Nestled in a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Accra, the more than 5,000-square-foot sanctuary is awash in calming sand and earth-toned neutrals. Lush gardens teem with heliconia, giant philodendron, bamboo, agave, cacti, and guava. Walls made of textured artisanal reduced-carbon cement beg to be touched. Housed under a stately canopy, the central courtyard has been expressly designed to encourage outdoor living and contemplation. The glass-enclosed sitting room is a delightfully understated visual haiku, in which a 1970s Norwegian chaise longue and a vintage Ashanti bronze stool mix seamlessly with a pair of FM62 cubic leather lounge chairs by Radboud Van Beekum for Pastoe.
Furniture aside, from the recycled-brass front door handle and linen window coverings to the pozzolana and African walnut utilized throughout, “Ninety-five percent of the material that we used in this project was all procured from Ghana,” DeRoché says. “We know the tree that was taken down to manufacture the panels. We know the quarry where the stone comes from. So there’s a really beautiful connection between material, designer, builder, and client.”
Ogbojo showcases a number of pieces from Boafo’s private collection, a veritable corps d’elite of Africa’s most sought-after contemporary artists. Paintings from his fellow countrymen, Gideon Appah, Aplerh-Doku Borlabi, and Emmanuel Aboagye, commune alongside a Wangari Mathenge in an upstairs lounge. The open kitchen hosts a massive Nobel Koty diptych, as well as an arresting piece by the Tanzanian star Sungi Mlengeya. “The art is the feature, the space is just the frame,” Boafo explains. “A beautiful frame, but it is to accent the art, not the other way around.”
Should the creative spirit move them, a built-in studio does allow space for Boafo or other guests to work. The possibilities for Ogbojo are endless, he believes. “I hope critical thinking can be achieved in this space. I hope acceptance is achieved in this space. I hope rejuvenation is achieved in this space. And I hope beauty is created within this space.”
Amoako Boafo’s Ghanian retreat appears in AD’s June 2024 issue. To see his home in print, subscribe to AD.