Eco Village-NGO
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9. Aqua Safari Resort is a luxurious 71-bed hotel facility located along the banks of the Volta River in Big Ada
(which is an hour and a half’s drive from Accra). It comprises generally of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom chalets and blocks
of en-suited rooms. The facility also has a reception/lounge, conference facilities, an outdoor restaurant,
swimming pool, bars, a boat house and parking for 50 cars.
The task was to prepare designs and administer the contract for a 3-bedrom chalet to be constructed
substantially of local building materials and this was to serve as the Client’s residence. In the course of
construction, the Client identified a business opportunity and expanded the scope of the project. The project
has since seen several phases of expansion to offer various facilities to Guests.
Our response to the assignment was to create an environment that echoed the calmness of the river by
allowing the facilities to be as open as possible to encourage good views of the river and the undisturbed
natural ecology of the islands. While doing this we were also mindful of issues of privacy and security. It
is important to note that as an unfolding story, it is yet to be completely told, as the Client has intentions of
undertaking the construction of a children’s playground with such equipment as a ferries wheels, merry-go-
rounds, trains including aqua park facilities among others.
AQUA SAFARI RESORT
Location: Big Ada, Greater Accra Region
Cost of Project: Approximately $5,200,000.00 to date
Construction Duration: 2009 to date
Until Aqua Safari Resort, members of our team had never been engaged in any project that required specific
conditions to use local building materials. In addition, the challenges of undertaking such a task close to a river
and the sea were of great concern to us.
We carried out research into material availability, structural engineering competence of the materials, their
durability and the aesthetic value offered. To fully appreciate how we could use the materials, we looked at the
various elements of the building envelopes and more or less substituted them with local options. So that for
instance, in place of columns we used proposed teak poles; for ceilings cane woven mats and so on.
The nominated Contractor was also new to the use of local building materials. While we were all concerned
about specialised labour for the construction, it became rather apparent that with very little supervision the
craftsmen had developed the skills very quickly to execute the works.
Arc. DANIEL KWADJO TEYE (AGIA)
Bsc. Hons Architecture; PG. Dipl. Architecture; MBA Project Management
Architect - Bricklane Development Group.
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10. exhibition.
AKOSOMBO RETREAT
orthner orthner & associates
+ Dr Lesley Lokko

11. The Mikelle House is a natural residence, designed to blend seamlessly with the environment through the
use of local materials, flowing landscape elements and organic spatial definitions. It is an intervention which
though taking up a modest footprint, creates a bold statement in juxtaposition with its surrounding box shaped
brothers and sisters. This statement is not intentional and merely illustrates the vast differences between
pure local material construction and construction reliant on imported and borrowed materials and methods of
construction.
This project was only made possible because the client was of a similar mindset to the architect. The brief
consisted of an open plan kitchen and living room with four bedroom spaces over two floors linked by a central
staricase on a plot size of 37m by 16m.
In designing the Mikelle House, like all other organic strucutres designed by the architect, the land dictated
the initial processes. After generating suitable guidelines which were in harmony with the flow of the earth,
the design ‘grew’ in stages with the landscaping until they both existed as a unifying whole. As the main
construction material was earth blocks, walls were thicker at the base, tapering up, reinforced by a rigid
wooden framework which also served the function of supporting the unique roof structure. The central curved
staircase is composed of hardwood and wraps around an interior minigarden as it brings its inhabitants to the
first floor.
The Mikelle House was very well received, but ultimately was a dissapointment as the skills to execute the
design were lacking in the system. However, the client has shown so much enthusiasm in the design that it is
a strong indicator, to the architect at least, that our forgotten methods should no longer reside in the realms of
theory alone and must be reevaluated and updated to coexist with modernity.
THE MIKELLE HOUSE - EARTH RESIDENCE
Location: Dome, Accra
The vision of this design was to have a modest residential space that made maximum use of local renewable
resources. The conception process involved the use of sweeping curves, arcs and circles as guidelines, as
opposed to more standardized grid-like planning lines. Apart from the aesthetics benefit obtained from the
resulting contrast, this was done to achieve a harmony with the earth as well as avoid sharp 90 degree corners
and similar points of inflection that could possibly compromise the structural integrity of the tapering earthen
walls which would require smooth junctions as much as possible. This was further strengthened by a rigid
timber framework embedded within the walls, acting as structural reinforcement primarily for the first floor.
Even without the load bearing capacity of the walls themselves, this framework is sufficient to hold up the dead
weight of the superstructure.
TENDAYI EJISU-AKROPONG
Bsc. Architecture; PG. Dipl. Architecture
Architectural Intern
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12. BUILD WITH EARTH WORKSHOP IN GHANA
A House for 5 people
Location: Abetenim Arts Village (Juben), Ashanti Region, Ghana
Cost of Project: Approximately 5000.00 EUR
Construction Duration: 4 Months
Project Blog: www.rammedeartharchitecture.wordpress.com
Project Participants - Giulia Fortunato and a team of students from Italy.
