A typology for 'waenhuise' in the vernacular farm architecture of the trans-Vaal River region

Abstract

The word ‘waenhuis’ has become synonymous for what is also referred to as a ‘wagon shed.’ Eventually, the term will disappear as the building’s association with wagons becomes less obvious. At the same time ‘waenhuise’ will become relevant to museums and conservationists involved in the study and conservation of local vernacular architecture. Part of investigating these buildings is the creation of a typology to determine trends and building traditions associated with this building type. Spatial configuration and organization of the floor plan are useful criteria to create such a typology. Two basic types, single- and multi-space ‘waenhuise’ can be distinguished. Single-space buildings can be divided into ‘open-sided shelters’ and ‘waenhuise with walls’. Multi-space buildings are divided into those structures consisting of a core building with additions and those that are part of a dwelling. Material and building technique are less important criteria for a typology, but remain essential for the description of the architectural vocabulary of individual buildings.

‘n Tipologie vir waenhuise in die landelike volksboukuns in die trans-Vaalriviergebied: Die term ‘waenhuis’ het deel van Afrikaanse volksboukuns-terminologie geword en sal mettertyd uit die volksmond verdwyn soos die assosiasie met waens vervaag. Terselfdertyd word waenhuise en die assosiasies rondom die geboutipe belangriker vir museums en bewaringskundiges wat gemoeid is met volksboukuns. Dit het gelei tot die soeke na algemene inligting oor en die saamstel van ‘n eenvoudige tipologie van waenhuise. Ruimtebenutting en konfigurasie (planvorm) is die belangrikste kriterium vir die saamstel van ‘n eenvoudige tipologie. Twee hooftipes word onderskei naamlik ‘enkelruimte waenhuise’ en ‘waenhuise met veelvuldige ruimtes’. Enkelruimte waenhuise word in wa-skuilings en toegeboude waenhuise verdeel. Veelvuldige ruimte waenhuise word in waenhuise met aangeboude vertrekke en waen-huise wat deel is van ‘n woonhuis verdeel. In hierdie klassifisering is materiaal en boutegniek ondergeskik aan planvorm, maar nogtans essensieel vir die beskrywing van die karakter van die onderskeie geboue.