Dansoman Studio

Located in western Accra, Dansoman Studio rethinks the typical urban compound through a careful renovation and compact expansion. Developed in close collaboration with the client, the project addresses shifting residential patterns, sustainability, and a contemporary design language for the city.

An existing L-shaped building was reorganized to improve privacy and flow for four tenants, enhancing access to shared amenities such as kitchen and living areas. A new two-story loft studio was added along the southern edge of the site, forming a protected courtyard between old and new structures while buffering the compound from noise and views of the adjacent public space.

The new building serves as a self-contained live-work unit for a creative entrepreneur, with living and kitchen areas on the ground floor and sleeping and work spaces above. Its massing responds to the natural slope of the site, stepping down toward the east and sloping the roof accordingly—minimizing solar gain while giving the building a distinctive silhouette.

A breezeblock façade wraps the new volume on three sides, providing shade, ventilation, and a strong street presence. A deep planter replaces the typical boundary wall, introducing vegetation to the street and softening the urban edge. Together, the interventions propose a more open and climate-responsive model for compact urban living in Accra’s growing neighborhoods.

Location: Accra, Ghana / Program: private residence / Year: 2020 - ongoing / Area UFA: 92m2 (new) + 150m2 (renovation) / Project team: Juergen Strohmayer, Abdul-Rauf Issahaque