- NKA Foundation
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13. GLOBAL MAMAS FAIR TRADE ZONE
Project Partners
- Global Mamas: www.globalmamas.org
- Architecture Sans Frontières – UK (ASF-UK): www.asf-uk.org
Project Partner
- Sustain Adinkra: sustainadinkra.com
Architecture Student Participants: Adjoa Akowuah; Lisanne de Beun; Kofi Ofosu-Ennin; Emily Wright
Global Mamas is working in partnership with ASF-UK (Architecture Sans Frontiers UK) to realise their goal
of creating a fair trade textile campus - a centre of production, training, and empowerment. The task is
to embody Global Mamas’ ethos of woman’s empowerment through the design process, materiality and
construction of the textile campus, ‘resourceful and innovative’ being the guiding concept. Global Mamas
want to utilise participatory design principles to create an inclusive environment for staff and visitors.
The Fair Trade Zone will incorporate all of the necessary elements for Global Mamas to continue to produce
their highly demanded African textile products, create employment for 200 new women, while remaining
sensitive to its environmental footprint and cultivating an atmosphere that fosters learning, healthy living and
team work. The campus plan also allows room for expansion in textile production as well as other growing
markets like skin care products.
During the summer of 2013 a team of local and international architecture students worked with Global Mamas
and ASF-UK to develop a concept proposal referencing other sustainable projects across Ghana. This
presentation is a display of the participatory design process, it seeks to show that a key local resource is
knowledge and that sustainable development should engage the people who will be the end users of these
spaces.
The final design incorporates local materials such as compressed earth blocks for the superstructure and
bamboo for internal partitions. Sustainable systems such as solar for electric also biogas for producing fuel for
the highly intensive batik process will be utilised and integrated into the scheme. Passive cooling strategies
have been developed and the building’s position responds to the climatic conditions.
ASF-UK are currently working with Global Mamas to refine the design and look for an appropriate site.
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14. LABADI BEACH HOTEL, ACCRA
Sustainable Materials in Hotel developments
One of West Africa’s leading hotels, having suffered the ravages of time was completely refurbished and
renewed in order to achieve five star rating. The renovation of 104 existing rooms and construction of a new
block consisting of 60 new rooms, including presidential suites as well as the complete revamp of the Central
facilities were required to be completed whilst maintaining a fully functional hotel.
The new contemporary wing of executive rooms, complements the existing traditional form and materials and
creates a classic modern Ghanaian aesthetic.
orthner orthner & associates (AGIA)
+ Co-Arc International
Architectural practice located in Accra bridging two cultures, Europe and Africa and bringing extensive design
and construction experience from both continents to bear on every single project, large or small.
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15. AKOSOMBO RETREAT
Published in Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture
orthner orthner & associates
& Dr. Lesley Lokko
Situated on a long, graceful bend in the river, this house was designed to both complement its surroundings
and respond sensitively to the hot, humid climate.
Built from compressed, environmentally friendly laterite bricks, the cavity-wall construction protects the interior
from the tropical sun and at the same time regulates humidity inside the building. A wooden shingle roof has
weathered beautifully over time to reflect the natural palette of the surrounding colours and textures. Designed
initially as a weekend retreat, the house has developed into a full-time residence.
The clients are delighted with its ecologically-sensitive approach, the beauty and tranquillity of the site, and the
architects’ traditional-yet-modern approach to tropical architecture.
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16. KINKA HÉ LEISURE SETTING
Location: Usshertown, Accra
This project is part of a design thesis submitted to the Department of Architecture of the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in August 2014.
The thesis, which investigated the rejuvenation of heritage urban waterfronts, proposes the creation of a milieu
for urban tourism on reclaimed land in Accra’s historic city centre.
In response to the maritime climate of the site, the walls of this street food joint are designed to be constructed
with a rammed mixture of moistened red earth stabilized with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and waterproofed
with a silicon-based admix. An umbrella roof of polycarbonate sheeting with two layers of bamboo strips raised
over the concrete slab roof (using coated steel columns and beams) reduces heat gain in the earth cubicles
while letting diffused sunlight filter down (without the heat) to an airy semi-outdoor sitting area.
Vernacular architecture presents a palette of materials, methods of
construction and multiple means of expression which have the added
benefit of being tried and tested for over a century - by our own people,
on our own soil.
In my work as a designer, I often look to reinterpreting and referencing
spatial configurations I see in existing indigenous settings so even if local
materials are not used, the space itself forms the linking element between
the idea of the design and the social (and other) dynamics of the site.
When I do use local materials, they are juxtaposed with non-indigenous
ones in a manner that creates a relationship similar to a painting on a
canvas - the latter is the canvas, the former is the painting. For instance
- heavy rammed red earth walls hiding retractable seating beneath the
steel-framed roof of an outdoor performance space, or private galleries in
earthen cubes inside a predominantly white concrete museum...
I think in these times where cities are becoming placeless due to the
adoption of one-size-fits-all solutions for urban problems, the Ghanaian
architect needs to look to home-grown ideas to create a unique identity
while improving the quality of life in our cities and countrysides.
EDEM J. TAMAKLOE
Bsc. Architecture; PG. Dipl. Architecture
Architectural Intern
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17. thearchitectsproject.org
Architects
Registration
Council Ghana
The
Architects'
Project#tap
Ministry of Water Resources,
Works and Housing
Ministry of Environment, Science,
Technology and Innovation