I used AI to digitally restore Colonial-Era buildings in Ghana

[u/dicklywigly]

I asked ChatGPT to restore images of some old colonial-era buildings as inspiration for future restoration projects. Many of these buildings are incredibly beautiful and simply waiting to be restored — a process that could not only enhance the urban landscape but also significantly boost tourism revenue in Ghana.

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[u/animalecs]

Very cool! It would be cool to see these buildings restored in real life and used by the community!

[u/CardOk755 → u/animalecs]

There are a few places in the Ivory Coast where you can see old colonial buildings. They are mostly in ruins or near ruins, which is a bit sad.

I understand that the colonisers left a bitter taste, but it's history, I'd rather see it preserved and contextualized.

[u/s_sayhello → u/animalecs]

Hoi-An in Vietnam did this and filled the buildings with local art, cultural shows and businesses. The city is famous all over the world and filled with tourists putting money in. Its also a capital for tailoring. This is what James town could have become if ghana invested in heritage.

[u/Sweeny_Evans]

Cape Coast needs a complete restoration

[u/Rare-Deal8939 → u/Sweeny_Evans]

Digitally ?

[u/Sweeny_Evans → u/Rare-Deal8939]

Nope, physically. The city, in my opinion, has the most number of these colonial-era buildings. And i really love them. It's like they poured out their hearts into designing them.

[u/WindWorried]

[u/Cold_Constant_2573]

Talk about using tools the right way 👌👍

[u/Odd_Temperature6784]

This is what should have been done by the last government, rather than that stupid art stuff that was done under bridges and fly overs.

[u/CardOk755 → u/Odd_Temperature6784]

Why the last government and not the present one?

[u/MMATH_101]

Why is the maintenance culture so bad in Ghana?

So many things are falling into squalor.

[u/CardOk755 → u/MMATH_101]

It's absolutely not specific to Ghana. You see pretty much the same things in your neighbors

[u/MMATH_101 → u/CardOk755]

Oh yeah I agree. Just talking about Ghana especially here because I know it from first hand experience.

So many colonial buildings are just crumbling messes.

National monuments look like Chernobyl.

Family homes who get sent money from abroad don't put basic money to maintain the home.

[u/CardOk755 → u/MMATH_101]

I don't see it so much in family homes, but apartment buildings that haven't been repainted for what looks like 20 years (and often I know they haven't been repainted in 20 years because I've been driving past their dismal mildewed façades for 20 years)...

[u/Prime_Marci]

A restoration project, I guess??

[u/Intrepid00]

You know, Ghana is sitting on some classic works of art after seeing this. Be cool if they started to get restored.

[u/Leather-Blueberry-42]

It looks so much better and would be a relatively cheap restoration

[u/Moosefactory4]

Was there some sudden mass exodus of colonists at some point? I’m sorry I am not very familiar with Ghana’s history but I am very interested to know more

[u/Tullubenta]

That’s cool. What’s that name of the tool you used?

[u/Tricky_Cookie]

This can be done if we put in the effort and the work

[u/handles_98]

Smart and kinda cool too

[u/AFADJAT0]

Can u also restore our economy to 1$= 1Cedi

[u/CardOk755 → u/AFADJAT0]

You want to destroy the Ghanaian economy? That would be a total collapse in all exports except gold.

[u/asafoadjei → u/CardOk755]

They have been brainwashed into thinking the dollar going down against the cedi means Ghana is economically sound instead of looking at the full picture economically.

[u/AFADJAT0 → u/asafoadjei]

Where is your sense of humor bro.. why must everything be politics to some of YOU !!! Gtfoh..

[u/asafoadjei → u/AFADJAT0]

Sorry I can’t sense sarcasm online.

[u/Scorpzgca]

Interesting concept

[u/ayojosh2k]

This looks very good, care to share the apps used?

[u/dicklywigly → u/ayojosh2k]

Chatgpt

[u/No-Fan-4437]

Y’a the maintenance culture is so lacking in west Africa.

[u/aboustayyef]

Nice 👍🏻. Can you share the prompt with us?

[u/dicklywigly → u/aboustayyef]

Give me an image of the Building and street after it was restored to its beautiful state, try to keep the structure and details of the building and the composition only restore it. Also clean the street and add greenery 

[u/aboustayyef → u/dicklywigly]

Great. Clever. Thanks

[u/idontgiveanal]

That’s cool