THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

FRANCO FRESCURA

A dissertation subm itted to

the Faculty of Architecture,
University of the W itwatersrand, Johannesburg
for the Degree of Master of Architecture,
O ctober 1980
TO LINDIW E

" W o u ld y o u leave, tn is la n d that's green"?

W h e re y o u r h o m e s tra d d le s th e earth
Leave the w in d s and the b le s s in g s
o f the B u s h ia n d ? "

J o n a th a n C le g g
S ip h o M c h u n u
J u lu k a 1979
CONTENTS

A b s tr a c t 1
In tro d u c tio n 3
A ckn o w le d g e m e n ts 6
C h a p t e r 1: A g e n e ra l lo o k at v e r n a c u la r a r c h it e c tu r e 7
C h a p t e r 2: Parallel te c h n o lo g ie s 11
C h a p t e r 3: D e v e lo p m e n t o f the h o u s e fo rm 15
C h a pter 4 A h is t o r ic a l d e v e lo p m e n t 19
C h a p t e r 5: P r e h is to ry 22
T h e C o r b e lle d S to n e hut
T h e b ilo b ia l d w e llin g
C ha pter 6 : The te m p o ra ry hut 27
C h a p t e r 7: The b e e h iv e h u t 33
T h e H o t te n to ts
The Tswana
T h e S o th o
T h e N g u n i b e e h iv e d o m e
C hapter 8 : T h e b e e h ive d o m e on c y l i n d e r 45
T h e b e e h iv e d o m e o n m in o r c y lin d e r
T h e b e e h iv e d o m e on m a jo r c y lin d e r
T h e b e e h iv e d o m e on s e u d o ” c y lin d e r
T h e "fa ls e " d o m e o n r d er
C h a p t e r 9: T h e c o n e on c y l i n d e r 53
B o p n u t h a t s w a ria
C is k e i
G a z a n k u lu
KaNgwane
K w a N d e b e le
K w a Z u lu
Lebowa
Qwa Qwa
T ra n s k e i
Ve nd a

vii

*
C h a p t e r 10: Sq u a re s , h e x a g o n s and o c ta g o n s
The h e x a g o n a l and o c ta g o n a l h o u s e fo rm s
T he cone on cube
C h a pter 11 T h e r id g e d a nd h ip p e d r o o f
C h a pter 12 T h e g ab le d ro o f
C h a pter 13 V a r ia tio n s o n the r'd g e d r o o f
C ha pter 14 S o m e h y b r id h o u s e fo rm s
C ha pter 15 T h e h iq h v e ld h o u s e
C h a pter 16 T h e v e ra n d a h h o u s e
C ha pter 17 O t h e r rural s tr u c : u r e s
T h e fa th e r's h o u s e o. * G rea t H u t'
T h e w ife 's h o u se
T h e c o o k i n g area
G ra n a rie s
A n im a l e n c lo s u r e s I. C a ttle
A n im a l e n c lo s u r e s II. G o ats, sh e e p a n d pigs
A n im a l e n c lo s u r e s III. P o u ltr y
P u b lic p la c es
E n te r t a in m e n t
In itia tio n lo d g e s
S tilt h ou ses
C h a p t e r 18 A s u rve y o f tr a d itio n a l b u ild in g m e th o d s
S t ru c tu ra l sy s te m s
B u ild in g s y s te m s
S e ttin g o u t
The fo u n d a tio n s
T h e w a lls
W all pla te s a n d eaves fin is h e s
F lo o rs
R o o f s tr u c t u r e s
T h e th a t c h in g
R id g e c a p p in g s
D o o rs a nd w in d o w s
C h a p t e r 19: R u ra l s e ttle m e n t p atterns
C o m m u n it y s e ttle m e n t p atterns
P r e h is to ric s e ttle m e n ts
T h e V e n d a fo rtifie d v illa g e
T h e Z u lu R oyal Kraal
T h e Z u lu h o m e s te a d
T h e A m b o v illa ge — N a m ib ia
T h e " R e s e tt le m e n t" plan
H o m e s te a d s e ttle m e n t p a tte rn s
 B ilo b ia l d w e llin g s I. B u ffe ls h o e k 471 IQ
B ilo b .a l d w e llin g s II F u rth e r d e v e lo p m e n t
T h e N d e b e le b ilo b ia l
T h e Pedi b ilo b .a l
T h e S o u th S o th o h o m e s te a d
T h e Z u lu kraal
T h e T h o n g a h o u s e h o ld
S o m e g e n e ra l c o n c lu s io n s
C n a D te r 20 S o c ia l and c u lt u r a l a s p e c ts o f rural b u i l d i n g 163
A p p r o a c h to the h o u s e h o ld a nd e tiq u e tte
A n c e s tra l .spirits
P r o te c tiv e m e c ic in e
D iv is io n o f sp ace
D iv is io n o f la b o u r in h o u s e c o n s t r u c t io n
C h a p t e r 21 W all d e c o r a tio n
T e c h n iq u e s o f w all d e c o r a tio n
D e c o ra tiv e th e m e s
T h e h ig h v e ld w a ll c u p b o a r d
D e c o r a tio n a nd h o u s e f u n c t io n
C h a p t e r 22: " T h e B ird s are B a c k ” — A re v ie w o f S o u t h e r n 171
A f r ic a n s q u a tte r s e ttle m e n ts in th e late 1970 s
A s h o r t h is t o r y
T h e p la ces
T h e c o m m u n it ie s
S q u a tte r d w e llin g s
B a s ic services
E c o n o m ic in f r a s tr u c tu r e
S o c ia l se rvice s and fa c ilitie s
T h e fu tu re : an a s se ssm e n t
C h a p t e r 23: T h e fu tu re 185
A p p e n d i x A: T h e H o t te n to ts 189
List o f illu s t r a t io n s 198
B i b li o g r a p h y 204

IX
ADSTRACT

T he S o u t h e r n A fric a n rural h o u s e fo rm has o v e r th e y e a 's bee n s u b je c te d

to a n u m b e r o f p re s s u re s of a c u lt u r a l a n d te c h n o lo g ic a l nature. T h e se
have re s u lte d in its e v o lu t io n t h r o u g h a n u m b e r of s ta ge s u s u a lly also
in v o lv in g th e i n t r o d u c t i o n of n e w m a te ria ls a nd th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f n e w
b u ild in g t e c h n o l o g y T h e lin k s in e v o lu t on w h i c h exist b e tw e e n th e o n e
fo rm a n d th e n e xt a n d is c u s s e d .

T h e s p e c ia l role p la , ’ d by th e 'f o u n d ' and n a tu ra l m a te ria l in 'w a ttle and

d a u b ' a nd tr a d itio n a l natch c o n s t r u c t io n is stresse d as, w h e n n th e case
of so m e m o d e r n sq ua ; ?r se ttle m e n ts , th o s e b u ild in g m a te ria ls cease to be
a va ila b le and s u b s titu te , have to be fo u n d .

