Architect and lecturer, Mthembeni Mkhize, has been researching methods to improve on the traditional Nguni housing structure for the past few decades.
Mkhize also found time to write research documents during this time including ‘Pre-Colonial Nguni Settlement’ which looks at the movement of people to high concentration areas such as the cities.
“What I want to do is create a design that attracts people to where they are living.”
This prompted the development of Mkhize’s latest project, The Meseni Zulu Homestead Laboratory Lessons for Cities, which seeks to improve the longevity of the mud rondavel by adding a brick “jacket” to the outer side.
The project involved the construction of seven “show” rondavels in the mountain area of Maphumulo, with the outer brick layer of 2 000 of Corobrik’s clay face bricks added to each rondavel of the homestead.
Corobrik contributed even more by providing training in basic bricklaying for 12 candidates selected by the local community, providing them with an important skill which will allow them to build in the area they reside.
The weeklong course, which was headed by Corobrik Building Training Co-ordinator, Derek Dimba, was done on site, with each trainee being educated in basic bricklaying and then moving on to build a complete rondavel. Every trainee also received a certificate and complimentary set of bricklaying tools consisting of a trowel, spirit level, builder’s line and tape measure.
