The Monologue This project is located in the upper class residential area of Cantoment in Accra, Ghana. The central idea of the making of the Monologue is to create a contemporary multi-family residential unit, simple, exploring inspiration from the Ghanaian “artscape” for identity but being very relevant to contemporary times. The façade treatment to the west and east elevations though seemingly random, follows a poetic pattern inspired from the Ghanaian kente fabric and comes together to form an urban screen composed of simple masonry white walls and glass resulting in a “concrete” crystallization of the ubiquitous Ghanaian traditional and the internationally recognized, hand–woven fabric known as Kente. The inspired use of this “kente brise soleil” whilst allowing abundant natural lighting is also employed to prevent direct solar ingress into the internal spaces and balconies serving as a sun shading device. The Monologue’s western and eastern facades, which naturally have to deal with the solar incidence challenges in Ghana utilize the tools of “brise soleil” to give a feel of different small sub-screens coming together to form a single framed large urban screen. The sensation of looking through the frame of an urban screen is heightened through the use of recessed supports and the band glazing of the floor beneath. Additionally, the angled balcony walls reinforce the screen appearance as seen by the human eyes in varying perspectives which, giving the building its unique look and feel. The architectural interpretation of the “Kente” fabric, unique in to the rich artistic and heritage of Ghana, rides on the lines of contemporary primary geometric styling and interpretation PREDIOS m.
