ARCHITECTURE
Form, a function of the how?
John Carter J Carter
Why do we find domed homes in KwaZulu-Natal, and stone-walled homes with conical roofs in Lesotho and the Free State? Why choose heavier steel profiles in rural Zambia rather than lightweight, long-span structures? Why specify a steeper-pitched IBR roof when long-span concealed-fix profiles are available? Just how does locality shape design beyond climate?
The answer is more complex than any single consideration, but locality certainly shapes the design decisions made by designers, builders, contractors, architects, and engineers. When we speak of locality, the first thought is usually how a building responds to the climate of a site. Far less often do we consider how we build – or the logistics – as a design driver in its own right.
Architects often debate what exactly constitutes critical regionalism, and there is no single, clear definition of the term. The discussion often centres on building style and specific architectural features. These elements may result from culture, climate, social norms, or even spiritual beliefs, but the primary factor is often simply a result of the means available to construct shelter or create space.
Consider the two leading examples again: the dome, historically constructed from branches covered with clay or animal skins, and the stone structure roofed with grass. Why were these methods used? The answer lies not only in social, cultural, agricultural, and domestic influences, but also in the methods, materials, and resources, as well as the topography and even the altitude at which these homesteads were built.
As an adventurer who frequently travels through remote environments, I have long been fascinated by the resourcefulness involved building at altitude and often find myself wondering how a particular structure was built. The“ how” is frequently the determining factor in solving the design problem of creating space and shelter, whether for living or working.
Running at altitudes over 2 500m in the remote Witteberg Mountains, one comes across homes and settlements built in hostile environments using materials available on site and in the surrounding area. There are no stores, and the only means of delivery is often the back of a mountain pony. Yet these structures are built to withstand the relentless conditions in which they stand.
One could argue that there are far better solutions to building shelter in these environments, but the“ how” is certainly the determining factor behind these structures. As an architect, I believe we should learn from these practices in our search for more sustainable design approaches. Sustainability is determined not only by material and energy use, but also by the energy required to deliver and implement a project.
As architects and designers working in remote places with limited access to resources, we often find ourselves resolving not only the design and spatial requirements, but also the construction systems and methodologies needed to build in these environments. Basic problems – an odd-sized bolt or a nut positioned so that it needs a specific spanner – become major challenges when the nearest hardware store is 1 000km away and a tool or replacement part cannot simply be fetched.
When a building must be fabricated off-site in South Africa, but erected more than 4 000km away, across multiple borders and along poor roads – or no roads at all – every single decision the architect or designer makes carries an additional set of criteria.
26 spring 2026 | www. tobuild. co. za