Two museums in Africa built in the mid-twentieth century carry the name 'National Museum.' They reflect the story of their respective nation's history and are tied to notions of national identity. Both are also examples of fine architecture built on the principles of Modernism, a movement associated with nation-building in Africa. However, their inception and purpose followed very different paths. This article explores the under-reported architecture of the National Museum of Ghana in Accra and the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum.
Accra: The Latest Architecture and News
dot.ateliers | Ogbojo / DeRoché Strohmayer
-
Architects: DeRoché Strohmayer
- Area: 500 m²
- Year: 2024
-
Professionals: Unique JOSAP, ALC Constructs, B. Appah Electricals LTD., SDPS, Stone Depot, +1
The Architectural Identity of the State House
Known as the state house, the presidential palace, and an assortment of other terms — the building that hosts a country’s seat of government is usually quite architecturally striking. Frequently opulent, grand, and sometimes imposing, the state house is intended to function as a visually distinct marker of a nation — an extension of a state’s identity. In the African continent, a landmass that had seen a significant part of it colonized by European nations, this identity of statehood, in an architectural sense, is complex.
Nubuke Extended / nav_s baerbel mueller + Juergen Strohmayer
-
Architects: Juergen Strohmayer, nav_s baerbel mueller
- Area: 290 m²
- Year: 2019
Adjaye Associates Unveils Design for Ghana’s District Hospitals
Adjaye Associates has been commissioned the design of district hospitals, part of the Agenda 111 initiative by the Ghana Government. The major vision for Ghana’s healthcare sector will consist of 111 Hospitals including 101 District Hospitals, 2 Psychiatric Hospitals, 7 Regional Hospitals, and the Redevelopment of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
Lessons from UN-Habitat: How to Design Spaces For and With the People?
The Un-Habitat or the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development, whose primary focus is to deal with the challenges of rapid urbanization, has been developing innovative approaches in the urban design field, centered on the active participation of the community. ArchDaily has teamed up with UN-Habitat to bring you weekly news, article, and interviews that highlight this work, with content straight from the source, developed by our editors.
Discover in this feature the first lesson to learn from UN-Habitat, on how to design with and for the people. In order to create great public spaces, the only secret is listening to the community. Questioning “how can we design together”, this article presents cases in Ghana, Brazil, and India, focusing on street, market, and open public spaces implementation projects, where interventions took on participatory approaches and involved local residents from the beginning of the process.
French Embassy in Accra / Segond-Guyon Architectes
Ghana National Theatre / CCTN Design
Adjaye Associates Unveils Design of New Ghana National Cathedral in Accra
On the 61st anniversary of Ghana’s independence, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has unveiled plans for a New National Cathedral of Ghana to be built in the capital city of Accra. Led by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates, the design is envisioned as a “physical embodiment of unity, harmony and spirituality” where people of all faiths will be welcome to gather and practice their faith.
One Airport Square / Mario Cucinella Architects
-
Architects: Mario Cucinella Architects
- Area: 17000 m²
- Year: 2015
-
Professionals: A-Kon Consults Limited, Accra, AECOM, CC79, Impact Technologies Limited, +4