E v o lu tio n and c h a n g e in v e rn a c u la r a r c h it e c tu r e have a ls o in v o lv e d th e

e le m e n ts of w all d e c o r a tio n , so cia l a nd c u ltu r a l values a nd the role o f th e
h o u se f o r m w ith in the e n v ir o n m e n t. The v a rio u s typ e s of rural s e ttle m e n t
p a tte rn s in v o lv in g the h o u s e h o ld u n it a nd th e c o m m u n i t y as a w h o le are
a n a lyze d in b o th th e ir t r a d itio n a l a nd m o d e r n c o n te x ts

The fin a l c o n c lu s io n a rr iv e d at is th at a lt h o u g h rural v e r n a c u la r

a rc h it e c tu r e as a w h o le is a th re a te n e d e le m e n t o f o u r e n v ir o n m e n t, its
c o n tin u e d e x is te n c e m a y u lt im a t e ly be g u a ra n te e d by the e c o n o m i c
n e ce ssity of i m p l e m e n tin g l o w - t e c h n o l o g y s e lf-h e lp h o u s in g p ro je c ts.

1
IN T R O D U C T I O N

T h e r o u g h a e s th e tic s o f v e rn a c u la r a r c h it e c tu r e have lo n g h e ld a
fa s c in a tio n fo r m o d e r n m an . T he s u b u r b a n d w e lle r o f to d a y has. in th e
s e a rch fo r rural r o o ts a nd his lost in n o c e n c e , b o r r o w e d so m e or tn e
v e rn a c u la r e le m e n ts o f e a rlie r tim e s a na a p p lie d th e m to his d w e llin g s .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y in m a n y cases, in the p ro c e s s he has also s tr ip p e d th e m o f
th e ir o r ig in a l fu n c t io n a nd in te n t a nd re d u c e d th e m tc d e c o ra tiv e p a tte rn s
a nd m o tifs w h ic h are b u t a tra v e s ty o f th e ir o rig in a l.
T h is s tu d y d o e s n o t seek to p re a c h fo r in t e g r ity in the use o f m a te ria ls nor,
ind ee d, to r e -e s ta b lis h m o d e r n m a n 's lost m n o c e n c e . T h is is a r e c o rd
p r im a r ily o f the h o u s e fo rm s and b u ild in g m e th o d s o f S o u t h e r n A fric a 's
b la c k rural p e o p ie s a nd th e r ic h n e s s a nd va rie ty a c h ie ve d fro m r e g io n to
re g io n , fr o m c u lt u r e to c u lt u r e and ind ee d, fr o m p e r s o n to p e rso n . If th e re
is a m o ra l then it is in h e r e n t in th e s u b je c t m a tte r a nd the fa ct th a t
a r c h it e c tu r e w i t h o u t a r c h it e c ts is n o t o n ly p o s s ib le b u t is p ra c tic e d as an
e v e ry d a y o c c u r r e n c e by o r d in a r y p e o p le as p art o f th e ir o r d in a r y life T h e
e x c lu s io n o f th e w h ite rural v e r n a c u la r fr o m th is s tu d y is d e lib e ra te .
A l t h o u g h in e v ita b ly c u lt u r a l c r o s s - p o llin a tio n has o c c u r r e d b e tw e e n th e
tw o g ro u p s , the a r c h i; e c tu r e o f the la tte r r e p re s e n ts a to ta lly d if fe r e n t
s tage o f e c o n o m ic a nd t e c h n o lo g ic a l d e v e lo p m e n t and th e r e fo r e s h o u ld
be c o n s id e r e d as a s e p a ra te fie ld o f r e s t a r c h and stu dy.
T he g e n e r a tin g fo rc e b e h in d rural a rc h it e c tu r e is th e nee d fo r c h e a p
d u r a b le shelte r. T h is is tru e fo r all a r c h it e c tu r e but in a w o r !d w h e re 2 000
new d w e llin g s are re q u ir e d every d a y in o rd e r to h o u s e th e p o p u la t io n
g r o w t h of the c o n t i n e n t of A f r ic a a lo n e th is need b e c o m e s p a r tic u la r ly
p e r tin e n t A t th is level th e q u e s tio n o f sh e lte r b e c o m e s o n e of re s o u rc e s
a nd h o w to o p tim iz e th e m . C o u n t r ie s w ith d e v e lo p in g e c o n o m ie s are
u s u a lly u n a b le • a ffo rd vast h o u s in g b u d g e ts . U n f o r tu n a te ly th e y are also
the o ne s w ith , m o s t p re s s in g h o u s in g p ro b le m s .
In th is lig h t, rural, o r to g ive it a m o re u p d a te d nam e, " s e lf - h e lp "
a r c h it e c tu r e g a m s n e w s i g n ific a n c e a nd im p o r t. P e rh a p s o n e s o lu tio n to

3
 Z IM B A B W E

Messina#

BOTSWANA

M O Q A M B IQ LIf
• ■

TRANSVAAL
N A M IB I A

• N<

S W A Z IL A N D

• -

Vryheid
O R A N G E FREE S T A T E
C A P E P R O V IN C E

S O J T H AFRICA'S
RURAL HOMELANDS NATAL
LESOTHO
B o p h u th a ts w a n a Durban

