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.