DeRoche Projects erects trapezoidal rammed earth panels around a tennis court for Backyard Community Club—with more to follow

Ace in Public Space

By Kelly Pau
backyard community club

In Accra, Ghana, a new tennis court offers professional-level playing for those under 18, as well as free lessons for local kids. Dubbed Backyard Community Club, the new court is also host to local outdoor gatherings and screenings when not in use. The third space graces the land with the help of DeRoche Projects. The Accra-based firm dignified the humble tennis court with sculptural rammed earth panels, bringing a prefabricated rammed earth system—which the architects designed themselves—to the city for the first time.

deroche projects
The court is fenced in prefabricated rammed earth panels (Julien Lanoo)

While rammed earth construction can traditionally be a slow, labor-intensive process, the system employed here is designed with the conditions of the city in mind. Moving fabrication off-site helps bypass the weather-dependent issues of working with the material, while a modular system helps cohere with local labor and transport.

ghana public space
The court includes ancillary space for warming up, showering, and lounging (Julien Lanoo)

The panels surround the clay tennis court, fencing in the compact plot with expressive trapezoidal pillars that touch down on the ground along the length of the court through a built-in floating bench to create places to watch the game. The structure is more than sculptural—it provides ventilation and blocks wind from the court. They’re finished in an earth slurry, a low-carbon choice, to let the material breathe.

kids tennis court
The trapezoidal panels protect against wind and some sun while helping maintain cross ventilation (Julien Lanoo)

More sustainable choices lighten the court’s impact on the land. Clay can require a lot of water to maintain, but the architects implemented a borehole system and a system to redirect stormwater runoff to provide irrigation for the clay court and landscaping. This helps lessen the stress on municipal water.

tennis court
The court is made up of clay and features a borehole system (Julien Lanoo)

The court houses ancillary structures support young players both on and off the courts. Running along the length of the court is an urban garden which features over 20 species of edible and medicinal plants, including bananas, guava, lemongrass, soursop, and coconut. These are used to nourish the young athletes who train here.

earth slurry
Panels are finished in an earth slurry, a low-carbon way to let the material breathe (Julien Lanoo)

Extending out from the garden is a space to warm up, topped off by a sunken seating area. These connect to a niche, housing a refreshment bar, bathrooms and changing rooms, and shower. The use of rammed earth continues here, extending the open-aired design and earthy monochrome palette.

floating bench
The panels are united by a floating bench at the base to provide seating and space for observers to watch the game (Julien Lanoo)

In front of the beverage counter, an aperture opens up on the ground to allow plantings to bloom through. It’s another thoughtful, elevated detail to this amenity space for the youth.

tennis court in accra
The sculptural court is just as expressive when seen from the street (Julien Lanoo)

It’s clear this thoughtfulness is well-appreciated by the community: The success of Backyard Community Club has created demand for more public space. A nearby sports facility has been commissioned that will see DeRoche Projects extend the design of this court into a civic space. Construction is slated to break ground in the third quarter of 2026.

×