Ec0-Reach Architects

According to research, the built environment accounts for 37% of global carbon emissions (UNEP 2023). Poor architectural choices, especially inefficient materials, deforestation and hard landscaping add to the heat wave we experience from global warming and leave the victims at the mercy of floods and collapsed structures during extreme weather conditions. Unfortunately, the do-it-yourself culture of people who cannot afford architectural design services adds on to the problem. 

In 2023, nearly 26,000 people were coerced out of their homes by floods from heavy rains, in the Eastern region of Ghana (Voice of America).

The lack of climate resilient buildings is causing distress and financial loss.

In simple terms, we equip underprivileged communities with the ability to tackle climate change with climate-appropriate built environment through pro-bono eco-friendly architecture and landscaping services. We design buoyant structures in flood-prone areas, sturdy buildings in earthquake prone areas, and ample green landscaping for all projects in order to reduce carbon footprint and mitigate the heat from climate change. 

Through collaborations, the target projects are undertaken by communities, NGOs and other groups for health centers, schools, orphanages etc. that impact the underprivileged.

Through architectural equity, the idea bridges the gap between the underprivileged/poor and sustainable architecture. The goal of the idea is to introduce an eco-friendly built environment in places where it would likely never exist. The landscaping services promote the conservation of greenery these areas, hence tackling climate change. Communities with dignifying architectural edifices, shielded from the harsh weather conditions through green canopies(trees) and soft grass for communal gatherings, is what we envision.

In Ghana, the beautiful neighborhoods artistically splashed with nature's greens, belong to only the rich, the ones who can afford the services of seasoned climate change-savvy architects and landscape designers. Alternatively, the rural dwellers live together with their farms and communal shade trees in harmony.

The gap, therefore, lies with the low-income earners who reside in urban areas; those who can barely afford a roof over their heads due to high cost of living. These people, with all their might, can only go as far as acquiring building materials and the cost of workmanship for communal projects, with little to nothing left for the actual design services. The compelling situation results in poorly designed structures, that leave the inhabitants at the mercy of heat waves, floods and structural failure during extreme weather conditions.

Moreover, the typical orphanage or school that is donated to such communities features a centrally placed building in a sea of sand or concrete compound, without a single green leaf in sight. The oblivion of the importance of greenery further increases the carbon footprint and adds on to global warming.

Eco-Reach Architects (ERA) aims to liaise with such communities, NGOs and groups, to turn the situation around. Our free design services will increase the reach of sustainable architecture and go a long way to decrease the built environment's carbon footprint in the country. Moreover, the landscaping aspect will help conserve nature whist capturing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Our team lives right with the target groups. Our scope is within our immediate environments, towns and cities within which we live, and those that surround additionally. Additionally, our team comprises students from one university as well as professionals. The students provide a valuable resource because they come from very different regions of the country and converge every semester. This helps expand our knowledge and reach, because different perspectives and situations are brought to the table.

Professionals, who have also travelled far and wide, give valuable insight on diverse experiences and coaching to arrive at the best solutions.

ERA's idea moved from the drawing to the field in 2023, when we undertook the design of our first project. This was a school in a rural area south of Ghana. Thereafter, a library designed from shipping containers was designed, a landscaping scheme for a public high school in Kumasi, and finally an elementary school for another underprivileged community that is currently being worked on. Out of these, two are under construction and the remaining are undergoing fundraising.

Firstly, for our initiative to really make the impact we seek, the initiative has to be known. Many communities and organizations would be very pleased to subscribe to our services, but they cannot do that if they don't even know about us to begin with. Coaching in marketing and publicity are therefore very essential, particularly because this business model is young and not very common here.

Moreover, eco-friendly construction, though already well-grounded, is still fairly new to our current dispensation, and the ability to merge eco-friendly with budget-friendly can sometimes be a challenge, and especially when aesthetics also becomes a major factor. As such, technical support would be vital in achieving our goals.

Finally, financial assistance would help us reach our target groups through sensitization campaigns and marketing ventures. In addition, funding will facilitate the acquisition of BIM and GIS software packages that would make work more climate and geographically informed, whilst providing accurate solutions at a faster pace.

Issues with the government and permit authorities may arise when novel and typically unconventional eco-friendly materials come into play, as well as challenges with design thefts. Thus, legal assistance would be needed o how to handle such issues

The opportunity to connect and network with like-minded young fellows and mentors is an invaluable opportunity for the idea to grow. As ideas are shared and discussions are held, we believe that our ideas will be pruned and refined into the feasible and successful outputs.

As is uncommon in Ghana, the free nature of the idea will open doors for more sustainable architectural pieces in the country. Moreover, it broadens the scope of sustainable building, using free services as an incentive.

Finally, it gives students and professionals alike the opportunity to contribute to sustainable future through volunteering in construction, which will eventually lead to policies that will make sustainable architecture cheaper.

