Essay on the primitive hut in relation to theories of social organisation.

The ‘primitive’ hut has been a source of fascination across the disciplines for many years, and formed a fundamental part of the aesthetic traditions in nineteenth century Europe, beginning with the works by Papworth romanticising the rustic, and reaching a peak in the Arts and Crafts period where writings such as those of John Ruskin lauded the handmade nature of the rustic unit. Discussing the ‘primitive’ hut is possible between the disciplines, the architectural approach such as that taken by Rykwert being one side, and the anthropological analysis of Bordieu being the other.

I shall discuss two African examples from a spatial arrangement perspective, one from Algeria, the Kabyle House as described by Pierre Bourdieu, and the other the Zulu Dwelling as described by, amongst others, Argyle and Buthelezi. Without entering the discourse defining the ‘primitive’ hut, I take as my starting point the definition submitted by Paul Oliver, where ‘Vernacular architecture comprises the dwellings and all other buildings of the people. Related to their environmental contexts and available resources they are customarily owner or community built utilising traditional technologies. All forms of vernacular architecture are built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies and ways of living of the cultures that produce them.’ (Oliver;1997:xxiii)

The Zulu beehive dwelling

The Zulu beehive dwelling, or iqhughwana, is notable for the symbolism that it encompasses in its shape, its position in the homestead and the manner in which the inside space is used. A couple of authors, largely Biermann, have addressed the buildings as physical entities, and others such as Knuffel the manner in which they are constructed and the social processes that surround the construction. The gender responsibilities such as the women thatching and the men cutting the poles and setting them into the ground sets the picture for the …

Tags: house, hut, men, primitive, social organisation, symbolism, women, Zulu

Login or Register:

Login or register and get access to hundreds of essays FOR FREE.

Either click here to register, or use the form below to login...