PHOTOS: David Adjaye unveils design for International Children's Cancer Research Centre in Kyebi

British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye has unveiled the design of the International Children's Cancer Research Centre (ICCRC) in Kyebi, Ghana. Designed by his firm, Adjaye Associates, the groundbreaking project was commissioned by the Wish4Life Foundation and marks a milestone in paediatric healthcare development in West Africa.

Set across 225,000 square metres on the eastern slopes of the Atewa Range, the ICCRC is envisioned as a fully integrated facility combining treatment, research, education, and community engagement.

It will be the first centre in the region solely dedicated to childhood cancer treatment. Archdaily reports that the design is currently on display at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025’s Time Space Existence exhibition, running at Palazzo Bembo until 23 November 2025.

The ICCRC aims to transform outcomes for children suffering from cancer in West Africa, where survival rates currently stand at around 10%, compared to approximately 80% in the United States. The project seeks to bridge this gap by creating a new standard of care that merges global medical expertise with culturally rooted and locally grounded approaches.

Designed with sustainability and long-term viability in mind, the ICCRC will include a children’s hospital, state-of-the-art research laboratories, a training institute for oncology, residential units for families and staff, a chapel, and a family support centre. Financial self-sufficiency is also embedded in the centre’s long-term vision.

The master plan draws inspiration from the Akan worldview, which views illness as a disruption in the balance between the individual, society, and environment. Reflecting this philosophy, the centre's design integrates biophilic principles, embedding the built structures seamlessly within the forested terrain. A low-level earthen Welcome Centre introduces visitors to a sensory shift from the outside world to a tranquil healing space.

Shaded courtyards and lush gardens are woven throughout the campus, providing light, air, and moments of rest — a deliberate departure from the sterile environments associated with conventional hospitals. The courtyards are modelled after the Akan Fihankra, the traditional walled family compound, offering communal spaces that also serve as areas for quiet reflection.

Sustainability is a defining aspect of the ICCRC’s architecture. Passive cooling systems, climate-sensitive building orientation, and photovoltaic energy solutions are integrated to reduce energy consumption. Local environmental knowledge is merged with modern building techniques to ensure the design is attuned to both the region’s climate and cultural heritage.

The buildings themselves are shaped by the use of natural and local materials, including rammed earth, clay bricks, timber, and composite earth slabs. These provide warmth and familiarity for occupants while supporting sustainable construction. Residences for staff and families are embedded into the landscape to maintain a close connection with the natural surroundings. Meanwhile, clinical and research facilities are framed with low-carbon concrete screens inspired by Kente weaving patterns, embedding elements of Ghana’s ancestral identity into the fabric of the architecture.