The design answers the call of the Ghanese Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the design of a landmark building of 5.500 sqm, housing the national and regional Land Sector Agencies.
The design responds to local climatic and social parameters throughout the scales. All design-elements, from the urban setting to the buildings shape and its materialization are geared towards natural and sustainable performance fulfilling several functions at the same time.
The building is elevated from the ground and as such it presents itself very strong in a visual way and will be recognized and remembered and become a landmark for this place.
A clear and prolonged north-south orientation avoids the steep hot sun of the mid-day and reduces the surfaces exposed to low eastern and western sun.
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The circulation system forms the core of the building spiraling upwards between two rings of offices on different levels. Breaking the clear separation between floors this system provides a continuous movement, bringing the New Lands Commission together on one continuous floor with a variety of perspectives in and through the building.
The interior courtyard becomes a fresh air container. The courtyard is shaded by the building itself and large palm trees. It provides a pool of fresh air additionally cooled by a rainwater pond and feeds the natural ventilation of the building. Vegetation and water filter the sandy Sahara winds.
The outer appearance of the building is shaped by a parametric system that guaranties functional performance while allowing for aesthetic variation. The diamond-shaped panels with different openings all follow the lowest sun-angle. They are rationalized to a modular set that can be manufactured in a local and low-tech manner.
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