bamboo sunscreens & earth brick facades articulate sustainable manufacturing hub in ghana

 

Global Mamas Fair Trade Zone by JUERGEN STROHMAYER

 

Within a vast green plot in Akuse, Ghana, architect Juergen Strohmayer has completed Global Mamas Fair Trade Zone, a sustainable manufacturing, agricultural, and eco-tourism hub for 200 local female artisans. The project draws from the natural topography of the land, incorporating innovative building strategies and technologies throughout the site and establishing an alternative socially conscious and ergonomic work environment. Curved, elongated buildings made of earth bricks and bamboo adapt to the contour lines of the site and each houses different production lines, which are associated with adjacent productive gardens.

all images courtesy of Juergen Strohmayer

 

 

an inextricable link between architecture and landscape

 

Juergen Strohmayer (see more here) designed the Global Mamas Fair Trade Zone as an ensemble of individual structures made of raw materials. The project focuses on the concept of circular economy, establishing an inextricably linked relationship between architecture and landscape. The raw materials processed within the interior grow outdoors, and the buildings capture rainwater and supply ecologically treated production wastewater to the plants via yard drainage channels and furrow irrigation. The result sees a striped landscape of different biomes that meet the different ecological requirements of a dyer’s garden, a paper garden, a textile garden, a skincare garden, and an energy garden.

 

Embedded in the fruitful terrain are a variety of spaces, ranging from neat indoor production spaces to shaded outdoor circulation areas opening to courtyards and social spaces. Nestled in the lush vegetation are retreats, a daycare center, and a cafeteria in a community kitchen garden. Since the Fair Trade Zone is open to guests, it is also a new eco-tourism site, offering educational workshops and tours along its circular trail that traverses the project’s economic and environmental diversity.

 

 

local bamboo, earth bricks, and palm kernel shells

 

Combining formal minimalism with ergonomic details, the architecture draws attention to the land’s vibrant manufacturing processes and rich biodiversity. Locally sourced bamboo screens provide shade on the east and west facades, allowing natural cross-ventilation and filtering natural sunlight. In the meantime, they also support the linear and cohesive visual character of the buildings.

 

Offset walls made of compressed earth brick cover the perimeter of the building to further protect the employees from direct sunlight. In addition, Palm kernel shells, an agricultural waste product, are used to shade the driveways and pathways on site. The entire materiality palette consists of natural elements creating soft and permeable transitions, and ensuring natural ventilation as well as social integration.

 

 

Focusing on renewable energy

 

The Fair Trade Zone design focuses on integrated renewable energy with a water tower powered by a wind turbine, solar energy, passive cooling, water-efficient toilets, the ecological treatment of toxic dye wastewater with Moringa flocculants, biogas and biochar production from human and manufacturing waste, and on-site production of organic fertilizer and insecticides.

 

The Fair Trade Zone design process follows a cooperative and participatory approach. The outdoor batik and paper making areas are equipped with customized ergonomic production floors developed in design workshops together with Global Mamas production teams. The realization is done step by step by local builders as a growing facility. The interior organization is based on a modular building system that allows for phased and versatile use. The exterior facilities are developed down to the last detail in workshops that combine traditional local knowledge and international know-how.