The acceptability of earth constructed houses in central areas of South Africa
Abstract
English: The traditional earth building techniques of South Africans are well documented, but
little research reflects the current perceptions of these building materials and
techniques. The thesis explores the factors (independent variables) that can be
addressed in order to make earth constructed houses in general more acceptable in
central areas of South Africa. The thesis draws on data obtained from the SANPAD
project (South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in
Development) with a household survey (n=1790) from respondents regarding their
perceptions and attitudes towards earth construction. Multiple qualitative and
quantitative responses were recorded both for and against the use of sun dried earth
blocks (adobe). Correlation and regression analyses were used to test for the
characteristics (significant variables) that influence the acceptability of earth
constructed houses.
The findings show that respondents regard traditional earth building materials as
inferior. Negative attitudes were found to be linked to the structural performance of
unbaked earth materials regarding stability in wet conditions and maintenance.
Limited other studies confirmed the low acceptability of traditional earth constructed
walls.
Regression analysis could not confirm that personal and household characteristics
are associated with the housing, context and acceptability characteristics.
Correlation analyses confirmed that certain housing characteristics (basic services such as water born toilets connected to sewerage systems, running water and
electricity) influence the acceptability of traditional earth constructed houses.
Correlation analyses confirmed that context characteristics (location and area types)
influence the acceptability of traditional earth constructed houses. Furthermore, the
data and literature confirm that the building culture (available material and buildings
skills) and upward social mobility together with Reconstruction and Development
Programme (RDP) houses (with basic services) influence the acceptability of
traditional earth constructed housing.
The findings concluded that attitudes toward traditional earth construction are more
positive in 1) informal urban areas where informal houses do not have access to
basic services and 2) rural households where the building culture dictates the norm
even without basic services. The effects of conformity, imitation and upward social
mobility were confirmed, as stated by the literature and the data. Together with
upgraded earth construction techniques (such as cement stabilised compressed
earth blocks or bricks) wall components for earth buildings in parts of central South
Africa may be more acceptable.
The hypothesis is that if the influencing factors on the acceptability of
traditional earth constructed housing are known, it can be used in the
promotion of contemporary earth construction.
The thesis aims to promote contemporary earth construction techniques. This thesis
states that the public should be equipped and educated about the importance of
preserving existing forms and methods of earth construction, in order to support
useful applications within contemporary architecture. Afrikaans: Die tradisionele Suid Afrikaanse grondkonstruksietegnieke is goed gedokumenteer,
maar daar is min verwysings na navorsing van huidige sienings oor hierdie
boumaterial en -vaardighede. Die proefskrif ondersoek die faktore (onafhanklike
veranderlikes) wat aangespreek kan word om grondkonstruksiehuise meer
aanvaarbaar in die sentrale gebiede van Suid Afrika te maak. Die proefskrif gebruik
die data van die SANPAD-projek (South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme
on Alternatives in Development) as ’n huishoudelike opname (n=1790), wat
respondente se waarnemings en sienings oor grondkonstruksie versamel het.
Verskeie kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe reaksies is aangeteken, vir en teen
songedroogde stene (adobe). Korrelasie en regressie analises is gebruik om die
eienskappe (beduidende veranderlikes) wat die aanvaarbaarheid van
grondkonstruksiehuise beinvloed, te toets.
Die bevindinge toon dat respondente tradsionele grondkonstruksiemateriale as
ondergeskik beskou. Negatiewe houdings hou verband met die strukturele vermoë
van ongebakte grondboumateriaal ten opsigte van stabiliteit en onderhoud in nat
weersomstandighede. Enkele studies bevestig die lae aanvaarbaarheid van
tradisionele grondkonstruksiemure.
Regressie analises kon nie die verband tussen persoonlike en huishoudelike
eienskappe rakende behuisingkonteks en aanvaarbaarheidseienskappe bevestig
nie. Korrelasie analises het bevestig dat behuisingseienskappe (basiese dienste soos toilette verbind aan ’n rioolstelsel, lopende water en elektrisiteit) die
aanvaarbaarheid van tradisionele grondkonstruksiehuise beïnvloed. Korrelasie
analises het bevestig dat sekere kontekseienskappe (ligging en area tipes) ook die
aanvaarbaarheid van tradisionele grondkonstruksiehuise beïnvloed. Verder het die
literatuur en data bevestig dat die boukultuur (beskikbare boumateriale
en -vaardighede), opwaardse sosiale mobiliteit, tesame met Heropbou-enontwikkelingsprogram
(HOP)-huise (met basiese dienste), die aanvaarbaarheid van
tradisionele grondkonstruksiehuise beïnvloed.
Die gevolgtrekking na aanleiding van die bevindinge is dat sienings meer positief
teenoor tradisionele grondkonstruksiehuise is in 1) informele stedelike gebiede waar
informele huise geen basiese diense het en 2) landelike huishoudings waar die
boukultuur (sonder basiese dienste) as die norm beskou word. Die invloed van
gelykvormigheid, nabootsing en opwaardse sosiale mobiliteit, word deur die
literatuur en die data bevestig. Saam met opgegradeerde grondkonstruksiemetodes
(soos sement gestabiliseerde gekompakeerde grondblokke en –stene) mag
muurelemente van grondhuise in sentrale streke van Suid Afrika, meer aanvaarbaar
wees.
Die hipotese is dat, indien die faktore wat die aanvaarbaarheid van tradisionele
grondkonstruksiehuise beïnvloed bekend is, dit aangewend kan word in die
bevordering van hedendaagse grondkonstruksie.
Die proefskrif poog om hedendaagse grondkonstruksiemetodes te bevorder. Die
proefskrif bevestig dat die gemeenskap toegerus en ingelig moet word rakende die
bewaringsbelang van bestaande grondkonstruksiemetodes, ten einde die nuttige
toepassings binne hedendaagse argitektuur te ondersteun.