Surf Ghana Collective

Surf Ghana Collective 

DeRoché Strohmayer

Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Alconstructs

METALWORKS
Mecraft

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Richard Ofori Addo

SPONSORS
Vans, Chadi Dakmak, Neuce Ghana

JOINERY
Sdps

PHOTOGRAPHS
Julien Lanoo

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Dixcove, Ghana

CATEGORY
Sports Architecture, Community

Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo

Surf Ghana Collective creates a dynamic community space for youth in Busua, a surfing hotspot on Ghana’s western coast. The community-run lodge plugs into a network of surf schools and oceanfront lodges.

The adapted single-room structure is used flexibly throughout the year and provides the first hangout spot for local youth, providing amenities such as wifi, a beach shower, and equipment storage.

Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo

For large surf events, the room acts as a classroom and dormitory for visiting surfers. In the off-season, the building is rented out to cover running costs.

To improve the existing edifice, a new canopy replaced a leaking roof. The new structure spans over the existing room and creates social spaces above and below.

Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo

An ocean-facing community terrace on the ground floor is constructed around two preserved Ficus trees.

The new rooftop increases the club’s small preexisting footprint and provides a respite point that features pillars to hang hammocks and a new vantage point to observe surf swells.

Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo

The design uses passive cooling strategies, a double-roof design, and cross-ventilation.

To reduce the use of cement, the mix-design substituted cement with a readily available laterite, resulting in reduced-carbon concrete.

Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo

This was used to finish the existing structure’s plaster and cast low-maintenance and salt-resistant concrete elements. Local raffia substituted imported formwork.

The resulting surface effect integrates into the region’s design language, as raffia palms clad many structures in Ghana’s Western Region, such as in the Nzulezu stilt village.

Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo


Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo
Surf Ghana Collective
© Julien Lanoo


Surf Ghana Collective
Plan and Sections
Surf Ghana Collective
Plan - Site
Surf Ghana Collective
Area Map
Surf Ghana Collective
Exploded Axo


Surf Ghana Collective
Sustainability Strategies