We are collaborating with groups and entities that already plan to undertake the targeted projects; this is important to make sure that the ideas will not be buried on the paper for decades due to lack of funding.

As such, the designs, when built, will not only reduce carbon footprint but also help to capture carbon from the atmosphere. The comfort experienced from passive thermal strategies, and safe haven from global warming is a direct impact on the users of the spaces. Moreover, nature will be conserved through soft landscaping, adding to sustainability.

By this, the architectural social inequality will be addressed to some extent as well, and eco-friendly architecture and soft landscaping will start to take root in these communities, because they will learn about sustainability from our example after experiencing it firsthand.

From research, unique buildings can catalyse a change in the facbric of its surroundings. (rethinkingthefuture.com, 2023)

Our venture touches on the following SDG goals:

• 10. Reduced Inequalities- Through philanthropy, we are bringing dignifying architecture to the poor, and giving them an opportunity to join in fighting global warming, rather that propelling it through poor architectural choices, as is the norm. 

• 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities- through innovation, our venture will leave a mark on infrastructure in the communities that experience our works. Like a ripple effect, we envision our designs impacting the environments within which they sit. We aim to be pacesetters in spreading climate resilient sustainable building in Ghana.

• 13. Climate Action- We are taking climate action by introducing eco-friendly construction in urban areas, the very places that emit the most CO2 and are most affected by global warming.

Indicators: 

• The number of underprivileged users of the designs 
• Mental and social wellbeing of users after a period of time
• Area of land used for soft landscaping and vegetation vs built area on projects
• Amount of CO2 captured by trees planted.
• Carbon footprint of projects
• Significant changes in built fabric of communities after our projects are completed and any correlation if applicable. 

3D modelling animation, BIM, audio visual and GIS software are the main tools that facilitate our work.

We model and give photorealistic images of our designs, and what they would look like when accomplished. This helps to appreciate the need for certain interventions.

GIS software aid in remote evaluation of sites, their topography, and exposure to climatic and geographical extremes like floods and earthquakes. These are vital in informing the kind of structural supports to use.

Full- time staff- 10 (the board and administration)

Part-time - 10 (volunteers and specialist brought on board for special projects)

The idea was crafted in 2022, and our first project began in January 2023, so roughly 1 and a half years.

Our team is non-biased, and recruitment is done mainly based on expertise, ability, and willingness to learn to learn.

Though currently focused on Ghana, the structure of our model makes room for individuals who don't reside in Ghana or the host city, Kumasi. Design is not cast in stone, it is flexible; thus, anyone who is also invested in our mission can also play a role in architectural or landscape designs, appropriate for the setting. Moreover, handling our social media handles and pages a remote role as well. Therefore, distance is not a barrier.

We seek to achieve gender balance as well, and it is evident in the leadership position occupied by females in the team (co-founder and assistant director, financial secretary, and community engagement manager). 

The business has a non-profit structure, designed to offer free services.

Deliverables - these are architectural drawings, visualization and specification of materials, following site visits. The design services are completely free. In addition to this, occasional public education to provide sensitization on climate change.

Delivery - These will be delivered to clients virtually in the form of soft copies or printed and sent through courier services. The sending cost is borne by the clients.

Revenue- The main source of funding is through optional donations and contributions from clients and other entities and fundraising from organizations giving out grants. Any surplus would be invested in scaling up the idea to reach more people, and financing a small part of the projects (eg. donation of furniture)

Marketing- Through social media, website, client recommendation, publicity campaigns and public education programs

Expenses- Operational (marketing and branding, software subscriptions, internet data and transport to site locations) Remuneration: annual appreciation of staff with a minimalistic gift/souvenir/cash

Value Proposition- the 'free' nature of the model is something that will help gain traction naturally. The non-profit policy will be adhered to strictly, and the design will be of the good quality. Our commitment is to be as close to net-zero as possible. The number of direct users of our works and their feedback will be the most important indicator of impact.  

Beneficiaries- underprivileged communities and individuals, through well-meaning projects to be undertaken by community groups, NGOs and other groups

Key stakeholders- Built environment professionals, NGOs, community groups, authorities and community members

Though we have received only a grant of 300$ from an indvidual, our main revenue sources are as follows:

Grants - from entities and individuals

Donation- from individuals

Contribution- from volunteers

Fundraising campaigns.

The nature of expenses incurred are operational and minimal, specifically 

• marketing and branding items
• software subscriptions
• internet data 
• transport to site locations
• Public education programs
• Remuneration: annual appreciation of staff with a minimalistic gift/souvenir/cash

As such, in the worst case, monthly contribution of members through dues can suffice when necessary. However, we engage in consistent grant-seeking, to be able to expand our reach to farther parts of the country and gather materials to educate more people.