African project Kente House – Ghana
wth in abetenim
region in Ghana , Kente House is a 120m 2 , rammed earth house / workshop sign Competition organised by the Nka Foundation , a non-profit social arts sed in the US .
In addition , two intermediate spaces for recreation [ verandahs ] and a bathroom were included . All the above spaces enclose the central courtyard where the kitchen is located .
Architectural Concept Kente House proposes a design concept based in fragmentation . A large shape with rooms enclosed by protruding walls enables independent compartments oriented in different directions . Walls placed in distinct angles allow unique orientation for each room , enhancing privacy and individualisation . Protruding walls provide dynamism in the South West façade permitting rooms to be separated and isolated from each other . Locating the kitchen in the centre , isolates the occupiers from the rest of the houses in the village .
Walls incorporate mortar stripes along their exterior face [ Rauch , 2014 ], which stop the erosion produced in the earth section of the walls therefore reducing the infiltration due to rainwater . Foundations isolate earth walls from the ground , external verandahs protect them from the rain and plastic sheets were used to reduce ground capillarity . CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
Materials : modern + local + traditional Kente House incorporates 40cm rammed earth walls made of local laterite . The method is economical and enables the walls to be textured due to the veins or strata-like effect created by the layers of earth while providing a modern , modulated finish . The Kente
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