Building Experts Use Recycled Products For Community Landscape Development


A group of architects and building experts are using recycled materials to revive peri-urban communities through improved landscaping.

Plastics, car tyres and polythene bags are some of the recycled materials to be evident in the project whiles other resources like bamboo and clay will be useful to develop the child’s talent through psychomotor activity.

The social enterprise project intends building playgrounds equipped with socio-cultural models depicting most prominent cultural sites in all ten regions of Ghana.

Mostly students from the KNUST, France and German universities, the group at a ten-day international students’ workshop in Kumasi is expected to revive the Appiadu community through creative initiatives, interaction and utilization of its landscapes.

The project is under the Landscapes and Neighbourhood and Community Revival Plus (LANCOR+) initiative.

Participants are positive the project will provide opportunities for learning and employment.

Research by student group revealed that urban population will rise by 50 per cent which will raise questions about proper community based planning.

Mackiva Owusu Ansah, the Country Director of CLEAN-AFRICA observes that development planners in Ghana have failed to integrate recreational and beautification facilities in community development.

The international not-for-profit group wants Ghana to take a second look at community based landscape developments.

Interacting with the participants at the workshop, they revealed that this is one of the motivations to partake in the LANCOR+ project.

James, one of the students, he explains, “As a child, I used to visit the Kumasi Children Park ( a once active playground which is now defunct) to play but with time, the place collapsed and so doing such a project in Kumasi is great for me”.

“Looking forward to creating something that when the children see, they will want to embrace it as their own; it is at that point that I will feel the project has been successful”, another added.

The project covers a five-acre land which will stem on architectural innovations purposely to enable children whenever they visit to play and learn about Ghana.

Project leader, Dr. Alexander Boakye Marful explains the multipurpose rendezvous will also promote tourism in the region.

“We are using a miniature model to build and represent the whole Ghana at a glance as part of the project. When tourists come to Kumasi it is only the Manhyia Palace and Lake Bosomtwe that they visit so economically the city is unable to hold tourists for long.”

Officials say, “We are using architecture to address this challenge and help retain tourists in the region. It will also rekindle the economic activities causing the urban fabric to decline.”

CLEAN-AFRICA has the goal to promote healthy environments for sustainable development.

The two-year (2014-2016) project at a cost of 50,000 Euros is supported by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi, SPAYSIS and Rethink.

It is expected to be replicated in other parts of the country after piloting in Ashanti region.


More General News »


Comments:
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.