The Living Archive: A Conceptual Proposal for Jamestown, Accra Research Outpost
This project explores the intersection of botanical research, passive climate design, and local material innovation within the cultural and environmental context of Jamestown, Accra. The herbarium is conceived as a living archive—not only preserving plant specimens, but also actively engaging with the microclimate, community, and architectural history of the site.
Drawing from the climatic conditions of coastal Ghana, the building adopts a series of passive strategies: shaded bamboo roofs filter intense sunlight while allowing diffuse daylight; cross-ventilation is guided through glulam-structured promenades; and the use of bamboocrete and compressed earth responds to thermal mass needs while embracing local building techniques.
The project structure is defined by a linear circulation spine, supported by glulam frames, that connects research zones, plant storage, and public courtyards. This open corridor enables air to move, people to meet, and light to flow—serving as the architectural, ecological, and social core of the building.
The design process was grounded in climate analysis, material testing, and historical research. Jamestown’s layered urban history informed the massing and public access, while the coastal breeze and high sun angle shaped the form and section. Ultimately, this project proposes a space that breathes with its context, grows with its users, and archives not only plants—but ways of living with climate.”
Gallery
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