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J. Sakyi-Ansah. Photo credit: Kodjo Edem, 2018
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, ARB, RIBA, AGIA, is the founder of Studio OASA, a transdisciplinary architectural practice designing scalable solutions for social and environmental impact. Juliet blends research, design, and advocacy across academia, practice, and communities. Her current research explores how Building Information Modelling (BIM) might enable meaningful participation in settlement upgrading. She teaches on the BA Architecture programme at the University of Liverpool and contributes to the MSc People, Leadership and Organisations module at Oxford Brookes University. Juliet also founded and stewards The Architects’ Project® and Black in Architecture®, platforms centred on equity, inclusivity, and sustainability within the built environment.
Purpose and Drive
Immersive PhD Research & Fieldwork, Accra, 2023
Ethos
Juliet’s commitment to meaningful and purpose-driven pursuits is grounded in her deeply held values and principles. She approaches her work with integrity and intentionality, ensuring alignment with her vision for impactful and transformative architecture. For Juliet, architecture is more than structures; it is about building futures whilst reflecting on the past, all the while grounding in the present.
Mission: Transformative architecture for meaningful impact
Juliet's ultimate mission is to utilise architecture as a powerful catalyst for transformative change. Her goal is to address critical social inequities and environmental challenges by designing solutions that are sustainable, equitable, and inclusive. She aims to inspire innovation within architecture and the built environment whilst fostering a sense of agency and empowerment in communities across diverse regions. Through collaboration and elevating diverse perspectives, Juliet envisions architecture as a medium for driving meaningful progress and creating impactful change on an international scale.
Vision
Juliet imagines a future where architecture transcends conventional boundaries to uplift individuals and communities. She seeks to create equitable, resilient, and culturally sensitive solutions that embody diversity, convey meaningful narratives, and drive collective progress toward a sustainable and inclusive future.
Transformative Practice
Tapping Local Resources for Sustainable Development Workshop Co-facilitated with Anna Webster - Abetenim Ghana, 2015
Innovative Methodological Approaches
Juliet embraces and embodies innovative methodologies, advancing methodologies and techniques to address complex spatial and societal challenges and develop architectural solutions that foster impact-driven transformation across disciplines.
Research Strategy
Juliet adopts research strategies focused on achieving meaningful results. Through fieldwork and site surveys, she immerses herself in the realities of the communities she collaborates with and serves, utilising tools such as transect walks and engaging in open, thoughtful conversations. By fostering exploratory research and embracing the unknown, she uncovers new spatial possibilities, driving creative and impactful innovation within built environments.
Participatory Design
Juliet’s emphasis on community participation ensures that the design process is guided by the needs and voices of the people who will use the spaces. This includes advocating for inclusive, co-created design methodologies, actively involving marginalised communities to shape functional, culturally resonant, and socially connected environments.
Collaborative Platforms
Juliet fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, where professionals, experts, and communities come together to collectively solve complex architectural and urban challenges. Her initiatives such as tap:Exchange facilitate cross-sector dialogue and partnerships, addressing social and environmental concerns through shared expertise, whilst tap:Collective enables collaborative problem-solving to develop innovative spatial solutions.
Decolonising Pedagogy & Practice
Juliet collectively pioneers anti-racist and inclusive education reforms through initiatives like Black in Architecture®, integrating diverse histories and perspectives into architectural practices and teaching. Her approach challenges systemic biases within the profession, ensuring that design methodologies reflect equity, representation, and transformative learning.
Creative Experimentation
Juliet integrates artistic and social practices in projects such as Learn/Play urban intervention, using experimental spatial strategies to inspire innovation and engagement. By merging creativity with participatory approaches, she develops interactive environments that foster dynamic engagement and expand the possibilities of public spaces.
Digital Technology in Construction
Exploring cutting-edge technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Juliet develops methodologies that enhance collaboration, optimise construction processes, and inform adaptable design strategies. By leveraging digital tools, she fosters data-driven innovation, ensuring technology supports efficiency, sustainability, and socially responsive architectural solutions.
Awards and Scholarships
Three-Year PhD Scholarship
Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment, Oxford Brookes University, 2019
SSoA Centenary Prize
Sheffield School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, 2010
Sir H K Stephenson Travelling Studentship in Architecture
Sheffield School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, 2009
Three-Year Stephen Lawrence Bursary Award
SLCT - BA Architecture, University of Sheffield, 2002
Black Achievers Award
Afro-Caribbean Cultural Centre, West Midlands, 2000
Press and Mentions
Torija Nieto, N., 2024. Princeton SoA Womxn in Design and Architecture Conference centers the work of Ghanaian architect, builder, and environmentalist Alero Olympio. The Architect's Newspaper, 2024.
Radio Public
Workshop 24, "Radio Public", Resonance FM, 2023.
Black in Architecture: New research team to draw up charter on race
Jessel, E., 2021. Black in Architecture: New research team to draw up charter on race. Architect’s Journal, 6 August.
Worldforming by Ghanaian Women in Architecture
Lokko, M., 2020. Worldforming by Ghanaian Women in Architecture. Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions magazine, March.
Black in Architecture - Capturing Experiences, Addressing Racism
Oxford Brookes University, 2021. Black in Architecture - capturing experiences, addressing racism. Oxford Brookes University, 26 July.
The Architects’ Project: Advancing Architectural Learning
Future of Ghana Publication, 2018. The Architects’ Project: Advancing Architectural Learning. Future of Ghana, pp. 56–84.
The Architects’ Project: Development through Architecture in Accra
Guillet, C., 2014. The Architects’ Project: Development through Architecture in Accra. L'Afrique des Idées, 21 October.
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