OneHive Villas is the result of our rigorous and iterative space management ideas for an ideal family house in today’s Accra where land prices are sky rocketing and our lives ever evolving.
Sticking to the basics of design, good natural ventilation and natural lighting and the need to respect our site, we developed a design that maximized the use of space without sacrificing comfort for users or the building’s main functions: dwelling.
We set out to outline the most important needs of the Ghanaian home (sleeping, cooking, relaxation, light work and entertainment) and designed a house that prioritized the use of the space to produce a more responsive and clutter-free design. We tried as much as possible to reduce circulation spaces and designed spaces for multiple use.
Restricting our design to satisfying the basics (good natural lighting, good natural ventilation and ample space) we tried to achieve a design that is easy to put up and maintain with the technology already available in Ghana. The four semi-detached duplexes are organized around a driveway with enough patches of greenery and porous concrete pavers.
The form for the design comes from the conditions on the site. From schematic analyses from performance modelling, our brief + programming and a restricted floor area, we designed the houses to provide more space on the first floor and let the extensions that this space provides serve as overhangs to shade our western windows during the hottest times of the day. We also played with the idea of introducing shaded balconies to trap fresh air for some of the spaces while serving as a private place of relaxation.
The materials we chose were from our need to keep the design very sustainable with readily available materials that would withstand the adverse weather conditions. We believe the aesthetic must come from the functions of the form and not decorations. Main materials used are concrete, wood, glass and anodized aluminum since the site is close to the sea.
Using 360 degree images as parts of our review system of the space, we were able to understand the relationship the user might have with the form and materials. We also used performance modelling software to test our ideas for the design and this helped us develop a form that was responsive to the client’s needs.
- Design and supervision: Revival Design + VFX Studios (RDVS)