Ciskei
Gazankulu A ii* a Nc r " •

KaNgwane
KwaNdebele
KwaZulu
Lebowa
Qwa Qwa I N D IA N O C E A N

Transkei
Venda

4 Map of South Africa s [Link] oi "Mack rural settlement.

 the w o r ld 's h o u s in g s h o r ta g e lies in th e h a rn e s s in g o f th e tr e m e n d o u s
e n e rg y i n h e i e n t in rural b u ild in g . F e r h a p s the a n s w e r d o e s n o t e n ’ ire ly lie
in lo w t e c h n o l o g y c o n s t r u c t io n , b u t in a m a rria g e b e tw e e n tr a d itio n a l
b u ild in g m e th o d s and an a d a p ta tio n o f m o d e r n b u ild in g m ate ria ls. T h is
s tu d y seeks to b rin g a b o u t an u n d e , s t a n d in g of t r a d itio n a l b u ild in g
s y s te m s a nd th e h o u s e fo r m s th e y have g e n e ra te d .
Figure 4 T h is s tu d y w as c o n d u c te d in th e fo rm o f fie ld - t r ip s a nd s o u g h t a b a la n c e
b e tw e en w h a t are o ffic ia lly re g a rd e d as w h ite fa rm la n d s a n d b la ck
" h o m e l a n d " areas. D ue to p e rs o n a l p r o b le m s it w as n o t p o s s ib le to travel
a nd h e n c e c o n d u c t re s e a rc h in th e n e ig h b o u r i n g states o f S w a z ila n d ,
L e s o th o a n d B o ts w a n a . D iffe r e n tia tio n w as d ra w n b e tw e e n s e m i- u r b a n
c o n g lo m e r a t i o n s su ch as S ilw e r k ra n tz ( B o p h u th a ts w a n a ) and B u s h b u c k -
r id g e ( G a z a n k u lu ) w h ic h are h o w e v e r e s s e n tia lly rural in c h a r a c te r and
s u c h s u b u r b a n areas as E d e n d a le ( P ie t e r m a ritz b u rg ) and M a lu k a z i
( D u r b a n ) w h i c h c o m e u n d e r the con»rol c f m u n ic ip a l boa rd s. A sp e c ia l
c h a p te r has h o w e v e r b ee n in c lu d e d on tfu? s u b je c t o f u rb a n s q u a tte r
s e ttle m e n ts
R e c o rd in g of a r c h it e c tu r a l e x a m p le s w a s c o n d u c te d by m e a n s of site
visits. W h e re d e e m e d n e c e s s a ry p a ce d m e a s u r e m e n ts w ere ta ke n , b u t
g e n e r a lly o n ly r o u g h p la n s o f s e ttle m e n t la y o u ts w ere nade s u p p o r te d
e x te n s iv e ly by p h o to g r a p h s W h e ie p o s s ib le a d e ta ile d a n a ly s is o f the
b u ild in g m e th o d s e r n r ' was m a d e w ith sp e c ia l a tte n tio n to th e
tr e a tm e n t o ' s tri-^ **• e d e ta ilin g of w a te r -s e n s itiv e p o in ts . T h e
s u rv e y w as fo rt.. a res p ec t in th a t m u c h o f the fie ld w o r k
c o in c id e d w it h the (Ucal b u iid m g seasor. a nd in m a n y cases a ctu a l
r .o n tr u c t io n a l m e tn o d s w e r e r e c o rd e d at first h and. T h e p o o r m a in te n a n c e
of s o m e d w e l li n g s ^Iso y ie ld e d v a lu a b le c lu e s as to the m e th o d s o f
c o n s t r u c t io n used
A l t h o u g h the s tu d y of rural s e ttle m e n t p a tte rn s was n eve r part o f th e brief,
a c h a p te r o n th e la y o u t o f c o m m u n i t y a nd h o m e s te a d has been in c lu d e d in
o rd e r to set th e b u ild in g s in to th e ir c o n te x t. T h is h o w e v e r o n ly a im s at
p r o v id in g an o u tlin e and d o e s n o t w is h to be d e fin itiv e
T he s u b s ta n tiv e p a n o f tn is p u b lic a tio n was s u b m it t e d as a d is s e rta tio n to
the F a c u lty o f A r c h it e c tu re U n iv e rs ity o f the W itw a te rs ra n d , J o h a n n e s b u r g
t o w a r d s the d e g re e o ’ M a s ie r o f A r c h it e c tu r e , in O c t o b e r 1980.

F R A N C O F R E S C L 'P A J o h a n n e s b u r g , O c to b e r 1980

5
ACKNOW LEDGEMENTS

I am m uch indebted to the University of the W itwatersrand und Senate R e se a t . C om m ittee

w ith ou t whose generous grant this proiect could not havi' been undertaken Financial
support was also received from the South African Rapid Block Com pany, the A nglo-
Am erican Group Chairm an's Fund, tne Agency for Industrial M ission and ihe Everite G roup

I also wish to thank Profe? jo r A d 'A Guedes whose cheerful supervision of this proiect carried
;ne th ro u g h the ti *.ies wr.i>n I thought it m ight never see cold print Much practical advice and
guioance was also fo rth ro m in g from Or Dennis Radford, M ichael Taylor, Dr Tim Maggs, Dr
David Webster, and Protessor Barry Bierman

During the course o f the research many friends and colleagues contributed help and
encouragem ent w hich, however small proved to be invaluable Dr Haro .1 Annegam gave
much tim e and an aerial survey of Ndebele rural settlem ents Rupert lo rim e r MP and Andre
B e im de nho ut MPC did their best to extricate me from officia l red tape Peter J o h n s o i
provided visual m aterial from Nam ibia w hich has not bean given full justice in this
publication. Tim and Lucille Dunne, Clive Emden Dennis Beckett and John Mattlsson
proved to be w onderful friends Etienne du Pisani, Kobus Basson, Kees van der Waal. Chris
van Vuuren, A m traN ettieton. and Marsha M oiesworth all helped by provid'ng guidance m the
fields Of their own w ork and in m any cases also unselfishly snared their ow n findings w ith me

The staff of the Departm ent of A rchite cture and of the G ubbins and A rchite ctural libraries at
the University of the W itwatersrand are ail to be congratulated in the m anner in which they
have put up with me and my occasionally im possible de m an d: and the way in which they
made my research an enjoyable task The staff of the Cape Archives and the Transvaal
Museums Museums Departm ent were also extrem ely helpful Credit and thanks fo r the
translation of Kolbe from the o rigin al Dutch must go to Mrs [Link] Garson of the Wits
G ubbins Library

During the course o< my field work I had tne op po rtu nity of m aking many new friends and
contacts M r and Mrs Muller of M orokweng and the staff o* the Beuster Mission Station
extended wonderful hospitality to me. Messrs Philip Z^.u of Faoer Rich Avn Tshivaseof tna
Venda Government. Peter Kerchhoff E S M okgosi of the Bophuthatswana G overnm ent and
Ntakana Monare of Silwerkrantjr were all able to provide me with invaluable on-site
inform ation and guidance and made it possible for me to gam access to sites which w ould
otherw ise have been inaccessible or unknow n to me

C redit must also go to my wife Lesley who has stood by me through the past few years,
lending her advice, support and, when needed typing skills towards the m aking of this
docum ent My parents a n i Lesley's both have c ontributed m uch encouragem ent and sound
advice in the process of bringing this project to a conclusion

The typesetting for this book was done by Beulah Cassim and m uch of the graphic
photog rap hy by Ahe Essack both of t h t University of the W itwatersrand Central G raphics
Departm ent Finally full credit much be given to the rural people of Southern Africa whose
work this really is I have been recorder and interpreter but they have been the architects and
creators of the environm ent future generations w.n be proud to call O ur Vernacular
A rchitecture
C H A P T E R 1 : * A G E N E R A L L O O K A T V E R N A C U L A R A R C H I T r£ C T U R .i

One o f tKe t r u i ' m s o f ;’ 'c h i t e c t u r e i th a t the d e sig n o f a n y o ne p a r tic u la r

n u ild m g w ill be j u b j j c t to a n y n u m b e r o f v a ria b le fa c to rs a n y o ne o f w h ic h
m ay r a d ic a lly in f lu e n c e th e fin a l a e s th e tic o f th e d e sig n T h is has been
s o m e w h a t ne«, i t e d in re c e n t tim e s s in c e the in c e p t io n o f w ha t we reg ard
to d a y as th e " M o d e r n M o v e m e n t' and o u r u rb a n p r e o c c u p a tio n w ith h ig h
rice c o n s t r u c t io n w h ic h , o n th e o n e h and, has led to the a b s u rd tra n s p la n t
of C o r b e - h k e s tr u c t u r e s in to T h ir d W o r ld s u r r o j n d s . a nd ori th e o th e r has
c re a te d a n o n y m o u s , fa cele s s citie s in d is tin g u is h a b le fr o m e ach o th e r and
g iv in g rise to M c L u h ^ n 's re m a rk a b o u t "th e g lo b a l villa g e ".

