Page 36 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

34  INTRODUCING SOUTH AFRIC A

South African Architecture

Diverse factors have influenced building styles in South
Africa: climate, social structure, and the state of the
economy have all shaped the country’s homes. In earlier
days, when suitable raw materials were often unavailable,
ingenious adaptations result ed. Variations include the
hartbeeshuisie (hard-reed house), a pitched-roof shelter
built directly on the ground, and the beehive-shaped
“corbelled” huts, built of stone in areas where structural
timber was unobtainable, as in the Northern Cape.
Modern South African building and engineering skills have
kept up-to-date with international trends, and many Weaving the reed fence surrounding
different styles can be seen throughout the country. a traditional Swazi village

Indigenous Architectural Styles
Most traditional rural dwellings, often called “rondavels”, are
circular in shape. The conical roofs are traditionally constructed
of a tightly woven reed or grass thatch, while the walls may
be made of mud blocks mixed with cow dung, or consist of a
framework of woven branches, covered with animal hide. Most of
these homes, except the matjieshuise of the arid Namaqualand
nomads for whom rain was no threat, are well insu lated and Zulu “beehives” are a commun-
waterproof. In recent times, materials like corrugated iron, plastic ity effort. The stick framework is
erected by the men, and the
sheeting and cardboard have become popular, especially in women thatch it.
informal settlements on the outskirts of cities.
The matjieshuise (houses Xhosa huts are built of
made of mats) of Khoina mud. The circular
nomads consisted of type shown here
portable hide or reed has largely
mats on a stick frame. been replaced
by rectangular
A capping of clay covers the ridge of patterns.
The thatch is the roof to keep the thatch in place.
made of sheaves
of grass or reed. Windows and decora-
tions are symmetrically
placed around the door.

Wall designs are
hand-painted.

Low outside wall
Ndebele homes are, perhaps,
the most eye-catching local
style. The walls of the rect-
angular structures are
traditionally painted by
women, using bright pri-
mary colours. No stencils
are used for the bold
geometric motifs. Basotho huts, originally circular, are built of blocks
of turf, mud or stone, and plastered with mud. In
rural areas, walls are still decorated with pebbles,
Ndebele wall detail but the use of paint is spreading.

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