The Influence of Planning and Architectural Styles on the Sustainability of the City of Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

The city of Kumasi that was once dubbed the ‘Garden City of West Africa’ was founded in the late 17th century and served as the seat of government for the medieval Greater Asante Union. It later served as a commercial hub for the British Colony after undergoing massive transformation in the first two decades of the 19th century. Post-independence, the city went through various urban planning projects that mostly targeted social development. The architecture of Kumasi has also been changing through different periods of its history. This article examines the relationship between the evolution of the city of Kumasi through urban planning and architecture and the general sustainability in construction. The results show that there is massive depletion of the green belt in Kumasi. Moreover, contemporary architecture uses fewer passive designs for indoor climate control and less local materials for construction. Use of technology for improvement of local materials compressive strength and integration of renewable energy sources in architecture are recommended as course of action.