W h e n d is c u s s in g S o u t h e r n A f ric a 's rural v e rn a c u la r h o w e v e r w e see th a t

the o p p o s ite is tru e B e c a u s e of its in te n s e ly p e rs o n a l n a tu re , rural
a r c h it e c tu r e has ta ken th e tr u is m to an e x te n t wh<ch is a lm o s t to ta l. T h e
final h o u s e fo rm m ay u ltim a te ly be in flu e n c e d by any o n e of the v a ria b le s
a sso c ia te d w ith c u ltu re , loca l tr a d itio n , la n g u a g e , a v a ila b ility of m aterials,
m a te ria lis m , m o d e m in flu e n c e s , a s p ira t.o n s fin a n ce , s o c ia l g ro u p in g s ,
b u 'ld m g m o th o o s , S'te a nd a spect. If w e w ere to add to th is d e c o r a tio n and
c e rs o n a l c h o ic e w e can see th a : the n u m b e r o f p e r m u ta tio n s p o s s ib le is
a lm o s t in fin ite a nd th a t fo r th e p u r p o s e s of s tu d y and r e c o r d in g th e task
w ell n ig h im p o s s ib le

F o r tu n a te ly w it . iin th is r a n g e o f va ria b le s we are able to d is c o v e r a series of

c o m m o n d e n o m in a to r s , t h c ' e of h o u s e fo rm , s tr u c t u r e a nd c o n s t r u c t io n
w h ic h , o n c e ra tio n a liz e d , can s h o w if n o t a d e v e lo p m e n t o f the h o u s e fo rm
itself, at the ve ry least a d e v e lo p m e n t in th e c h a n g in g use of the h ou s e, and
the in c r e a s in g J e m a n d s th at o u r rural p e o p le are m a k in g of th e ir o w n
d w e llin g space. T h u s if any m a jo r th e m e w e re to e m e rg e f r o m th is s tu d y it
m ust u n d o u b t e d ly d eal w ith C h a n g e and A d a p ta tio n " .

T his s tu d v h o w e v e r d o e s n o t s to p at c h a n g e and a d a p ta tio n o f th e h o u s e

fo rm but a lso d e a ls w ith th e m a te ria ls o f its c o n s tr u c t io n . T h e d is tin c tiv e
c h a r a c te r o f v e rn a c u la r a r c h it e c tu r e can be said to be d e riv e d d ir e c t ly fr o m
its use o f the 'f o u n d " a nd " n a t u r a l" m a te ria l B e cau se it uses m a te ria ls

7
 a. Young girl making earth bricks: Xigalo, Gazankulu.
b Raising the roof-frame onto the drum- Tabankuiu,
Transkei.
c. Elderly widow preparing thatch bundles: Lady Frere.
Transkei.
d. Household utensils: Tswana wooden spoon (left);
Sotho-Tswana earthenware pot (top right); wooden
milking pails (middle and bottom right). (Walton,
African Village 1956)

c
8
 a c c o r d i n g to th e ir n a tu re and p ro p e rtie s it is a h ig h ly fu n c t io n a l k in d of
a rc h it e c tu r e a nd b e ca u se its o w n p e r fo r m a n c e relies g r e a tly u p o n th a t of
its c o n s t i t u e n t e le m e n ts, its t e c h n o lo g y , at its o w n level, is h ig h ly
d e ve lo p e d . T h is m e a n s th a t the v e rn a c u la r uses its im m e d ia t e
Figure 8 d e n v ir o n m e n t as a re a d y q u a r r y fo r th e m a te ria ls n e c e s s a ry fo r
c o n s t r u c t io n : the grass, th e stic k s , the s to n e s a nd th e soil a b o u t it. A n d
w h e n , as w as th e case with th e in h a b ita n ts o f th e s q u a tte r s e ttle m e n t at
C ro s s ro a d s , C a p e T o w n , the e n v iro n s refu se to y ie ld up th e m a te ria ls
s u ita b le fo r c o n s tr u c t io n , th e n the t u i l d e r m u s t tu rn to o th e r s o u rce s, m
th e case o f th e p e o p le o f C r o s s r o a d s th e y have tu rn e d to th e c o n s u m e r
s o c ie ty a b o u t th e m and used its c a s t-o ffs to crea te h o m e s fr o m c o r r u g a t e d
iro n sheets, g a r d e n s fr o m e m p ty f o o d ca ns; w e lc o m e m ats fr o m rnilk tra y s
and w a ll- p a p e r fr o m n e w s p a p e r s and p rin te rs ' waste.

T h u s w e d e riv e o ne o f th e o ft- q u o t e d c h a r m s o f the v e rn a c u la r, its a b ilit y to

b le n d ir. w ith its e n v iro n s a n d seem p a rt o f it. W h ile th is f a c to r m ay
s e e m in g ly o n l y be o f b e n e fit to a T o u r is t B o a rd it is the o u tw a r d
m a n ife s ta tio n o yet a n o th e r v e ry im p o r ta n t a s p e c t o f the rural v e rn a c u la r:
the fa c t th at th e rural h o u s e is in itself s u b je c t to a d e lic a te e n v iro n m e n ta l
ba.a nce a n d th a t ru ra l h o u s in g as a w h o le is p a rt o f th e la rg e r
e n v ir o n m e n ta l c y c le o f b irth , life and d e a th . T h e e n v ir o n m e n ta l a sp e cts
re la tin g to the h o u s e its e lf w ill e m e rg e as the s tu d y d e v e lo p s b u t on a
g e n e ra l scale w e can c o n s id e r the case fo r w a ttle a nd d a u b t e c h n o lo g y ,
w h e re m a te ria ls are d r a w n fr o m th e e arth, g iv e n v a lid ity by the b u ild e r and
o n c e the f u n c t io n a n d s c o p e fo r m a m te n a c e ceases, th e h o u s e w ill be
a llo w e d to c r u m b l e a n d re tu r n to the g r o u n d w h e n c e it o rig in a te d .

