{
  "id": 10818406,
  "title": "Terracyren’s Asante-inspired design wins KNUST contest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/terracyrens-asante-inspired-design-wins-knust-contest",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-30T00:37:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Chronicle Ghana",
    "slug": "the-chronicle-ghana",
    "url": "https://thechronicle.com.gh/terracyrens-asante-inspired-design-wins-knust-contest/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A team of fourth-year architecture students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) emerged victorious in the EARTH Studio Student Design Competition with an innovative design for a Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) regional office. The proposal, led by Team Terracyren, drew inspiration from the traditional Asante house, incorporating earth and local resources to create a contemporary building rooted in Ghana's architectural heritage.\n\nThe team, consisting of more than 15 participants, ultimately narrowed down to the \"treasure box\" concept. This idea, explained by Nana Kwadwo Agyei-Bi Asante, former president of the KNUST chapter of the Architecture Students’ Association of Ghana (ASAG), was inspired by an Asante custom where valued property is entrusted to a chosen person when an elder or head of a family nears death. The GMMB, as the protector of Ghana’s historical sites such as castles and traditional buildings, served as the inspiration for this design.\n\nThe exterior of the building is designed to resemble a courtyard house, with an entrance that doesn’t immediately reveal the building's function. The courtyard serves multiple purposes, cooling the structure, allowing air and daylight to enter, and creating a protected space for the preservation of heritage. Earth construction was not only a competition requirement but also a precedent, as Asante houses were traditionally built of wattle and daub, a method that has stood the test of time since the colonial era.\n\nThe design incorporates a central skylight, resembling a courtyard with a tree, to evoke a sense of natural connection. The facade's breeze blocks combine two symbols: one representing the wisdom of the past and the other symbolizing protection. The entrance, modeled after Asante houses, invites visitors while signifying a protected place.\n\nThe building's design also addresses climate adaptation. The north and south sides, featuring the breeze blocks and most openings, allow for cross-ventilation, essential for earth buildings to prevent mould. The east and west walls, exposed to the harshest sun, have no windows. The thick earth walls act as insulation, keeping heat out and protecting against rain and sun. Long roof overhangs shield the building from rain and sun, while a stone or concrete base ensures floodwater does not reach the earth.",
  "summary": "A team of fourth-year architecture students at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has won the EARTH Studio Student Design Competition with a proposal for a Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) regional office that adapts the traditional Asante house. The Department of Architecture announced Team Terracyren as the winner after final presentations […] The post…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}