Continuity, Utility and Change: The Urban Compound House in Ghana

Abstract

Since the fifteenth century when Europeans first established a credible presence in Ghana, colonial values have played a significant role in shaping lifestyles in the country. Despite these imported influences, the courtyard house remains the predominant house form in rural and urban areas alike. It is somewhat surprising, therefore, that there is relatively little appreciation within academic and policy-making circles of its versatility. In this paper, the authors focus on the built form of the urban courtyard house and examine its utilitarian qualities from a predominantly architectural viewpoint. Finally, an attempt is made at predicting the medium-term future of this house type.