African courtyard architecture: typology, art, science and relevance

Abstract

English: Because current international trends in urban design principles are towards compact neighbourhoods and housing, attempts to accommodate South Africa’s lower-income households in massive schemes of identical little freestanding houses is increasingly being questioned. But instead of only considering Euro-American models, should planners and architects not also investigate traditional settlements for formative ideas? Most sub-Saharan vernacular dwellings, including the archetypal clustering of huts around an open living space, are conceptually a courtyard configuration, and courtyard housing offers relatively high densities, privacy and protected outdoor living space, as well as allowing a social mix – all desirable characteristics of a good contemporary neighbourhood. This study attempts to determine the relevance of traditional African courtyard houses for contemporary urban solutions by investigating a number of representative examples in terms of their potential for densification, ability to provide privacy and psychological well-being, climatic behaviour and responsiveness to social and economic needs. While both informal and formal housing have been wasteful in the use of land, functioning historic towns along Africa’s East Coast arguably offer ideas and concepts for the definition of a true African neighbourhood. The study suggests that, from the synthesis of historic precedent and custom, a contemporary model of courtyard houses could be developed that would contribute towards much more compact, low-energy and socio-economically equitable neighbourhoods.

Afrikaans: Omdat internasionale tendense in stedelike ontwerp tans na kompakte woonbuurte en behuising neig, word pogings om Suid-Afrika se laer-inkomste huishoudings in massiewe skemas met identiese klein losstaande huisies te huisves toenemend bevraagteken. Maar in plaas daarvan om slegs Euro-Amerikaanse modelle te oorweeg, moet beplanners en argitekte nie ook tradisionele nedersettings ondersoek vir vormende idiees nie? Die meeste inheemse huise in sub-Sahara Afrika, insluitende die aartstipiese groepering van hutte rondom ’n oop leefruimte, is konseptueel binnehofkonfigurasies, en binnehofhuise bied ’n relatief hoë woondigtheid, privaatheid en beskermde veilige buiteleefruimtes, en maak sosiale vermenging moontlik – almal begeerlike eienskappe van ’n goeie hedendaagse woonbuurt. Hierdie studie poog om die toepaslikheid van die tradisionele binnehofhuise van Afrika vir hedendaagse stedelike oplossings te bepaal deur ’n aantal verteenwoordigende voorbeelde te ondersoek wat betref hul potensiaal vir verdigting, hul vermoë om privaatheid en sielkundige behaaglikheid te verskaf, hul klimatologiese gedrag en hul responsiwiteit teenoor sosiale en ekonomiese behoeftes. Ofskoon sowel informele as formele behuising grond verkwis het, is daar geskiedkundige dorpe langs die Ooskus van Afrika wat idees en konsepte bied vir die definiëring van ’n ware Afrikawoonbuurt. Hierdie studie stel voor dat daar uit die sintese van historiese voorbeeld en gebruik ’n eietydse model vir binnehofhuise ontwikkel kan word wat tot baie meer kompakte, lae-energie en sosio-ekonomies regverdige woonbuurte kan bydra.