nubuke foundation extends accra campus with concrete exhibition gallery

the nubuke foundation, an arts and culture center in ghana, has been extended with a new concrete structure that hovers above the grounds of the property. located in east legon, a town in the metropolitan district of accra, the country’s capital, the venue hosts a wide variety of programs that cater to a range of local and national audiences. completed by baerbel mueller and juergen strohmayer — architects who worked on this bamboo shelter in the coastal ghanaian town of apam — the expanded facility features a number of different settings for a range of activities.

image © julien lanoo (also main image)

baerbel mueller and juergen strohmayer say that creating green spaces and a sense of openness were key considerations when developing their design. it is imagined that large gatherings for music events or festivities may take place beneath the new building, while on quieter afternoons children may move on to the stage platform to read books from the library shaded by palm trees. elsewhere, a communal lounge allows visitors to work alongside others in a creative environment.

image © julien lanoo

contained within the landmark new building, the venue’s new gallery has high ceilings, no columns, and exposed concrete walls. within this space, modulations in the floor, formed through a mezzanine, the height of the ceilings, and the walls, create areas that allow for intimate and expansive exhibitions, performances, and events. artwork, panels, and curtains can be hung from an integrated overhead rail system. the architects say that the reduced colorscape allows vibrant exhibitions and activities to take center stage.

image © julien lanoo

meanwhile, the site’s existing structures have been refurbished, relocated, or adapted. the main bungalow, which previously housed all of the nubuke foundation’s functions in one building, has been opened up to serve as a space for co-working. elsewhere, additional structures have been designed to accommodate infrastructure for artists, cultural activists of diverse disciplines, and audiences of all generations.