If I go to the database/South Africa I can recognise many of these structures (all are different types of huts), but without any notes or annotations.
What's interesting is that most houses being built in rural areas in SA (as e.g. opposed to Botswana) are not true vernacular but cross over buildings. In the process a lot of traditional architechture are being replaced; in this regard I think what would be cool is to find talented architects to "preserve" some of this in new commercial buildings.
Rural building are now much more Western (with huts having rooms are not possible, you sort of can have "graphs" though). The budget constraints also mean that houses may be built room by room over many years. One interesting "vernacular" developments I would say is pillars. Rural villages love them! It would be interesting to see how this evolves into a 21st century vernacular.
I watched the Ted video, it's interesting! And yes, it does talk about what I had in mind, but of course with much more research and rigour. It would be nice to get a copy of that book that the author wrote.
In any case, the fractal properties of African villages and other cultural artifacts is an excellent topic for education in Africa in the future.
No, I don't think so, not specifically, but it could be casually possible. I just mean for example: the standard 3-hut configuration triangle with a central open air common area (the triangle).
You can have much bigger graphs too, it is common traditionally to have the chief in the middle and the tribe living around him, but I can imagine that there could be fractals.
What's interesting is that most houses being built in rural areas in SA (as e.g. opposed to Botswana) are not true vernacular but cross over buildings. In the process a lot of traditional architechture are being replaced; in this regard I think what would be cool is to find talented architects to "preserve" some of this in new commercial buildings.
Rural building are now much more Western (with huts having rooms are not possible, you sort of can have "graphs" though). The budget constraints also mean that houses may be built room by room over many years. One interesting "vernacular" developments I would say is pillars. Rural villages love them! It would be interesting to see how this evolves into a 21st century vernacular.