P e rha ps o n e o f th e m o s t r e le va n t s ta te m e ts th a t can be m a d e a b o u t rural o r

v e rn a c u la r a r c h it e c tu r e c a n o n ly be m a d e in c o m p a r is o n w ith w h a t
R a ro p o rt "House forrn and R a p o p o r t ca lls " th e g r a n d d e s ig n t r a d it io n " . V e r n a c u la r a r c h it e c tu r e is an
c u ltu re ' 1969 a r c h it e c tu r e w h ic h is a ble to be p r a c tic e d by m o s t if n o t all m e m b e rs o f th e
Figures 8 a. b. c. g ro u p . C h ild r e n are raised in t h e t r a d i t i o n and w h e n a m an w i s h e s t o b u ild
a h o m e o fte n his w h o le fa m ily a nd even at tim e s the e n tire s e ttle m e n t,
y o u n g a nd old. w ill g a th e r to h e lp him . T r a d it io n a lly e a c h m a y have his o r
Figures 9 a b c her role to p la y in th e b u ild in g and in s o m e so c ie tie s th e c o n s tr u c t io n of a
h o u s e o r h u t is o fte n a q u a lific a tio n to be f u lfille d as p art of a t r a n s itio n a l
c e r e m o n y s u c h as th e w e d d i n g o f a c o u p le o r the b i i t n o f th e ir first cn ild .
B e c a u s e each in d iv id u a l has an in t im a t e a nd p e rs o n a l k n o w le d g e o f th e
d e sig n and c o n s t r u c t io n a l p ro c e s s he is a b le to be a ctiv e ly in v o lv e d in it
even w h e n th e s o c ie ty has a d v a n c e d fr o m b e ing e n tir e ly a g ra ria n to a
s ta ge w h e re s p e c ia lis e d s k ille d tr a d e s m e n are e c o n o m i c a l l y a b le to p ly
th e ir skills.

T h is c o m p a r e s s h a r p ly w ith the b u ild in g p ra c tic e s of a c o n s u m e r s o c ie ty

9
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r ^ 1? ^ /

E h .......................................................

Woman preparing earth

w h e re no s u c h p ers o n a l k n o w le d g e of th e b u ild in g p ro c e s s is e n c o u r a g e d
bricks: Engcobo,
save on a v e ry g eneral level. In s u c h r s o c ie ty the b u ild in g o f a h o u s e is as Transkei.
p art of the c o n s u m e r p ro c e s s as is, say, the p u rc h a s e of a m o to r - v e h ic le or Woman preparing thatch
o f a k itc h e n stove, and even th os e fo rt u n a te few w e a lth y e n o u g h to bundles: Xikukwana,
p u rc h a s e th e services of an a ic h it e c t are rarely c o n s u lt e d b e y o n d the Gazankulu.
Girl thatching beehive hut:
p ro fe s s io n a l aesign stegG. Bergville district.
It is p e rh a p s th e re fo re no w o n d e r th a t a rc h it e c ts have an a lm o s t lo v e -h a te
r e la tio n s h ip w ith the ve rn a c u la r. O n th e o n e h a n d th ey love to m an/el th a t a
b u ild in g c o u ld a c t u a r y have been e re c te d w ith a b s o lu te ly no p ro fe s s io n a l
h e lp and e le vate v e rn a c u la r to th e sta tu s of a fr^ k art and the p in n a c le cf
th e p ers o n a l s ta te m e n t ( a r c h ite c tu ra lly s p e a k in g , of c o u rs e !) On t n e o t h e r
let a n y o n e s u g g e s t th a t m an has been h o u s in g h im s e lf fo r a eo ns w it h o u t
th e aid o f a rc h ite c t, to w n p la n n e r o r q u a n t it y s u rv e y o r, a nd s u d d e n ly
v e rn a c u la r is d o w n g r a d e d to m u d huts, hovels, infes te d w a r r e n s u n fit fo r
h u m a n h ab ita tio n .
A g en eral d is c u s s io n on the s u b je c t o f the ve rn a c u la r, its d e f in it io n s and
param eters, c o u ld b e c o m e a v o lu m e in itself a lw a ys p r o v id in g th a t th ere
w a s s o m e o n e intereste d e n o u g h to w rite it a nd b ored e n o u g h to read it.
P e rha ps th e re fo re m a n y of th e a n s w e rs th a t arise fro m th is c h a p t e r w ill be
a n s w e re d la te r w ith in this vo lu m e .

10
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Ii ^ '•■:;>

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Ev" . . ; m

Woman preparing earth

w h e re n o s u c h p e rs o n a l k n o w le d g e of the b u ild in g o r o c p - s is e n c o u r a g e d
bricks: Engcobo.
save on a v e ry g e n e ra l level. In s u c h a s o c ie ty the b u ild ng o f a h o u s e is as T ranskev
p a r t o f th e c o n s u m e r p ro c e s s as is. say, the p u r c h a c "Me / e h i c l e o r Woman preparing thatch
of a k itc h e n stove, and even th o s e fo r t u n a te ' e n o u g h to bundles: Xikukwana.
p u rc h a s e the se rvices of an a rc h it e c t are rarel, e y o n d th e Gazankulu.
Girl thatching beehive hut:
p ro fe s s io n a l d e sig n stage. Bergville district.
It is p e rh a p s t h e r e fo r e no w o n d e r th a t a r c h ite c ts have nim ost lo v e -h a te
r e la t io n s h ip w ith th e ve rn a c u la r. O n the o n e h a n d th e y love t ) m arvel th a t a
b u ild in g c o u l d a c tu a lly have been e re c te d w ith a b s o lu te ly no p ro fe s s io n a l
h e lp a nd elevate v e rn a c u la r to th e sta tu s of a fo lk a rt and ‘ he p 'n n a c le of
th e p e rs o n a l s ta te m e n t ( a r c h ite c tu r a lly s p e a k in g , o f c o u r s e 1) O n the o th e r
let a n y o n e s u g g e s t th a t m a n has been h o u s in g h im s e lf fo r a e o n s w i t h o u t
[Link] aid o f a rc h ite c t, to w n p la n n e r o r q u a n tity s u rv e y o r, a nd s u d d e n ly
v e r n a c u la r is d o w n g r a d e d to m u d h u ts hovels, in fe s te d w a r r e n s u n fit fo r
h u m a n h a b ita tio n .
A g e n e ra l d is c u s s io n on the s u b je c t o f the v e rn a c u la r, its d e f i n it io n s and
p a ra m e te rs, c o u ld b e c o m e a v o lu m e in itse lf a lw a y s p r o v id in g th a t th e re
w as s o m e o n e in te re s te d e n o u g h to w r ite it a nd b o re d e n o u g h to read it.
P e rha ps th e r e fo r e m a n y of the a n s w e rs th at arise fr o m th is c h a p te r w ill be
a n s w e re d later w ith in th is v o lu m e

10
C H A P T E R 2: P A R A LLE L T E C H N O L O G IE S

In a g e n e ra l sense tw o m a jo r te c h n o lo g ie s have arisen o v e r the ye ars in the

S o u th A fric a n ru ra l ve rn a c u la r. A l t h o u g h b o th p ro b a b ly have d e riv e d fro m
a c o m m o n .o m a d ic root, the b r a n c h in g o ff o c c u r r e d n o t so m u c h as a
re s u lt o f cu .'ira l d iffe r e n c e s as d u e to p u r e ly lo c a tio n a l in flu e n c e s .

