Developed amid British colonisation in the 1940s, Tropical Modernist architecture adapted the simple designs and functional philosophy of Bauhaus for the climate of West Africa. Following decolonisation, the style evolved to become a symbol of a newly free Ghana before being abandoned in the 1960s amid political and economic collapse. This short documentary from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London captures the complicated legacy of Tropical Modernism while looking ahead to the potential for ‘a future African architecture’ that captures the spirit of its people and responds to the changing climate. Featuring images of significant structures born of the movement, and commentary from scholars and other experts, the film frames architecture as both a form of cultural expression and an inevitably political act.
West Africa was once an architectural laboratory. Is it time for a revival?
Video by the Victoria and Albert Museum
Directors: Christopher Turner, Bushra Mohamed, Nana Biamah-Ofosu
Producers: Holly Hyams, Justine Sambrook
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