VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

Topic ____Zambia Vernacular Architecture

Date__19/11/2019

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
Ar.Sandeep Singh Deepak verma
15120042

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE SBSSTC FEROZPUR

T Vernacular Architecture of Zambia

O 1. Location
2. Structure
P a. Insakas
b. Palaces
I c. Church
3. Construction
C 4. Outdoor space
5. Bibliography

S
1.LOCATION
Zambia officially the Republic of Zambia,
is a landlocked country in south-
central Africa. Zambia is
a landlocked country in southern Africa, with
a tropical climate, and consists mostly of
high plateaus with some hills and mountains,
dissected by river valleys. At
2
752,614 km (290,586 sq. mi) it is the 39th-
largest country in the world, slightly smaller
than Chile. The country lies mostly between
latitudes 8° and 18°S, and
longitudes 22° and 34°E.

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

2.STRUCTURES

In a Village, numerous variations of a few basic

Structures exist. Seven common types besides
the main house are analyzed.
a.INSAKAS
An insaka is a structure which is similar in
western thought as a gazebo. In Zambia these
structures have significant roles in social life in
village life and the preparations of food.
2 main functions of insakas:
Insaka

Insaka is a Bemba word for "place to gather" It is

derived from the verb isa " to come together".
Culturally it is very important!!
A cooking insaka is a small hut which a fire is
kept. Women socialize around this nucleus of
activity. Men socialize in the insaka which is
more public, where one greets a visitor. The men
and the women have different accepted social
areas.
Traditionally people would gather underneath a tree. The tree naturally enclosed a
space and offered protection from sun and the rain. An insaka basically encloses a
space. This for protection from the elements while allowing for work or socializing.

Insakas are constructed in all shapes and sizes.

The structures provide protection from the elements, mainly wind but also rain and sun

Construction

1. A shallow foundation is dug and burnt

bricks ( or pole and mud) is built to a
height of about 1 meter.
2. Poles are placed into the ground about .5
meter deep. It is also common for the poles
to be placed before the walls are constructed.
The poles are either plastered into the walls
or just sit outside of them.
3. After the poles are built for the roof
structure, thatch is added on top.

Poles and Walls: The support poles can

either be embedded into the walls with
bricks plastered with them or poles are
placed just outside of the walls

__________________________________________________________

b.PALACES
Traditional Hierarchy
In Zambia, traditional leadership is hierarchically
organized. There are 8 paramount chiefs controlling vast
areas and people. Below them are about 56 chiefs/
chieftaness' controlling a fair size of land and power.
Under them are sub- chiefs/ chieftaness' which have
smaller areas of control and less power.

The Palace is a compound of structures

The quality, size and number of palace structures depends on power and wealth
Buildings form an exterior courtyard. (A defined
envelope of space) An outside space which is
often used instead of the interior, due to the fact it
is very open, allowing for the congregation of
many people
Courts areas are separated from the living area.

Materials:
Goverment provides concrete and metal roofing to palace. This is to indicate
importance and power.
Power is directly influenced by wealth. The number of structures, size of the
homestead, number of granaries, and overall neatness (upkeep) is also an indication
of wealth.
Under every chief/ chieftaness there are headmen in every village. They could be
equated the same way a governor is equated with a mayor. Some headmen have
more wealth than some chiefs/ chieftaness' possess. Depends on wealth of area.

Court is often held under the shade of

trees in the courtyard. Larger crowds are
able to gather and it is cooler, protected
from the sun.

Upon visiting the palace, one must go to the greeting area first. Much like visiting
an insaka at a homestead. The palace retainer greets guests and checks if the chief/
chieftaness will meet with the visitor

The structures:
Main Palace: where the chief/ chieftaness lives
Residences: where other family members live.
Courthouse: where various day to day activities occur. These events include court,
meetings, ceremonies, audience with the chief/ chieftaness
2 Palace Layouts

Twingi

Chieftaness Mulawkwa is a
sub-chieftaness of the Kapata
peninsula in Luapula Province

The actual courthouse is used

only in special cases. Everyday
business is usually held under a
grove of mango trees.
 Undi

Chief Undi is a paramount

Chief in Eastern Province.

His homestead is quite large

with many structures including
structures for visiting guests. A
jail or holding cell is also a
structure which is utilized.

_____________________________________________________
c.CHURCHES
Zambia is a Christian nation, though other religions are
practiced. Churches are very prevalent even in villages.
Churches vary in size and quality, depending on the
wealth of a village. Some churches are made of very
brickwork with metal roofing. Others are just a simple
thatch roof supported by poles. The church is the largest
structure in the village because it holds a large amount of
people. Has to have a large enclosure to hold people in.
Bricks are not always affordable so reedmats are
sometimes used for infill between poles or columns.

