Location: Accra, Ghana
Program: Commercial
Client: Private
Status: In progress
Area: 5400sqm
Renders: Matthew Pretorius (interiors)

How to design for the hot tropical environment such as Ghana?

In the case of The Madison, a twelve storey high-end residential apartment block, the challenge was to provide maximum visibility from the large balcony windows of each unit, while mitigating heat gain through a series of white sun screens strategically positioned on the balconies. This ‘second skin’ will help to lighten the load on air conditioning and reduce electricity consumption.

The white sun screens, made of steel tubes, forms a simple checkered pattern on the façade, creating a strong sculptural effect that is unique in the city’s skyline.