Malawi Vernacular Architecture
Documentation for Preservation
Mzimba
Chilambo village:
This homestead has a couple of structures that are small and have verandahs on the front with no wood supports.
Chilongo village:
A home built out of burnt brick. There is a sitting platform all around the structure. Bricks under the front window are done so for decoration.
Chisi village:
This woman is plastering her house.
Chisi village:
This woman was painting a decorative base on her kitchen.
Gausi village:
House costructed with burnt brick and has a continuos small verandah that goes all around the home.
Mwantothera village:
This home has a verndah that goes around the entire structure.
Mzikuwola village:
This man was constructing the roof structure on his home.
Nyoroka village:
Rectangular stucture built with burnt bricks and has a verandah on the front of it.
The side of the house has an inside area for bathing. Note the drain at the verandah.
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This home has no front porch or verandah, just a base to sit on.
Kitchen walls are made with reeds and has a thatched roof.
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Roof poles over verandah do not have to be straight to work.
A support pole is supported by bricks on top of the wall.
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Roof overhang on the side of a house.
Kitchen has a covered outdoor area to cook in.
Woman plastering a wall by hand.
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Wall being plastered, this task is done once a year.
Woman plastering a wall by hand.
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Woman is painting a decorative band on the base of the structure.
Decoration painted on the base of the wall.
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Structure having a base that wraps around all four walls. It is constructed for sitting.
Close up of a grainery with weaved reeds and wood support on the sides.
The thatch on this roof was three times as thick as any other structure in a homestead.
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Large wood poles are used to support the roof over the verandah.
Small grainery that has a curvature at the top.
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Kitchen with a very thick thatched roof.
Strip of bark taken from a tree. Will be used to connect poles together.
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Tying down the roof poles with bark.
Reed window with a unique shape.
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View of a side of a kichen constructed with a frame of wood and reeds and plastered over.
Download all the pictures from Mzimba district on my Flickr gallery.