G r a s s - o rie n ta te d te c h n o l o g y se em s to have b e c o m e p r e d o m in a n t
a m o n g s t th e Swazi, Z u lu and X h osa g r o u p s w h o s e m a jo r areas of
s e ttle m e n t lie la r g e ly a lo n g th e rain and grass rich co a sta l l a r d s east o f the
D ra k e n s b e r g . It was th is c o m b in a t i o n of rain and g ra ss w h ic h e n c o u r a g e d
the h o u se b u ild e r o n th e o ne h a n d to shy a w a y fr o m e a sily e ro d e d m u d
w a lls w h ils t o n th e o th e r to in v e n t a h o u s e fo r m w h ic h w as e n tir e ly
d e p e n d e n t u p o n th e a p p lic a tio n o f v a rio u s typ e s o f grass p le n t if u l in th e
re g io n .
W a ttle and d a u b c o n s t r u c t io n on th e o th e r h a n d is fo u n d p r e d o m i n a n t l y
a m o n g s t th e T s w a n a , Vend a a n d S o th o g r o u p , w h o in h a b it t h .5 m u c h
d r y e r h ig h v e id re g io n s w h e re r a in fa ll is less lik e ly to e ro d e e x p o s e d
w a llin g a n j w h e re th e re is less d e m a n d fo r s o p h is tic a te d m e th o d s of
w a t e r p r o o f i n g th e roof.

In a g e n e ra l sense b o th te c h n o lo g ie s seem to share a c o m m o n d r o o i in the

n o m a d i c a l l y - o r i e n t a i e d p r im it iv e g ra ss and s a p lin g le a n -to sh e lte r a nd its
s u b s e q u e n t d e v e lc c m e n t, the b ee hive c o ne , n e ith e r o f w h ic h is fo u n d
to d a y as a g e n re in v e rn a c u la r a r c h it e c tu r e P ic to r ia l r e c o rd s fr o m these
e a rly d ays are s k e tc h y a nd g e n e r a lly o p e n to i n t e r p r e t a tio n b u t it w o u ld
a p p e a r th a t b o th h ig h v e id a n d lo w la n d re s id e n ts c o n s tr u c t e d h o m e s
w h ic h up to th e e a rly 1800 s w e re in the fo rm o f a c o n ic a l d o m e . T h e sp lit, if
s u c h a w o r d can be used, o c c u r r e d in or a b o u t the y e ars o f th e D i'a q a n e o r
th e " s c a tte r in g o f th e p e o p le ", in th e e a rly 1820's, w h e n as the re s u lt of
Z u lu a g g re s s io n w h o le areas w e r e d e p o p u la te d and laid to w aste as e n tire
c o m m u n i t i e s fle d b e fo re C h a k a 's impis. S o m e m o v e d f u r t h e r inla n d
to w a r d s the area w e k n o w n of to d a y as B o ts w a n a . O th e rs m o v e d in to th e
m o u n ta in s o f L e s o th o w h o re m a n y years later th e y w e re to be w e ld e d into
the B a s o th o n a tio n u n d e r the le a d e r s h ip o f M o s h o e s h o e I. !n b o th cases

11
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the n e w e n v ir o n m e n t was c o n s i c e r a b l y h a r s h e r th a n b e fo re and , m o s t The development of parallel

i m p o r t a n t in o u r c a s e , th e v a rio u s c rasses n e c e s s a ry f o r c o n s t r u c t io n w e re technologies in rural archi-
no l o n g e r fre e ly a vailab le . tecture.

T h is m e a n t th at as th e s o u rc e o f m a te ria ls c h a n g e d so th e n a ls o d id th e
b u ild in g m e th o d s a n d th u s the h o u s e f o r m s o f th e d i s p l a c e d c o m m u n itie s .
J u d g in g by th e d r a w in g s of W illia m B u r c h e ll in a b o u t 1812, the T s w a n a s Figure 56
had a lr e a d y b rid g e d M e gap b e tw aen c o n ic a l u o m e a n d c o n e o n c y lin d e r
even p r i o r to th e p e r io d o f Difciqane. O n the o t h e r hand th e S o th o
a d a p ta tio n o f th e c o n ic a l d o m e w as to s u r v v e w ell in to tn e 1940's w h e n
W a lto n w as to r e s e a rch m ate ria l l o r his b o o k " A rt,c a n V illag e"

The Z u l u s h o w e v e r w ere to a d o p t the b ee hive th e m e as th e ir o w n and

d eve lo p th e c o n ic a l d o m e in to a fu I h e m is p h e n c a l o n e w h ic h has s u rvived
in s o m e areas o f K w a Z u lu r ig h t to the p re s e n t day. T h is is a h o u s e - f o r m
w h ic h in v o lv e s a s o p h is t ic a te d tec i n o l o g y w h i c h P ro f B a rry B ie rm a n has
c o m p a r e d to th a t o f a B o e in g 707 — n o t as h ig h in d e g re e but c e r ta in ly in
kind.

12
W a ttle and d a u b t e c h n o lo g y , t h r o u g h th e a v a ila b ility o f so m e m a te ria ls
and th e lack o f o th e rs w as to d e v e lo p the w a ll as a c o n s tr u c t io n a l e le m e n t
and re fin e it to a s ta ge w h e re in so m e later e x a m p le s , th e w a ttle d is a p p e a rs
e n tir e ly and the wall b e c o m e s fu lly lo a d - b e a rin g . T h u s th e w alls n o t o n ly
a ch ie ve fu ll s tr u c t u r a l sta tu s in th e ir o w n rig h t, b u t also b e c o m e th e e a rly
fo r e - r u n n e r s o f p iz e -d e -te r re c o n s t r u c t io n c o m p a r a b le to so m e fo r m s of
E u ro p e a n v e rn a c u la r a rc h it e c tu r e . S i g n ific a n tly th is fo rm o f c o n s t r u c t io n
re a c h e d fu ll m a tu r it y in th e d r ie r h ig h v e ld re g io n s and th e i n t e r io r of
S o u 'h e r n A frica .

It is also in te re s tin g to n o te th a t as a res u lt o f g re a te r rural c o n c e n tr a tio n s

of p o p u la t io n in w h a t w e re h it h e r to g r a s s -o rie n ta te d te c h n o lo g ic a l
s tr o n g h o ld s , the s u b s e q u e n t r e d u c tio n in the s u p p ly o f grasses s u ita b le
for c o n s t r u c t io n has led to these areas a lso m o v in g in to w a ttle - a n d - d a u b
c o n s t r u c t io n H o w e v e r, a lt h o u g h th is c h a n g e o v e r can be re c k o n e d to be
n e a rly f o u r g e n e r a tio n s o ld in s o m e areas, g e n e r a lly s p e a k in g . Z u lu . Swazi
and X h o s a c o n s tr u c t io n , u s in g the n ew te c h n o lo g y , is in f e r io r to th a t o f th e
S o th o o r Tsw an a. O n e in t e r e s tin g e x c e p tio n ca n be fo u n d in th e n Q u tu
area w h e re n the last c e n tu r y , s o m e S o th o levees w h o f o u g h t w ith th e
B ritis n i p s u p p re s s in g th e C h e ts h w a y o u p r is in g , w ere r e w a rd e d w ith land
g ra n ts in the hea rt of Z u lu la n d A l t h o u g n to d a y th is g r o u p speaks Z u lu ,
o bse rve s Z u lu c u s to m a n d to all in te n ts a nd p u rp o s e s is Z ulu , the S o th o
b u ild in g v e rn a c u la r has s tu c k w ith th e m a nd th e ir h ou se s a te c o n s is te n tly
s u p e r io r to th o s e fo u n d in th e ir im m e d ia te s u rr o u n d s , t h r o u g h a
c o m b in a t i o n o f S o th o w a ll c o n s t r u c t io n and Z u lu th a tc h in g .

