Mario Cucinella’s One Airport Square in Ghana

On September 8th, Mario Cucinella Architects will break ground on his One Airport Square project in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. Accra, capital of Ghana is swiftly becoming one of the strongest economic hubs in West Africa. The Italian design studio Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA) has been commissioned to envision a 17,000 sq m mixed use complex to be situated in the heart of the city.

Actis Boston & laurus development partners commissioned a 21,000 sqm mix used development with retail facilities and an office bock. According to the particular topography of the site, the project is organized in order to create a public square towards the north east side of the area, concentrating the building mass on the opposite side.

The poor actual conditions of the surrounding area justifies the idea of a public or semi-public open space, to be mainly used by employees and potentially become a shopping plaza Main entrance to the office building and to the retail are located at the upper level.

The block contains retail, shops, restaurant, cafeterias making the area live during day and night time. Main facades of the building are oriented towards north and south; east and west facades, which are most problematic in terms of solar control, have been reduced. Overhanging slabs protect all facades from direct solar radiation and vegetation creates a microclimate. The efficiency of natural ventilation is increased by an internal court. A concrete external structure support the slabs and creates a decorative motif on the facades taking inspiration from African typical patterns.