A GLOSSARY OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL TERMS
AN ILLUSTRATED SURVEY OF HISTORICAL TERMS
APPERTAINING TO THE INDIGENOUS, FOLK AND COLONIAL ARCHITECTURES
OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
"I am too rude, clearly to define, Or to describe this work in every part, For lack of terms belonging to that art." LYDGATE, John. The Troy-Book. c1412-1420.
"Dictionaries are like watches; the worst is better than none, and the best cannot be expected to go quite true." Dr Samuel Johnson.
INTRODUCTION
This manuscript is the revised draft of a book I originally published in 1987. At that stage its primary intention was to facilitate the teaching of Design and History of Architecture for students who did not use English as a home language. Since then I have extended its scope by including indigenous and Indian Hindu terminology, as well as some urban slang. In due course I am planning to republish this text, probably as an appendix to a broader Guide to Southern African Architecture, but as this is still some way in the offing, I am making it available to students and colleagues. In doing so I hope that they will be able to identify any errors, gaps and silences which may have inadvertently crept in.
FRESCURA, Franco. 1989. A Glossary of Southern African Architectural Terms. Port Elizabeth: The Archetype Press.
A
ACHTERHUIS. (Dutch). Meaning "house to the rear". See under ACHTERKAMER.
ACHTERKAMER. (Dutch). Meaning "a back room". Term used in Cape Dutch architecture to denote an inner or rear hall located immediately behind the voorkamer or entrance hall. Was usually functional as a dining area.
ADHISTHANA. (Indian). The base of a Hindu temple.
ADOBE. (Spanish). Earth used for making unburned, sun-baked bricks or blocks containing chopped straw as reinforcement. This technology is popular in central America, southwest USA, Australia and other semi-arid regions. Also see under COB WALL. ((Afrikaans: rousteenklei).
AFDAK. (Afrikaans). Local name for a lean-to or cat-slide roof attached to a main structure. The name originates from the Dutch and literally means an “off-roof”. See under also CAT-SLIDE and LEAN-TO ROOF.
AFDAKKAMER. (Afrikaans). See under OUTSHUT.
AGKANTTORINGSPITS. (Afrikaans). See under BROACH SPIRE.
AMAKAPA. (siNdebele). Roof.
AMAKAPA IBALELO. (siNdebele). Timber roof rafter.
AMALAKA. (Indian). Meaning a fruit; a flattened, fluted round form used as a crowning member of the superstructure of northern-style Hindu temples, as a repeating decorative motif on such superstructures, and as the form of a capital.
AMAOBA. (siNdebele). Enclosed storage or children’s sleeping room located in the verandah.
AMATHURI. (siNdebele). Verandah.
AMERIKAANSE LAT. (Afrikaans). See under STICK STYLE.
ANANTA. (Indian). Meaning "the serpent upon which Visnu reclines or sits”. Also called Sesa, or “endless”.
ANDA. (Indian). Meaning an egg. The approximately hemispherical dome of a stupa, especially an early Bhuddist stupa in India. It represents the sky enclosing the world mountain, as well as the fertile container, or egg, for the seed contained within it, usually represented by a relic.
ANNULET. From the Latin annulus, or a ring. A small flat fillet encircling a column, used either by itself or in connection with other mouldings.
ANTARALA. (Indian). An intermediate space in a temple; an antechamber or vestibule between the main shrine and the ardhamandapa.
ANTEPAGMENTA. (Latin). The dressing or architrave of a doorway. This term does not include the wooden door but only the stone or stucco decorations when these materials are used.
APEX. The tip, top, peak or apex of a triangle or cone. (Afrikaans: toppunt).
APOKORWANA. (siNdebele). Eaves overhang.
ARABESK. (Afrikaans). See under ARABESQUE.
ARABESQUE. Species of flowing ornament of Islamic origin used for enriching flat surfaces. (Afrikaans: arabesk).
ARCADE. A series of arches, either open, or closed with masonry, supported by columns or piers.
ARCH. From the Latin arcus, an arch or a curve. Normally defined as a structure of wedge-shaped blocks over an opening which support one another by mutual pressure. An arch, which may also be created by bending two saplings and bringing them together at their apex. (Afrikaans: boog).
ARCHITRAVE. Also referred to as an architrave surround. A moulding about the face of a door or window opening. (Afrikaans: argitraaf or kosynlys).
ARDHAMANDAPA. (Indian). A closed hall or mandapa, which may be joined to the main shrine of a temple by an antarala, or may abut it directly.
ARGITRAAF. (Afrikaans). Also referred to as a kosynlys. See under ARCHITRAVE.
ASANA. (Indian). Seat or throne; the leg positions or sitting postures assumed by deities and religious practitioners.
ASHLAR. Masonry of hewn or squared stones laid in regular courses, in contradistinction to rubble or unhewn work. (Afrikaans: vormklip).
ASTADIKPALAS. (Indian). The eight protective, directional deities; the regents of the regions of the sky.
ASTAPARIVARADEVATA. (Indian). The eight parivara, or "retinue," deities attending the main god of a shrine. Usually placed in surrounding circuits, corridors, or shrines of a temple. The number varies according to some systems.
ASTRAGAAL. (Afrikaans). See under ASTRAGAL.
ASTRAGAL. See under GLAZING BAR. (Afrikaans: astragaal).
ATTIC. More commonly used to describe the space within the sloping roof of a house. See also ZOLDER. (Afrikaans: solderkamer).
AUGER. A drilling tool shaped like a corkscrew and used for boring holes in wood. (Afrikaans: awegaar).
AWEGAAR. (Afrikaans). See under AUGER.
AZULEJOS. (Muslim). Brilliantly coloured glazed tiles used in Muslim architecture.