O n th e o th e r h a n d fie ld o b s e rv a tio n s have s h o w n th a t w h e re r id g e d o r

h ip p e d ro o fs have been d e v e lo p e d and used in th e H ig h v e ld re g io n s , t h e i r
t h a t c h in g is c o n s is ie n t ly w e a k in s u c h w a te r-s e n s itiv e areas as rid g e s and
hips, w h e re a s th e Z u lu th a t c h e r has no s u c h p r o b le m s in re s o lv in g these
details.

13
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OF SOUTH AFRICA // %A
C LESOTHO r>A r •■ v , r 7
Xhosa
Zulu
................... Swazi
— -^ . - ..South Ndebele
__s— k, North Ndebclr
—* — Thonga
— —— — South Sotho
--------------- North Sotho
........ ■■■— TSWana
— —/ —— v Venda

L a n g u a g e Map of S o u tn A fric a — A fte r van W a r m e lo 1952

14
 ‘

C H A P T E R 3: D E V E L O P M E N T OF THE H O U SE FORM

A s e c o n d and m o r e p e r tin e n t th e m e to th is s tu d y is the g ra d u a l e v o lu t io n

of th e v e rn a c u la r h o u s e fo rm t h r o u g h its v a rio u s s ta ge s and p e r m u ta tio n s
to its p re s e n t p o in t o f d e v e lo p m e n t.

W h e n d e a lin g w ith the rural v e rn a c u la r in a m o r e g e n e r a l and p u r e ly visual

sense, we fin d th a t h u t a nd h o u s e fo rm s u n d e r w e n t i o u r m a jo r tra c e a b le
sta ge s o f d e v e lo p m e n t T h e h o u s e - fo r m in e a ch s tage is d is tin c t and
d iffe r e n t fr o m e ith e r th o s e w h ic h p r e c e d e it o r th o s e w h ic h fo llo w it a nd is
m a r k e d by m a jo r s tr u c tu r a l d iffe r e n c e s w h ic h in th e ir tu rn also u s u a lly
in v o lv e the i n t r o d u c t i o n o f n ew m a te ria ls and even n e w b u ild in g
t e c h n o lo g ie s

Figure 17. S ta g e o n e e n c o m p a s s e s th e b e e h iv e h o u s e fo rm i n c lu d in g th e p rim itiv e

Figure 18 a. s h e lte r, the b e e h iv e co n e , the b ee h iv e d o m e a nd all s u b s e q u e n t
d e v e lo p m e n ts w h i c h see the d o m e raised on d ru m s o f v a ry in g h eigh t. T h is
h o u s e fo rm is g e n e r a lly a s s o c ia te d w ith g ra s s -o rie n ta te d te c h n o l o g y a nd
a lt h o u g h in its later d e v e lo p m e n ts a w all v is u a lly d is t in c t fr o m a r o o f
b e c o m e s id e n tifia b le , g e n e r a lly spedKing th e re is no d if fe r e n tia tio n
b e tw e e n th e tw o . T o all in te n ts a nd p u rp o s e s th e w a ll is part o f th e r o o f and
the r o o f s im ila r ly m e rg e s w ith th e wall, th is clo s e id e n t if ic a t io n of th e tw o
b eing la rg e ly d u e *o th e fa c t th a t th e y share a c o m m o n s tr u c tu r a l
f r a m e w o r k w h ic h d oe s n o t a llo w fo r a d is t in c tio n to e m e rg e.

Figure 18 b S ta g e tw o in c lu d e s all v a ria n ts of th e c o n e - o n - c y l in d e r and c o n e - o n - c u b e

h o u s e fo rm s i n c lu d in g th e " v e r a n d a h " house. T h is stage is ty p ifie d by th e
e m e r g e n c e o f the r o o f and the w all as s e pa ra te and id e n tifia b le s tr u c tu r a l
e le m e n ts . D e lib e r a te eaves are fo r m e d f c r the first tim e and w i n d o w s also
fin d e x p r e s s io n at first m e re ly as v e n tila tio n flu e s and s u b s e q u e n tly as
l i g h t - a d m i t t i n g o p e n in g s , the size in c r e a s in g w i t h t h e s o p h i s t i c a t i c n o f t h e
re s id e n t's life -s ty le and th e b u ild e r's c o n s tr u c t io n a l m e th o d s.

If w e w e re to c o n s id e r the h o u s e f o r m in te rm s o f s tr u c t u r e a lo n e h ow eve r,
we fin d th at in s p ir it th e re is little to d iffe r e n tia te th is s ta ge fr o m th e
p re v io u s one. T h e b ee hive s tr u c t u r e is e s s e n tia lly a tim b e r fra m e w h ic h

15
-
1
 /

has bee n c la d d e d o v e r w ith th a tc h . T h e c o n e - o n - c y l in d e r is la r g e ly a

t im b e r r o o f fra m e w h i c h is s u p p o r te d by v e rtica l t im b e r posts set w ith in the
wall. T h u s b o th s tr u c t u r e s are e s s e n tia lly t i m b e r fr a m e d and it is o n ly th e
the m a n n e r in w h i c h the c la d d in g is a p p lie d that leads to a d if fe r e n tia tio n
b e tw e e n - o o f and w all. In th e la tte r e x a m p le th e w all th e re fo re acts as no
m o r e th a n an in fill p a n e l and a b r a c in g a ge nt in b e tw e e n the e ffe c tiv e ro o f
s u p p o ts.

T h is is not true h o w e v e r o f all c o n i c a l l y - r o o f e d h ouses. In s u c h areas

as V e n d a , C is k e i a n d B o p h u th a ts w a n a the w a ll has e m e rg e d as a lo a d -
b e a rin g s tr u c tu r a l e le m e n t o f th e h ouse, la r g e ly b e c a u s e a th re a te n e d or
real s h o r ta g e o f t im b e r has fo rc e d th e d is c o n t in u a t i o n o f u sa g e o f posts
In s u c h cases a d d it io n a l s tr u c t u r a l in n o v a tio n s , s u ch as th e c ro s s -
tr u s s in g o f th e r o o f fram*> have b e c o m e n e c e s s a ry in o rd e r to c o m p e n s a t e
fo r th e in cre a se d lateral th ru s t im p o s e d by th e r o o f on t h r w alls.

S ta g e s o n e and t w o are also lin k e d by the fa ct th at up to th is p o in t the

l im i t a t i o n s of a r a d ia lly - o r ie n ta te d r o o f f r a m e w o r k have d ic ta te d b o th th e
f l o o r p la n sh a p e a nd its size, the averag e r o o f ra d iu s b e in g a p p r o x im a te ly
3,000 m.

