Ningo Prampram – Evolution with local root

Cities of the future have to be ready for a different climate reality that is hotter, wetter and dryer. This is particularly the case when planning city extensions in sub-Saharan Africa’s rapidly growing cities. But how to do that?
Simply by putting the forces of nature first. In the planned city extension for Ningo-Prampram in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region, this is what the masterplan does right from the start. Rather than fighting the forces of nature, it uses them as the structuring system of the plan. Rather than trying to use expensive drainage piping systems, it uses open canals. These are not only are cheaper to build and easier to maintain, but also create a unique quality to the new city.
But flexible and resilient planning goes further: It also anticipates cycles of maturity of a place. Where in the beginning development can be realized with decentralized water and energy infrastructure, over the course of time these systems can be linked up and become a larger and more efficient citywide utility networks.