What would a South African summer be without a braai at the pool, in the shade of a lapa? These timber-and-thatch constructions are a fundamental feature of the South African landscape and so, we take a look at what it takes to make them.
FEATURES- DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
Lapas are a fixture of the South African landscape. Image: Pixabay
The art of lapas
What would a South African summer be without a braai at the pool, in the shade of a lapa? These timber-and-thatch constructions are a fundamental feature of the South African landscape and so, we take a look at what it takes to make them.
By Kelly-Ann Prinsloo
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge, rushes, heather, or palm fronds, layering the vegetation to shed water away from the inner roof. Since the bulk of the vegetation stays dry, and is densely packed – trapping air – thatching also functions as a quite significant insulation material. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates.
Thatch is still employed by builders in developing countries, usually with low-cost, local vegetation. By contrast in some developed countries it is now the choice of some affluent people who desire a rustic look for their home, would like a more ecologically friendly roof or who have purchased an originally thatched abode.
Thatching methods have traditionally been passed down from generation to generation, and numerous descriptions of the materials and methods used in Europe over the past three centuries survive in archives and early publications. In some equatorial countries, thatch is the prevalent local material for roofs, and often walls. There are diverse building techniques from the ancient Hawaiian hale shelter made from the local ti leaves, lauhala or pili grass.
Palm leaves are also often used. For example, in Na Bure, Fiji, thatchers combine fan palm leave roofs with layered reed walls. Feathered palm leaf roofs are used in Dominica. Alang-alang thatched roofs are used in Hawaii and Bali. Sugar cane leaf roofs are used in Kikuyu tribal homes in Kenya.
38 APRIL / MAY 2017 //