In sta g e th re e th e in v e n tio n o f the tr ia n g u la te d r o o f tru s s has lib e ra te d th e Figure 18 c.

w all p la n fr o m th e l im ita tio n s o f a rad ia l ro o f s ys te m , and fo r th e first tim e
the h o u s e p lan is d ic t a tin g the s h a p e o f the r o o f a n d n o t vice versa as was
the ca se h ith e rto . G e n e ra lly by th is s ta ge w a lls are fu lly lo a d b e a rin g , and
f l o o r p la n d e v e lo p m e n t is linear, r o o m s b e in g set in a row T o th is stage
a lso b e lo n g g a b le - e n d e d h o u s e s b u t fie ld re s e a rc h th u s far has y ie ld e d
little to s h o w th a t the e x p a n s io n p o s s ib ilitie s o f th is fo rm are b e ing
e x p lo r e d to a n y g re a t e x te n t in o u r rural v e rn a c u la r. G e n e ra lly s p e a k in g
the ru ra l t h a t c h e r has not ye t fo u n d a s o lu tio n to th e p r o b le m s of
w a t e r p r o o f i n g o f th e r o o f rid g e o r th e hips V a rio u s a tte m p s at s o lu tio n s
have been o b s e rv e d i n c lu d in g th e fo r m i n g o f r id g e p ie c e s in m u d , c e m e n t
o r f r o m g a lv a n iz in g , b u t m o s tly th e s e p o in ts are left o p e n to th e e le m e n ts
I r g e n i o u s r id g e - c a p p in g m e th o d s have h o w e v e r been d e v e lo p e d lo c a lly
in W e s te rn L e b c w a and in K w a Z u lu .

B e a r in g in m in d th e p ro g r e s s io n th a t has been fo llo w e d in th e p re v io u s

th re e stages, e x p e c ta t io n s d ic ta te th at stage f o u r s h o u ld i n c lu d e su ch
th a t c h e d h o u s e s as th e L', the 'U' a n d the 'H' p lan as basic d e v ia tio n s fro m
the r id g e d r o o f h o u s e fo rm d e s c r ib e d in sta ge three. T h is h o w e v e r is n o t
th e case. W h ils t it is tru e that L -p la n h o u se s can be fo u n d in the rural
v e r n a c u la r ar.d at least one 'U' p lan h o u s e has been r e c o rd e d (near T h a b a
N c h u , O.F.S.) th ese e x a m p le s are fe w and far b e tw e e n . T h e r e a s o n s fo r
th is s e e m to be t w o - fo ld . F irstly w h ils t the fa ilu re by rural th a t c h e r s to

16
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D c e lo p m e n t of the house form

m aste r fu lly the d e ta ilin g o f h ip s and rid g e s is n o t in itself vital (save, o f

c o u r s e in to r r e n tia l ram s!) it d o e s m ean th at th e y s im ila r ly w o u ld n o t be
able to c o p e w ith th e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f w a te r-s e n s itiv e va lle ys in a r o o f
te c h n o lo g y U n lik e rid g e s and hips, w h ic h are s e n sitive o n ly to rain w a t e r
fa llin g d ir e c t ly u p o n th e m , va lle y s serve as w a te r c o lle c t io n and r u n - o f f
p o in ts o n a r o o f and th u s are fa r m o re s u s c e p tib le to p o o r d e ta ilin g .

S e c o n d ly th e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f m o d e r n r o o fin g m a te ria ls s u c h as IBR a nd

c o r r u g a t e d iro n have a lio w e d th e h o u s e p la n to d e p a rt fr o m th e d ic ta te s o f
a la g g in g r o o f t e c h n o l o g y a nd d e v e lo p s t r ic t ly in re s p o n s e to th e d e m a n d s
fo r liv in g s p a c e by th e re sid e n ts. T h u s it se em s th a t c u r r e n t t e c h n o lo g ic a l
d e v e lo p m e n ts and th e in c r e a s in g a fflu e n c e o f rural d w e lle r s has a llo w e d
ru ra l a r c h it e c tu r e to le a p - fr o g o v e r th is s ta ge o f its d e v e lo p m e n t in to th e
n e x t one.

17
 * I* •
-r»

t A
f "I

~*

Stay t fo u r th e r e fo r e sees th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f w h a t we can best d e s c rib e as a Beehive dwelling Ndalini,

th e H ig h v e la h o u s e ", th u s n a m e d b e c a u s e of its p r e d o m i n a n c e a m o n g s t KwaZulu.
the rural d w e lle r s o f the T ra n s va a l a nd O F S h ig h v e ld . T h is h o u s e fo rm Cone-on-cylinder: Silwer-
krantz, Bophuthatswana
u s u a lly c o n s is ts o f lo a d - b e a rin g w a lls w h ic h c a rr y a le a n - to c o r r u g a t e d
c. Ridged and hipped roof:
iron r o o f fa llin g to th e rear o f th e unit. Eaves are g e n e r a lly o n ly c re a te d at Memehlabi, Lebowa.
the rp,->r and the o th e r three sides are tr im m e d bv m ea ns o f lo w parapet walls
The r o o f th u s d is a p p e a rs as a visual e le m e n t of the h o u s e fo rm w h ils t the
walls b e c o m e d o m in a n t. T e c h n o l o g i c a l p r o b le m s u s u a lly arise in s u c h
areas as th e lintels, the w a t e r p r o o f in g o f p a ra p e t w a lls a n d th e m e th o d o f
h o ld in g the ro o f d o w n .

H o w e v e r for the firs t tim e th e h o u se p la n is n o w a ble to g r o w o rg a n ic a lly

a lm o s t at will. T h e p rin c ip le o f the le a n - to r o o f if c o n t r o lle d j u d ic io u s ly ,
can a llo w the h o u s e to e x p a n d u n t i l e i t h e r t h e r e s i d e n t s ' d e m a n d s f o r m o r e
space are m et o r u n til th e h o u s e runs o u t o f g r o u n d in t o w h ic h to g ro w .

In g e n e ra l te rm s th e r e fo r e it w ill be seen th a t th e h o u se fo rm has m ov e d

fro m a stage w h e n s tr u c t u r e failed to d if fe r e n tia te b e tw e e n ro o f a nd wall
fu n c tio n s , t h r o u g h v a rio u s d e v e lo p m e n ts w h i c h saw in c r e a s in g e m p h a s is
b e ing m ad e u p o n th e s tr u c t u r a l role o f th e w all u n til th e final stage w h e n
the w all b e c a m e the d o m in a n t visual fa c to r o f the b u ild in g , the r o o f h av ing
b e c o m e a lm o s t to ta lly s u b je c t to the d e m a n d s m a d e b y f l o o r plan.

18
Author Frescura Franco
Name of thesis The Development Of Rural Vernacular Architecture In Southern Africa. 1980

PUBLISHER:
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
©2013

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