‘Performing The Past’
Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth
Wattle + Daub, thatch, clay
Iron Age inspired wattle and daub interventions + spaces for learning ancient craft. Strictly built with Iron Age technologies and locally foraged materials: wooden pegs, rope, handmade iron nails etc.
Thank you so much to Ildiko + Sally for the tour
Tamale Kawula! 🇬🇭
people watching, building spotting and back seat views from pragyas + motorbikes 💛💨
#tamaleghana #northernregionghana #WaGhana #navrongo
The Architecture of Bamiléké / Bamum: The Bamiléi people are an ethnic group of central Africa, inhabitants of the grassfields of Cameroon.
The images capture their monumental thatched buildings; bamboo or harvested cane woven together on ground into triple latticed structures to form prefabricated panels. Raised by bush rope, these would be fastened together with help from the wider community.
Panels were then layered with raffia and set in place by skillfully carved lintels and totems, evidencing extreme levels of sculptural control
Depending on each buildings function, walls could be without motif, coated with laterite based mixtures, or further decorated with extravagant Bamum art.
Attic spaces were fascinatingly used as dry storage, protected from vermin and rot by the upward travel of fireplace smoke in homes and palaces.
The architecture of the Bamilei people and neighbouring communities are remarkable examples of the power of beautification in giving language and expression to the immortal and intangible.
Images :
Chefferie Bandjoun - a traditional chiefdom and living museum of Bamileke culture,
Fouban Palace
The Art of Cameroon, Paul Gerber
Frank Christol photography collection c 18th/19th century
The Architecture of Asanteman:
The Asante Traditional Buildings are a collection of 10 courtyard arranged shrines, palaces and fetish houses. They stand as the last surviving examples of ancient Asante architecture, despite being largely destroyed during British colonial conquests c. late 1900s
Comprised structurally of wattle, daub and rectangular cob. Material palettes of palm, bamboo + raffia.
Decorated with proverbial and animal motifs reflecting both the ritualistic nature of each compound, and the animistic belief systems of the Asante people.
1. Gold Coast Views in Kumasi; Kwaku Dua and His Court 1887
2. “Ruins of Ashanti Shrine to one of the Tano Gods”
3. Gold Coast Views in Kumasi; Kwaku Dua and His Court 1887
4. Unnamed
5. Ejisu Besease or Yaw Tano Shrine, 2000s
6. Patakro - CRAterre, Sébastien Moriset, 2014
7. Crocodile wall motif at Kentinkrono
8. Calabash offerings for resident Ɔbosom, 2014
9. ‘Adarko Jackie’ - snapshot of deterioration, 2023
10. ^
11. Deteriorating Bodwease shrine revealing tied palm cane substructure - CRAterre, Sébastien Moriset, 2014
12. p32 ‘Les Méthodes de Construction’, from Asante Traditional Buildings, Mondial. 2021
⛰️🌱 “Rammed earth is one of the oldest construction methods, dating back to the Middle East and the semi-nomadic period. The oldest known rammed earth building is around 8,000 years old.”
Reel Lessons:
1. How to mix and test soil
2. Arrange formwork
3. Construct a corner joint
4. Introduce electrical services into a rammed earth wall
I had the most incredible time learning about rammed earth as a material and building technique with @hive_earth at their Teshie studio in Accra.
Together we constructed a corner joint with and manually rammed the beginnings of a wall 💪🏾😂
Thank you so much to Kwame , Kwaku & the team for welcoming us into world of rammed earth up close & all the tips and knowledge! Definitely an unforgettable experience ♥️🌴🔨
classical order research in material languages of sustainability and afro-futurism.
1 - 3. Temple in Antis / AG “LesoSplaw” 📸: Alexander Berzing
4 - @Bi0n , Digital fabrication with rammed earth
5 - Exploring Sir John Soane’s Archive of drawings and apprentice sketches - “Portico of Pantheon, Rome; portico of St Martin-in-the Fields, London”
6 - @leonbuehrer “Earth Columns”
7 - @visualsbyponzio Segou 🇲🇱
8 - Pilasters of St Paul’s Cathedral, Google
🏛️✝️
Last week I had the pleasure and privilege of being on a panel at @saint.church - my local church discussing all things design, detail and purpose around the theme: Designing For Sacred Spaces.
I also learned so much from my fellow panelists!
@nateg.myers@matthewlloydarchitects
Some key points I received & shared were:
1. Be excellent and cultivate your skills as an architect (if you plan to delve into designing anything, including sacred spaces)
2. Learn from the past
3. Understand & listen to people (who do and do not engage with the spaces you want to design)
4. Every gift and skill we have reflects a level of God-likeness; Design is worship.
Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.
Thank you 🫶🏾
@renaissance.movement@saint.church
Earlier this month in celebration of our black history I had the pleasure of helping produce ‘Sisters Who Make’ - an intimate careers discussion, reflection and networking event for black makers 🖤
Thank you to the Crafts Council team and the amazing guest speakers who shared such insightful and enriching snippets of their diverse creative journeys !
@blackgirlknitclub@yemioyato@mne_eddy
📸: @deborahionaphotography
