LOAD, the eARThouse2016 Designing Team is pleased to announce the Earth Architecture Workshop 2016! We look for volunteers, experts, professionals, students of architecture and landscape to locate the completed unit and blend it with the rural surrounding, interior design to organize the interior spaces, product the furniture and fittings, photography/video arts for a documentary and artists to create works of art to adorn the various spaces.African students are welcome to do their part in the building project. Students can use the opportunity for internship, personal research or thesis.
A Platform of Hands-on Knowledge
It is a reinterpretation of schools in terms of tradition and in the way communities hand down their culture. Life-long education is woven into the political, economic, spiritual and physical life in Ghana. In other words, it envisions the total development of everyone. In an art village the two processes, creation and learning by doing, are very close. The house for
artist acquires sensory values and a special sharing spot within the village, as an open learning system. The design aims to integrate locals and guest artists, both interested in enhancing their skills. This full cultural immersion triggers a virtuous circle which improves the unrecognized local resources. The goal is to create an active network of artists and locals, offering a platform for the presentation art, and to develop a critical forum for the promotion of Ghana culture
The Site
The site of eARThouse project will be Abetenim, located in the Ejisu-Juaben District of the Ashanti Region, 40km from Kumasi. The village is dotted by mud house types and within a population of 1000 inhabitants, the people of the village are essentially farmers. As a local and widely available resource, earth and mud construction can serve as a natural building technology for durable future homes without the high cost and negative impacts of imported concrete and other foreign construction methods
The Project
Rammed earth method gives us the ability to self-build a wall with local resources and less waste of materials. The project emphasizes the use of available resources and employment to local artisans. The design is simple, practical and economical.
The Build-Design Workshop
The main goal is to bring together local builders, craftspeople and enthusiastic volunteers to share the knowledge and expertise of everyone involved to create a built environment in order to strengthen the earth construction in Ghana’s long tradition of sustainable housing. On top of providing a community in need with new housing solutions, volunteers will learn how to build a earth house using a site-specific approach, traditional practices and encountering local materials, construction and community. They will immerse in the rich Ashanti’s culture to explore and learn by collaborating on the building process and they will
have the chance to visit local attractions participating in field trips.
Design, site-specific issues, and construction strategy are all debated in an effort to create useful structures that are environmentally sustainable and meet local needs. The project culminates in a public celebration of the completed project by way of open house exhibition, or public performance and foods. By engaging in field trips to observe local architecture and working on the building project with local builders, the international participants are exposed to Non-Western ways of thinking and doing in earth architecture.
Cost
The Earth Architecture Workshop 2016 is funded through participation donations from the project participants and private donations. These costs cover all fees associated with joining the workshop. The participation fee (300€) is used for the purchasing of material and supplies to complete the construction of the home for artists and a small percentage to cover the workshop organisation. Please help us to promote our workshop with your interested contacts and ensure the successful completion of the project.
Partners
The project organizer is Nka Foundation and we have also established official partnership with the Department of Architecture at the University of Ferrara (IT), the Centre for Cooperation and International Development in Ferrara (IT), and GarBo, the young association of architects in Bologna. On site we will have the collaboration of the Department of Architecture at the KNUST Kumasi University.
Download the information related to this competition here.
Title
Call for Participation: Earth Architecture Workshop 2016Type
Call for SubmissionsWebsite
Organizers
Submission Deadline
May 31, 2016 12:00 PMVenue
Abetenim, GhanaPrice
300€