Landlords and institutional leaders in Ghana have been urged to treat building extensions as entirely new developments, ensuring professional planning and proper permits are in place before construction begins.
Professor Samuel Amos Abanyie, a Professor of Architecture at KNUST made this call in his inaugural lecture. He stressed that thoughtful planning of incremental housing growth is essential to safeguard indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and ensure adequate daylight in Ghana’s rapidly urbanising cities.
“Engage a qualified architect before construction starts, prepare detailed design drawings, and obtain permits to ensure buildings remain healthy for occupants,” he emphasised
The lecture also drew attention to the widespread practice of unregulated building extensions in urban areas. According to his studies, about 72% of buildings in Ghana have undergone extensions, with nearly 95% executed without professional input, leading to poor ventilation, reduced daylight, and compromised living conditions.
Highlighting the predictable pattern of urban development, he noted that many buildings undergo extensions or modifications over time. Drawing on Turner’s 1976 observation that “housing is a process, not a product,” he argued that buildings should be designed with a well-planned core unit that anticipates future growth, supported by clearly articulated extension blueprints.
He stressed the importance of noise control measures in urban planning, adding that mixed-use developments often create unintended noise challenges in classrooms, studios, and residential areas.
“Communities internalise chronic noise as urban life. We must design our cities to respect both functionality and wellbeing,” he said.
He warned against accepting poor indoor environmental conditions as the norm.
“Occupants accept inadequate daylight as normal but normal should never compromise health,” he said.
Professor Abanyie emphasized the long-term importance of designing buildings with future growth in mind. Careful foresight, he argued, ensures that homes remain healthy, functional, and sustainable as communities continue to densify.
“Planning ahead for housing growth is planning ahead for human wellbeing,” he said.
He highlighted that buildings designed with foresight can retain high daylight penetration, improve natural ventilation, reduce energy use, and create comfortable indoor environments even as cities continue to densify.
