A legacy of rondavels and rondavel houses in the northern interior of South Africa

Abstract

The rondavel has become synonymous with the settlements of the black people of South Africa but has also become a characteristic building type of European (white) folk building in white vernacular architecture. Although this building type was never considered a typical building type on farmsteads and of farm architecture of the Boland, it has become such a common phenomenon that it can now be considered part of white vernacular architecture. The occurrence and distribution of the rondavel in the northern part of South Africa reflects its popularity over the last hundred years. The rondavel occurs in six configurations: (1) as single isolated cone on cylinder structure, (2) as a conglomerate of separate rondavels, (3) as several rondavels connected to each other with foyers and passages, (4) as an independent annex to a larger rectangular dwelling unit, (5) as an addition built onto an existing rectangular dwelling unit or (6) as a single dwelling unit with the characteristics of an elongated rondavel with two of its sides parallel to each other (lozenge shape). The use and function of these buildings also varied depending on the needs of the landowner, tenant, housewife or workers.

AFRIKAANS: 'n Nalatenskap van rondawels en rondawelhuise in die Noordelike binneland van Suid-Afrika. Die rondawel het sinoniem geword met die nedersettings van swart inwoners van Suid-Afrika, maar [is] terselfdertyd kenmerkend van wit volksboukuns op beide plase in die landelike omgewing en as stedelike fenomeen. Alhoewel nie tipies van die oudste plaaswerwe en plaasargitektuur van die Boland nie, het die rondawel in die binneland so algemeen geword dat daarna verwys kan word as 'n tipiese geboutipe van wit volksboukuns. Die voorkoms en verspreiding van die rondawel in die noordelike gedeelte van Suid-Afrika weerspieel die populariteit van die geboutipe oor die afgelope honderd jaar. Die rondawel kom in ses vorme voor: (1) as enkel geisoleerde rondawel, (2) as 'n groep van enkel rondawels, (3) as 'n groep van rondawels wat aanmekaar gekoppel is deur portale en gange, (4) as losstaande anneks tot 'n reghoekige groter wooneenheid, (5) as 'n aanbouing tot 'n reghoekige wooneenheid of (6) as enkel wooneenheid met die kenmerke van 'n uitgerekte rondawel waarvan twee sye ewewydig is. Die funksies van die geboutjies varieer ook, afhangende van die doel waarvoor die grondeienaar, sy vrou of arbeiders dit benodig.