Jamestown, one of Accra’s oldest neighborhoods, was a key colonial hub where colonial powers and Ga communities coexisted. This made Jamestown a symbolic intersection of colonial and local cultures. The project site used to be the iconic Kingsway Store established by the British colonial government, marking a milestone as Ghana’s first indoor mall in 1929.
Accra’s current plant composition is heavily shaped by its colonial past, when the introduction of cash crops altered native vegetation patterns, leading to a mix of local and foreign species in the city’s landscape. This project aims to transform plants from colonial tools into a medium for Ghanaians to reconnect with nature and culture. The design preserves the original building’s outer walls as a symbol of history. The vegetation within the site represents the resilient spirit of the Ghanaian people—growing beyond imposed boundaries. At the center of the site, a continuous flowing water channel was designed, with its end connected to the sea level, symbolizing a breakthrough.
This project adopts locally sourced materials such as timber, masonry, and rammed earth to emphasize sustainability and local identity, integrating architecture with the landscape. Regional architectural elements like timber louvered windows and rammed earth walls, along with raised lightweight timber roofs which introduce natural light and ventilation, creating a comfortable, open, and culturally resonant spatial experience.
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