The Accra Architecture & Urbanism Writing Workshop takes place Friday, July 6 through Sunday, July 8, 2018 in Accra, Ghana. The workshop is being instituted to coach a number of emerging Architectural and urban focused academics in West Africa to be able to write academic blog articles to initiate a West African Architecture and Urbanism… Continue reading Accra Architecture & Urbanism Writing Workshop, July 2018
Situating Spatial Appropriation within Decolonial & Feminist Frameworks: Thinking through Research Methodology
In September 2017, I began PhD studies at the Sheffield School of Architecture (SSoA) as part of a long desire to engage in research that examines spatial appropriation in two West African cities – Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria – with the aim of documenting and theorising about space from the local, southern perspectives of… Continue reading Situating Spatial Appropriation within Decolonial & Feminist Frameworks: Thinking through Research Methodology
Join the #TalkingSpaces Twitter Discussions on Child-Friendly Public Spaces
The city of Accra, Ghana, like others around Africa, is expanding at a rapid pace. The pressure on the ground in the metropolis to make way for urban development translates into the cutting down age-old trees, and the taking over of play grounds, parks, waterways, and other essential community resources. City authorities’ plans and the competing, uncoordinated priorities of city dwellers, vendors,… Continue reading Join the #TalkingSpaces Twitter Discussions on Child-Friendly Public Spaces
For African cities, ‘tactical urbanism’ has its limits
It was a few years ago that the framework of tactical urbanism, a concept particularly promoted and popularized by U.S. planning design firm Street Plans Collaborative, gained traction, particularly in the United States and European contexts. The idea of tactical urbanism refers to locally led, low-cost and short-term built environment interventions aimed at improving local… Continue reading For African cities, ‘tactical urbanism’ has its limits
Money in a slum: the logic of small gains
Dagna Rams is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Social and Political Science at the University of Lausanne, researching urban management and the politics and economies at the heart of the slum communities/informal settlements of Old Fadama and Agbogbloshie (Ghana). On a research outing around one of Accra’s informal settlements, my friend Abdallah (a slum activist… Continue reading Money in a slum: the logic of small gains
Foster’s World: Seeing Ga Mashie from Child Perspective
Foster Malm, 13, moves through one of Jamestown’s bustling markets with remarkable ease. Black iPhone covertly at the ready, he shoots off the hip, capturing unexpected market-goers moving through daily life. Although barely audible over the usual market place chatter, the camera shutter sounds off like rapid fire: close-ups of fresh tomatoes and onions, action… Continue reading Foster’s World: Seeing Ga Mashie from Child Perspective
African Urbanism Conversations / 001 / Agbogbloshie
In this first African Urbanism Conversation, participants discuss the urban development, social, political, economic and environmental context of Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama, often typified as “Africa’s largest e-waste dump.” The conversation provides local context for a better understanding of what’s happening in Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama, and how the sites are intricately interlinked and connected to… Continue reading African Urbanism Conversations / 001 / Agbogbloshie
“Making space for history” in Accra’s Ga Mashie neighborhood
Cultural tourism walks a precarious line. Private sector investments can generate significant socio-economic benefits for community members and revitalize cultural interests. On the other hand there are many opportunities for exploitation— interest groups stand to profit from over-development, pricing out existing low-income residents. As the growing number of arts, culture and touristic activities in Accra’s… Continue reading “Making space for history” in Accra’s Ga Mashie neighborhood
Re-imagining Accra’s “public spaces”
What if we let go of the limiting idea of our public spaces as “city parks” and began exploring the entire range of social spaces that already exist in the city? This is the first in a series of posts. Talented architects, designers and public space practitioners, green space enthusiasts, and everyday citizens dream of… Continue reading Re-imagining Accra’s “public spaces”
‘Speculative infrastructures’ at the urban margins
Earlier this month (September 2018), I participated in a thought-provoking panel engaging the ‘margins’ in the research process. The panel was part of the two-day workshop ‘Speculative Infrastructures and Cities-in-the-Making,’ which was organized by Jon Silver and Paula Meth at the University of Sheffield and supported by Urban Geography journal and the University of Sheffield’s… Continue reading ‘Speculative infrastructures’ at the urban margins
Amplifying Local Voices on Ghana’s Built Environment: Accra Architecture Writing Workshop
amplify: verb. to make larger, greater, or stronger; to enlarge; extend; to expand in stating or describing, as by details or illustrations; to clarify by expanding….to discourse at length… For three days in early July 2018, I worked with undergraduate, masters, and PhD students as one of three workshop tutors in the Accra Architecture Writing Workshop,… Continue reading Amplifying Local Voices on Ghana’s Built Environment: Accra Architecture Writing Workshop