"re-imagining the public's space: incorporating the dynamism of social spaces into public...
TRANSCRIPT
“RE-IMAGINING THE PUBLIC’S SPACE: INCORPORATING THE DYNAMISM OF SOCIAL SPACES INTO PUBLIC SPACE PLANNING IN ACCRA, GHANA”
VICTORIA OKOYE
COMMUNITY PLANNER + COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, AFRICAN URBANISM
“TOWARDS A ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN THE MENA REGION”
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
ACCRA
• Independence in 1957• 27 million people (est.)• Stable, peaceful and democratic• Began extracting oil, natural gas in 2010• GDP: US$ 103 billion• Lower-middle income country
GHANA, WEST AFRICA
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
1960 1970 1984 2000 2013
POPULATION GROWTH, 1960-2013
• Population: 2.3 million• Annual growth rate: 2.6%• Economic, financial, political center• Regional trade and investment hub• Immense rural-to-urban growth• 60%+ engaged in informal economy
ACCRA, GHANA
-150,000 -100,000 -50,000 0 50,000 100,000 150,000
65+
55-59
45-49
35-39
25-39
15-19
5-9yrs
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS (2013)
Male Female
ACCRA, GHANA
• Young population: 56% of population below 24 years of age
PARKS IN ACCRA
EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK
EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK
EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK
KWAME NKRUMAH PARK & MAUSOLEUM
AKO ADJEI PARK
JAMESTOWN, OLD ACCRA
WHAT’S MISSING? WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO ACCRA’S MOST VIBRANT SOCIAL SPACES?
#1 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY LIFE, EVENTS
#2 COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
#3 ACCESSIBILITY / TRANSPORT LINKAGES
#4 SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE (CHAIRS, SHADE)
#5 SAFETY AND SECURITY (WE KNOW EACH OTHER)
PLACEMAKING APPROACH: IMPROVING COMMUNITIES, FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SPACES
TRANSFORMING A CAR PARK INTO PEOPLE’S PARK
BEFORE AFTER#1 IDENTIFY EXISTING SOCIAL SPACE WITH POTENTIAL
#2 ENGAGE COMMUNITY TO SEE THEIR VISION
#3 CREATE IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY
BEFORE AFTER
