3.4 EXISTENTIAL THEORY
3.4.2 Concept of Tradition Through Isizulu Ethnic Tribe
47
Some lifestyle patterns have been altered by modernization that has affected the youth thus forming the culture that they identify with. Rapoport argues that this aspect of tradition and its adoption at different eras and in different places makes it possible to identify ties between some aspects of tradition and built environments. (Mthethwa, 2001:
27)
3.4.1.4.3 The Social Environment Characteristic
The social environment concerning the lifestyle of the youth and their role in isiZulu ethnic tribe, Umlazi has a hybrid characteristic, that being it is an urban area rooted in isiZulu ethnic tradition as mentioned above, under physical environment characteristic and this influences the culture of the youth through actions, attitudes, and beliefs. They are exposed to different lifestyles and different aspects of the physical environment which causes a liberated, open- minded, unconventional, and freethinking social culture. This means the physical environment and learning environments need to be designed towards creativity and innovation.
This generates their role to be innovative thinkers to transform their community for the better. Therefore, learning built environments infused with advancement and innovation is key. Below is a figure showing the design features for a learning environment to be designed for liberated, open-minded, unconventional, and freethinking social culture. Constructivism Learning Approach, isiZulu Ethnic Oral Tradition Spaces, and isiZulu Ethnic Traditional Homestead Architecture are the social environment characteristics that will connect the youth to the built environment.
48
generation to generation ensuring continuity and the repetitive round shape habitual spaces sheltered by cone shape roof architecture show patterns that the people of the area relate to and have adopted as their culture.
Figure 3.4.2: The primitive traditional built environments of Kwa-Zulu Natal. (Source: Mhlaba, 2009; 51)
3.4.2.1 Social Organization of Space in IsiZulu ethnic tribe
The research study acknowledges that every person has an original identity tracing back to the origins of the people that lived before them. Hence the importance of identity in family is mostly emphasized between encounters amongst people of the isiZulu ethnic tribe, which is traced to homesteads. In isiZulu ethnic tribe the homesteads are called
‘emakhaya’, which means the original home or area which the family originated from. This gives people a mapping of where they come and is usually a conversation starter amongst people of the isiZulu ethnic tribe because they always want to know where a person’s family lineage originates from before engaging further in conversation or socializing with one another.
Therefore, since the isiZulu ethnic tribe associate’s identity to the place of family origin, it is appropriate to reference the homesteads through architecture. The typography of the homesteads is generally gently sloped and steeply sloped with some flat areas; thus, buildings are mostly situated on the flat areas of the landscapes. Other buildings are situated on the slopes and thus require earthworks to create platforms for buildings. Thick shrubs and grasslands also characterize the area. The typography of Umlazi reflects the same characteristics which mean when in Umlazi, the homesteads are reminiscent.
Therefore, the homestead architecture is an appropriate reference to the proposed public learning infrastructure because the research study proposes a learning environment that connects to the isiZulu ethnic tribe tradition instead
49
of learning environments from Western culture that are characterized by classrooms. It does away with the walls and learning within an enclosure and opens the environment to learning. This brings the atmosphere of learning as if it were in the homesteads, to Umlazi.
Planning of functional spaces is concerning tradition and social organization of space as shown in figure 3.4.2.1 below. The buildings in the homesteads have a layout of significance to tradition. The transition into the homestead is through ‘isango’ which means a gate, it is the point of entry into the homestead. (Mhlaba, 2009:55) From here, there is an open space called ‘igceke’ which is the welcoming outdoor space where people transition into the building.
Members of the family have their huts which can be regarded as rooms, however, because it is homestead architecture, these are separate buildings for each family member that are clustered together and entered from the welcoming outdoor space. properly positioned to allow for radial expansion. (Mhlaba, 2009:55)
Figure 3.4.2.1: The planning of functional spaces is concerning the tradition of Kwa-Zulu Natal. (Source: Mhlaba, 2009; 51)
3.4.2.2 IsiZulu ethnic tribe traditional architectural expressions
IsiZulu ethnic tribe traditional settlements South of Kwa-Zulu Natal in an area called Embo are referenced in the study to demonstrate the relationship between culture and tradition and how tradition can influence architectural expressions to reflect culture.
Architectural expressions that reflect traditions are:
• Each cluster has a dedicated outdoor space, and each outdoor space of each cluster forms part of a bigger shared outdoor space
• The family clusters radially expand from the original cluster that remains the main central communal building for the homestead, also used as the main hut. It was dedicated and kept as a sacred place where ancestral rituals are performed.
• The homestead sits on a wide, open, gently sloping site.
50
• The homestead layout is organic.
The IsiZulu ethnic tribe traditional settlements are an architectural expression of family structure hierarchy through family clusters which encourages a culture of interdependent individuality of household members and territorial zoning of spaces for certain activities. The architectural expression of the traditional settlements of the isiZulu ethnic tribe will be referenced in the proposed building because the youth of Umlazi identify with the isiZulu ethnic tribe as their ancestral lineage. This is pertinent to attract youth and have the youth relate to the built environment towards encouraging a culture of learning.