#03 Local Works: A Conversation | The Art of Making It Work

Martin and Rosemary Orthner on Austrian precision, Ghanaian resourcefulness and the shared vision behind the art of making architecture work AFI FLAGSHIP LECTURE SERIES Local Works: A Conversation In a city where informal ingenuity meets bold urban ambition, local architectural practice is not simply a matter of geography. It is a way of listening to climate, culture, material intelligence, labour, economies and the rhythms of everyday life that no imported blueprint can fully capture. Local Works foregrounds the power of building from within. It asks how practices shaped by lived experience and a deep understanding of place can move beyond imitation towards invention, producing architecture that is resilient, expressive and unmistakably of Accra. Join us for the third conversation in the series with Martin and Rosemary Orthner The Art of Making It Work In The Art of Making It Work, Martin and Rosemary Orthner reflect on nearly three decades of architectural collaboration in Ghana, rooted in their beginnings in Austria. Bringing together different backgrounds and a shared vision, their partnership draws on Austrian precision and Ghanaian resourcefulness to navigate the realities of building. Their philosophy, “Small, Simple, Local,” places local knowledge alongside international expertise, offering a practical approach to transforming challenges into possibilities. Through this perspective, architecture emerges as a process of listening, adapting and working together, shaped by the conditions and people of each place. At the centre of their reflection is the conviction that great architecture is a collective achievement. Their story invites us to consider how shared purpose and complementary perspectives can turn constraints into opportunities, and how making things work together becomes an art in itself, grounded in collaboration. About the speakers Martin Orthner is an Austrian-born architect whose background in civil engineering and practical building trades informs his approach to design and construction. He studied architecture in University of Technology, Graz. Rosemary Orthner grew up in Ghana, where her family’s construction business sparked an early connection to building. She studied architecture at University of Technology, Graz in Austria and the University of Bath in the UK, graduating in 2000. Her expertise includes project management, coordination and contract administration. Together, they founded the Accra practice Orthner Orthner & Associates (OOA) in 2006. Their work combines international experience with local knowledge, emphasising sustainable design that responds to Ghana’s climate, materials and cultural context. 📅 Thursday, 26 November 2026 📍 AFI HQ, Osu, Accra 18h00 — Drinks at Haptic Bar, AFI HQ 18h30 — Introduction 18h45 — Conversation begins 19h30 — Q&A 19h45 — Event ends Booking is essential to secure a seat. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.