DeRoche Projects has embarked on transforming Osu, Accra with the Backyard Community Garden, a significant component of the Backyard Urban Campus. This project reimagines communal spaces by integrating architecture and nature, aiming to reflect the historic West African use of outdoor spaces, all within a cutting-edge garden setting.
The garden boldly dismisses traditional lawns, instead focusing on functional landscapes that foster gathering, play, and cultivation. Indigenous plants used in cooking and medicine form the core of this community project, which also includes spaces for leisure, learning, and a café whose menu showcases garden-grown produce.
Garden inspirations guide design
The design reflects West African agricultural traditions, using grid systems to structure pathways, gardens, and social spaces that adapt over time. Visitors are welcomed through a connected architectural sequence, moving from an ancillary building to a sunken garden, adorned with a six-meter canopy water feature, and finally to a café pavilion. This setup encourages interaction and communal activities within the garden.
Three distinct structures—café pavilion, ancillary building, and a water folly—are strategically placed to support the garden’s role as a central community hub. The café features a versatile veranda that accommodates diverse activities, from dining to yoga, highlighting its role as a social focal point within this community haven.
Earth-friendly construction techniques
Continuing the efforts from the Backyard Community Club, the project employs innovative construction methods utilizing stabilized rammed earth, lime, and pozzolanic ash. This approach minimizes cement use while connecting to local heritage and lowering carbon impact.
The garden’s infrastructure is crafted from crushed palm kernel shells, offering a permeable, rain-resistant surface. Integrated water pipes gather rainwater, contributing to an efficient irrigation system. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027, posing as a refreshing departure from conventional city parks, and stands as a testament to the potential of a sustainable garden.
For more innovative architectural designs, discover the serene refuge crafted from stacked wooden pallets overlooking Normandy’s coastal horizon, showcasing sustainable building approaches.
DeRoche Projects orchestrates this engaging landscape around everyday community interactions, proving that gardens can be both beautiful and functional—a hallmark of a progressive ecological space.
The Backyard Community Garden is a pivotal element of the Backyard Urban Campus in Osu, Accra, created by DeRoche Projects | @derocheprojects.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the goal of the Backyard Community Garden project?
The project aims to reimagine communal spaces by integrating architecture and nature, reflecting historic West African use of outdoor spaces within a cutting-edge garden setting.
How does the garden design reflect West African traditions?
The design uses grid systems to structure pathways, gardens, and social spaces that adapt over time, reflecting West African agricultural traditions.
What materials are used in the garden’s construction?
Innovative construction methods utilizing stabilized rammed earth, lime, and pozzolanic ash are employed, connecting to local heritage and reducing carbon impact.