Architecture has gone through various phases over the centuries and it has been influenced by several cultures and or movements with the predominant ones been Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures. It is a discipline that was mastered solely through apprenticeship until the 20th century when its education was formalised through the Bauhaus in Weimar, Germany.
There have been various movements that have shaped or influenced architectural styles depending on the what is trending within a specific period. In Africa, there is no specific form of architecture that Africans can ascribe to apart from buildings made of mud, thatch and timber. Perhaps, this was as a result of the nomadic nature of most African states pre-colonialism and the influence of the architecture of colonial masters during colonial rule. The materials, construction technology and skills were introduced by the colonial masters which played a role in the adoption of that system of construction.
In Ghana, the story was not different as most of the architecture were introduced by the British. In order for us to appreciate the state of Architecture in Ghana and Africa, we need to understand the past and how it has influenced the present; and how they can be put together to drive our desired future. To do this, Prof Arc John Owusu Addo [1st Ghanaian HOD of Architecture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology] takes us through the evolution of architecture education and practice in Ghana.
Enjoy episode 01 below, like, subscribe and share
ArchPose!, promoting Ghanaian/African Architecture
Good work!
But it can be better if the images of such buildings and those architects were displayed as he narrate the story to make it interesting.