An holistic approach to the appreciation of domestic architecture

Abstract

For man, the dwelling house is possibly the most intimate and meaningful building in the architectural spectrum. Too often the study of domestic architecture is approached merely as a cold intellectual exercise. Buildings are discussed as if they were merely two dimensional entities where the vertical and horizontal are viewed in isolation. Little recognition is given to the building as a functioning place for living. This article attempts to draw attention to aspects of domestic architecture which might hitherto have been given scant consideration. Singled out for discussion are the areas of privacy and display. These two concepts are explored and the findings applied to two acclaimed Johannesburg dwellings built in the 1930's each belonging to a different socio-economic stratum. It seems that privacy and display do play an important role in the functioning of a building. It seems, too, that they assist not only in creating the ultimate character which the house assumes but also determines or, at least, influences the viewer's or owner's physical, intellectual and emotional responses to it.

Vir die mens is die woonhuis moontlik die mees intieme en betekenisvolle gebou in die argitektoniese spektrum. Die studie van woonhuisargitektuur word te dikwels as slegs 'n koue intellektuele oefening aangepak. Geboue word benader asof dit bloot tweedimensionele entiteite is waar die vertikale opbou en horisontale uitleg in isolasie beskou word. Min erkenning word gegee aan die gebou as 'n funksionele verblyfplek. Hierdie artikel vestig die aandag op aspekte van woonhuisargitektuur waaraan tot op hede geringe aandag geskenk is. Areas van privaatheid en vertoon is vir bespreking uitgesonder. Hierdie twee begrippe word ondersoek en die bevindinge word toegepas op twee woonhuise. Die betrokke woonhuise wat in die 1930's gebou is, vind algemene erkenning en verteenwoordig uiteenlopende sosio-ekonomiese strata. Dit kom voor dat privaatheid en vertoon 'n belangrike rol speel in die vormgewing en funksionering van 'n gebou. Dit blyk verder dat hulle nie slegs help om die huis se uiteindelike karakter te skep nie maar ook om die kyker en die eienaar se fisiese, intellektuele en emosionele reaksies daarteenoor te bepaal of ten minste te beinvloed.