In recent decades, heavy flooding in important cities and towns around the world has caused death, devastation of property and infrastructure, and loss of crops, among other things.
The communities on beaches and in coastal cities are among those most at risk from the effects of climate change on account of increasing sea levels.
The majority of Ghana’s island villages face the threat of abandonment due to the climate issue and inadequate investment, despite their enormous tourism potential and economic benefits.
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One such instance is Azizakpe Island, which is situated in the Volta River estuary. Azizakpe has been around for more than a century.
However, significant flooding and erosion in recent years have put the island community in danger of extinction. Azizakpe’s land has lost almost 20 acres to erosion. Due to the climate issue and the emigration of the majority of the population, farming and economic activities like the production of coconut oil, crab hunting, boat building, fish trading, weaving, and broom making have all been seriously interrupted.
A Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology final-year architecture student is working to restore the neighborhood and make it more appealing to both locals and tourists (Miss Rhoda Osei-Nkwantabisa),has created robust buildings that can assist the neighborhood endure the effects of erosion and floods.
The concept of amphibious architecture served as the foundation for the suggested structures’ design. Buildings can float on the surface of increasing floodwater thanks to this architectural strategy rather than being submerged.
Local elements including mangrove trees, thatch roofs, woven coconut leaf walls, and bamboo raft floors were adopted by the designer. The architect built a bamboo cage at the base of each building to allow it to float without sinking.
Waste plastic bottles are used to fill the cage with buoyancy in case of flooding. The mangrove tree’s ability to survive floods and erosion served as an inspiration for the shapes of the constructions.
The buildings are made to float if sea levels rise as expected in the future thanks to the bamboo cage and supporting mangrove sliding stilts.
Construction costs are predicted to decrease by 40% as a result of the utilization of inexpensive construction methods and locally accessible resources. If adopted, this idea will help the neighborhood in social, economic, and environmental ways.
By using plastic bottles instead of other materials, the town and its surroundings will produce less plastic garbage. The facility will also contribute to local and national revenue generation. It might act as a guide for reviving island communities in Ghana.
The creation of the 3D impressions was made possible with the assistance of Mr. Emmanuel Kankam, which the author sincerely acknowledges. Dr. Martin Larbi and Arc. Isaac Annor successfully led this research project. The author expresses gratitude to Mr. Emmanuel Kankam for his assistance in creating the 3D imprints.