Span:

The span of the roof is the biggest concern. The longer the span the higher the roof and
the more material which is used. Many villages build a shallow roof which over time sags
and eventually leaks
Construction Of:
The length of the church has no limitations because it is a bay system. Either poles or
brick columns support the roof structure. Walls become mainly infill but add to the
support and rigidity as well.

Support for the roof is from brick columns, large poles

or walls themselves.

Construction in theory is a repetitive system, each a

bay which can be any length.

Openings can be placed in the infill of these bays.

Light is needed in the space.

Entrance:
Sometimes treated specially to give emphasis. A wall
or screen is placed in front of the door and people go
around the screen.

Windows:
The brickwork can be very elaborate. Creating
window openings can be simple, have and arch or a
crown.

Seating:
Tree poles in the shape of a "Y" are used to support a
plank of wood which serves as a pew.
3.CONSTRUCTION

BRICKWORK

Missionaries first introduced the technology of using burnt

bricks made from mud.
Structures were constructed of bamboo and mud or pole and
mud existed before burnt brick

Characteristics of:
•Size- varies according to the mold used but an average size is 30cm x 15cm x
•Strength- depends on the soil content and burn time.
•Longevity- so many factors are involved such as quality of mud; a structure made of
bricks can last up to almost a 100 years.
•Color- Depends on soil type (color of the clay) Colors range from reds, oranges, browns
and grays.
Dried: By one of two methods
1.SUN DRIED:
The wet bricks are left in the sun to
dry. They are left out to the
elements. The outside becomes
hardened first, and if hot enough.
The entire brick becomes hard.
Often, it is not hot enough and the
brick is not as strong.
2.KILN DRIED:

The wet bricks are A fire is started and the The wood burns
stacked in an order opening is closed up slowly
which creates pockets with more bricks. (sometimes for
of space underneath weeks) which the
and around firing makes for a
stronger brick.
BAMBOO
Characteristics of:
It is grown all over Zambia. •Strong
Its availability determines its prevalence in •Hard
construction. •Renewable
•size

Bamboo is cut in half along its length.

It is then stuck in a shallow foundation about .2 meter
deep.
3 split bamboo shoots are placed vertically every .5 meter
around a circular radius.

This structure is half complete. Roof poles are selected

and tested for length.

Poles are placed into the

ground and spaced every
.5 meters around a
circles circumference.

Woven together in a pattern.

Corners do not work with bamboo; at 90 degrees bamboo will crack from pressure
3 bamboo stalks are placed vertically every .5 meter around a
radius.
Bamboo is woven vertically from bottom to top.
The bamboo wall is plastered over to give stability and rigidity
The thickness of the plaster is about .2 meter

Bamboo walls are not load

bearing.The weight is transferred to
Some areas may not be plastered over to poles on the outside of the walls.
allow for ventilation. This is evident in The walls take some load but not
cooking insakas. the majority.
4.OUTDOOR SPACES

HOMESTEADS

Homestead layouts vary, are similar in nature,

but are not identical.. The structures themselves
are quite small but outdoor spaces are utilized
because of warm temperatures.
Homestead Layout
Each homestead usually has these spaces and
structures. Variances do occur but this is seen as
typical.
Tall grass or bush defines the homestead. Since
Zambia is an agricultural society, fields are
prevalent and often are buffers between
homesteads. The homestead area is trodden,
well worn, where grass does not grow.

Many homesteads comprise of extended families;

the fathers house, then the sons and their wives
and families. In many tribes in Zambia, when a
women marries she lives in the husbands village

Connections are made to other

homesteads by walking paths
Arrangements of homesteads vary from area to area but 3 main variations exist

Streets
These homesteads are rarer; yards are
completely enclosed by bushes or hedges.
The plantings are uniform in size and
placement, and this effect creates "streets"
through a village.

Close to each Other

These homesteads are very open to each

other with no major barriers in-between..
Separations are achieved by layouts of
individual homesteads, creating courtyards.
Plantings, or nature are used for separation of
spaces and homesteads.

Scattered
These homesteads are deep in the bush.
There are no specific distances between
them. Some are right next to each other and
others are far apart. It is very random.
Bibliography

http://www.zambiaarchitecture.com/OutdoorSpaces/Nav/outdotest.htm

https://www.google.com/search?q=zambia&rlz=1C1SQJL_enIN771IN771&sxsrf=A
CYBGNRqIq7yBoVgq1XzUBQwBcJUmPS1yw:1574095222144&tbm=isch&source=i
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252F088vb&vet=1&usg=AI4_-
kSTDnNa4OpY3Vna6sKHAWU4dHIAPA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia