What material are commonly used in African architecture?

African architecture uses a wide range of materials, including thatch, stick/wood, mud, mudbrick, rammed earth, and stone.

What is vernacular architecture made from?

Vernacular architecture is a modest style of building that is specific to a region and period. It relies on the use of local materials and knowledge to construct buildings, and it’s usually done without the supervision of a professional architect.

What is Vernacular Architecture in Africa?

Vernacular architecture is composed of local materials and derived from local customs, techniques that have been passed on from generation to generation. But vernacular architecture in most (if not all) African countries is disappearing, being abandoned for western materials and techniques.

How are houses built in Africa?

African houses are often cylindrical (round) in shape. In the semidesert regions of Sudan and western Africa, round houses are often constructed of sun-dried mud in a coil pottery technique. Many of the natural materials used in African architecture are vulnerable to rain, rot, or termites.

Who discovered vernacular architecture?

One of the main researchers on vernacular architecture in Brazil was the architect Lucio Costa, in the late 20th century, who defined the history of Brazilian architecture by introducing references from all over the country, such as the famous Ocas – typical Brazilian indigenous housing -, constructions on stilts.

Why African vernacular architecture is overdue for a renaissance?

In spite of its towering influence in the pre-colonial era, it has largely failed to develop beyond the crude earthen walls and thatch roof architecture; for this reason it has remained unattractive to homeowners who often associate it with poverty.

What is an example of vernacular architecture?

The alpine chalet or a bamboo home from South-East Asia are just some examples of this “vernacular” architecture. Vernacular architecture evolves over time reflecting the characteristics of the local environment, climate, culture, natural materials, technology and the experience of centuries of community building.

What are the contribution of Africa in architecture?

African builders developed engineering processes to use columns and stone masonry, and they developed methods to move large quantities of stone to build the pyramids and other massive stone structures. Other regions, such as Southern Arabia, influenced some of African architecture.

Where was Neolithic architecture used?

Early Neolithic structures and buildings can be found in southeast Anatolia, Syria, and Iraq by 8,000 BC with agriculture societies first appearing in southeast Europe by 6,500 BC, and central Europe by ca.

Who is an architect and what does he do?

An architect is a skilled professional who plans and designs buildings and generally plays a key role in their construction. Architects are highly trained in the art and science of building design.