CONSTRUCTS: INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO URBAN PLANNING

(The graphic above depicts a unique design by Constructs, an architectural firm with projects in USA and Africa, for the Make it Right Project in New Orleans)

“Constructs is a company that synergizes architecture, urban planning, landscaping, and building technology into a single unit geared towards bringing modern architecture and building techniques to Africa.” Joe Addo is currently the CEO of Constructs. He was born in Ghana, West Africa and moved to London to study architecture. Joe is also the founder of the A + D Museum in Los Angeles. The museum’s mission is to advance knowledge and to allow people to appreciate and understand architecture and design.

Constructs materials are unique and their approach to utilizing these resources is uncommon. They use the newest lightweight and high-strength materials. While building a structure that is designed to last, Construct’s advanced building techniques help to keep down the cost of construction.

Urban planning and outdoor spaces are the vital for the social life of a city, connecting the various people and structures of the contemporary urbanscapes together to create sensible living spaces and social networks.

Urban Planning is one of the primary conceptual toolkit employed by Constructs. The company and its founder have created the Organization for Urban Improvement (OUI) which is solely devoted to the development of functional, innovative, and exciting urban areas.

Urban Initiative Manifesto

Over the past few decades, many urban areas have suffered neglect and have increased in poverty. There is growing lack of confidence in schools, a greater fear of crime, an unhealthy environment, and poor housing. One of the key political challenges of the new century is to make towns and cities not just fit to live in, but to be able to thrive in an evolving future. A lot of people find it hard to maintain their successful lifestyles when faced with rapid changes.
This renaissance of cities such as Barcelona has been achieved through a philosophy of Urban Planning. The success of this philosophy derives from studies performed all over the world.

Two examples of the Urban Planning Manifesto at work, in two very different geographical settings are:

1. Watts Façade Improvement
   


2. Kumasi Façade Improvement
   

For more on these two urban planning initiatives of Constructs – one is an inner city area of Los Angeles in USA and the other in the second largest city in Ghana, Africa – visit the blog entry entitled “California and Ghana: Urban Planning Initiatives by Constructs.”