Malawi Vernacular Architecture
Documentation for Preservation
Zomba
Siyasiya village:
The chief of the village allowed us to take pictures of his homestaed. The fence was being constructed and the kitchen is round and fully enclosed with small openings to allow the smoke to leave.
Thezi village:
The homestead had numerous family members living there. each had a home and a grainery. The main family members home had no windows, due to security reasons. There was an interesting decorative band.
Benga village:
The grainery was the first one seen that was completely full of maize. Instead of constructing a thatced conical roof to place on top, the owners were going to fill bags with maize and store inside the kticen storage room due to thieves.
Gawani village:
Thie goat pen was a very comon structure found throughout Malawi. This was the largest one documented and it was massive, holding 27 goats every night. The structure was 9 years old and it had a significant lean to it. Large chuncks of tree were placed 1/2 meter into the ground. The road leading up to the homestead was lined with hedges that defined the space.
Halodi village:
This structure was just a typical home found in Zomba district. Burnt brick walls supporting a bamboo roof structure, a layer of reeds and a thin thatch roof.
Makhwadha village:
This home was unique not only in it's decorations but also with the tall walls. Walls more commonly are about 1/2 meter shorter. Also unique was the "summer room", an outside structure that is used for socializing when the weaher turns warm. In Zambia this structure is called an insaka.
This the chief's house and his thatch fence was just being built.
A decorative band of plaster at the base placed only on the front of the house.
A strange detail, this pole is resting on a rock. A pole was chosen and cut but proved to be too small.
Thatch roof which is tied together at the top to prevent leakage.
A decorative use of bricks above a wood lintel of a window.
Circular kitchen which is plastered having a decorative band on the top and the bottom.
This home has tall walls and an unique decoration around the windows.
A fence surrounding a homestead, constructed of thatch and having some decorative elements.
This outdoor gathering space is called a "summer house".
Roof structure supported by a pole resting on the brick wall.
Underside of goat pen. The pen is large and holds 27 goats, the support needs to be large as well.
Close up of support structure of the goat pen.
Wood ramp to allow the goats to climb up into the pen.
Hedges are used to define the entry into the homestaed.
Close up of a grainery showing weaved pattern and wood support pole.
Download all the pictures from Zomba district on my Flickr gallery.
