local materiality and natural context shape Barnwood in Aburi
Located in Ghana’s Eastern Region, Barnwood in Gyankama is a residential project by Symbolic Spaces, led by Theo Obeng-Sackey. The development consists of clay-pigmented, monolithic villas currently under construction, emerging from the red earth landscape characteristic of the area. The project emphasizes form, material presence, and environmental response as primary architectural drivers.
all images courtesy of Symbolic Spaces
Symbolic Spaces’ design references housing typology in Ghana
Barnwood project is led by Ghanaian British architect Theo Obeng-Sackey and reflects a housing typology central to Symbolic Spaces’ ongoing research. Since 2017, the studio has explored the relationship between architectural form, materiality, and climate-responsive strategies within the humid conditions of Aburi, a context distinct from the drier and more intense climatic conditions of Accra. This setting provides a framework for testing construction approaches that balance expressive massing with economic efficiency, while positioning color and surface texture as integral components of regional architectural language.
the project aims to inspire the community but also to challenge prevailing narratives of modern African architecture
the design draws subtly from local building traditions entirely through local craftsmanship
Symbolic Spaces studio selects Laterite as the primary external skin
a red clay pigment was introduced to enrich the surface, referencing regional vernacular architecture
the facade’s texture resembles the contours of nearby anthills