Kickstarter

WHAT WOULD PERSUADE TWO ARCHITECTS TO LEAVE NEW YORK CITY AND TRAVEL TO WEST AFRICA, IN ORDER TO HAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH THE OLDEST BUILDING METHODS KNOWN TO MAN? 

THOSE TWO ARCHITECTS WOULD BE US: KAROLINA AND WAYNE. 

FOR SEVEN YEARS WE’VE WORKED IN NEW YORK ON PROJECTS WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE LIFESTYLES HERE… MEANING THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY, EFFORT AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE.   AT THIS POINT WE WANT TO USE THE SKILLS WE’VE LEARNED HERE AND COMBINE THEM WITH MORE TIMELESS BUILDING METHODS USED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 

MORE AND MORE ARCHITECTS ARE REALIZING THAT BUILDING WITH EARTH PROVIDES AN AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY, WHICH CAN BE REALIZED IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. OUR CURIOUSITY TO EXPLORE EARTHEN BUILDING TECHNIQUES WILL SOON TAKE US TO A PLACE WITH A LONG HISTORY WITH THIS MATERIAL…. GHANA. 

HERE WE’LL WORK ALONGSIDE MEMBERS OF THE ABETENIM ARTS VILLAGE IN THE RURAL ASHANTI REGION.  FOR 6 WEEKS, WE WILL BE DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING A 10X10 BUILDING WHERE THIS COMMUNITY CAN HOLD THEIR WORKSHOPS.  THE BUILDING WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH GHANIAN EARTH-BUILDING TECHNIQUES AND CONSTRUCTED OF MATERIALS READILY AVAILABLE IN AREA, NOT ONLY EARTH, BUT WOOD, RECYCLED PLASTICS AND CORRUGATED METAL. 

 A BOARD OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON ANY PRACTICAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES.  THIS IS A TRULY VERNACULAR PROJECT- BASED ON REAL NEEDS, AND REAL COLLABORATION…  AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET THERE!

WE’D LOVE TO SHOW YOU A FINISHED DESIGN FOR THE BUILDING, BUT THAT JUST ISN’T HOW IT WORKS.  WITHOUT BEING IN GHANA, TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY AND SEEING WHAT IS FEASIBLE, OUR IDEAS ARE ONLY IDEAS. THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN. 

THE NKA FOUNDATION IS THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHO HAS CREATED THIS RESIDENCY, BUT PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM IS FULLY PAID FOR BY US.  WE ARE APPEALING TO ALL OF YOU OUT IN KICKSTARTER-LAND TO HELP US RAISE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.   IT WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS HELPING US REALIZE A VERY SPECIAL GOAL OF OURS. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ENDURING CONTRIBUTION TO A COMMUNITY IN NEED.

WHO KNOWS, IF YOU SOMEDAY FIND YOURSELF IN GHANA, YOU MIGHT JUST RECOGNIZE A BUILDING THAT YOU HELPED SUPPORT. SO TAKE A LOOK AT THE INCENTIVES WE’RE OFFERING FOR LEVELS OF CONTRIBUTION AND PLEASE DONATE WHAT YOU CAN. 

THANKS SO MUCH, OR AS THEY SAY IN GHANA: MEDA-SAY!