M.Phil.

in Conservation of the Built Environment

APG5078Z – Research Methodologies

Convenor – Dr. Naomi Roux

Student – Giuseppe G.U. Soffietti – SFFGIU001

RESEARCH PROPOSAL ASSIGNMENT

TROPICAL COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE

AND THE VERANDA HOUSE

Global Typologies and Evolution

What were the influences, be they political, socio-economic, climatic, or

other, that shaped the evolution of the Veranda House in KwaZulu-Natal?
 TROPICAL COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE AND THE VERANDA HOUSE
Global Typologies and Evolution

Introduction
During the course of my professional life, I have always found of interest the evolution of
architectural typologies, be they an expression of cultural stylistics and building
technologies or, perhaps more relevant to this study, the adaptation of lifestyles to varied,
changing, and evolving socio-economic realities.

I believe it to be fundamental to our profession to be knowledgeable of the origins of the

forms, shapes, and materials and most importantly the reasons why these became of use.
This needs to form part of our basic understanding of what Architecture is. The
understanding of the “why” of the past will help inform our decision of the “why” of the
future.

My aim is to try and understand the evolution of a built form that “marks the transition in
Natal from Dutch to the English colonial tradition” (Kearney, 1973) and trace its evolution
to present time. A purely South African vernacular language, typical of Natal, that may
have evolved globally due to of the nature of British Colonialism.
This particular “style” died off at the turn of the century, with very few examples being
bult after the 1920’s.
However, we are seeing the “rebirth” of the veranda, where Developers make the
inclusion of verandas in future projects obligatory, understanding its uses both
aesthetically as well as functionally. We are seeing the veranda becoming, again, part of
the KZN vernacular language, although perhaps more for the more upper economic strata.

The Question is:” What were the influences, be they political, socio-economic, climatic, or
other, that shaped the evolution of the Veranda House in KwaZulu-Natal?”
I am quite certain that this Question will develop and refine as the research takes shape
and as I understand the intricacies of the subject more intimately.
Having said this, I also feel it will be necessary to have tight control on the exact scope of
the subject at hand. Although I will attempt to include global examples of British Colonial
Arcjitetural typologies with particular reference to verandas, this will be limited to a few
examples and used purely as a means of contextual comparison.

Literature overview and Resources

There is a definite gap in the current literature when it comes to the evolution of the
veranda house as a South African vernacular typology. The buildings themselves are well
documented. We see the work done by Kearney 1 and Lewcock2, as well as Dr. Jacobs3
collection of veranda house drawings.
The “style” itself is well documented, but the sociological analysis of its provenance has
not been looked at as yet.

1 (Kearney, 1973)
2 (Lewcock, 1963)
3 (Jacobs, 2019)

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My bibliography will need to be “built up” as the research progresses. However, some
seminal work here listed will inform the beginning of my research.

Secondary Resources
Prof. Brian Kearney (Kearney, 1973) is by far the most knowledgeable in this matter, and
his book “Architecture in Natal 1824 – 1893” will provide the backbone of my research.
I will need to research the planning and character of Natal towns, the professional status
of architects, surveyors, and engineers, and how the veranda became “thing of beauty”
from being a purely utilitarian space.

In “Traders, Trekkers and Colonists in Natal and Zululand from Earliest Times to 1910: A
New History”, Ballard (Ballard, 1989) outlines the early relationships between the Dutch
and British immigrants from an economic/trading point of view rather than an
architectural one.

“White Man’s Africa” (Bigelow, 1900) portraits an interesting point of view, describing the
early and unexpected relationships between colonists and natives.

“The Shaping of South African Society – 1652-1840” (Elphick, 1989) outlines he first 200
years of South Africa’s race relations. Cultural segregation of the first European colonists –
the Dutch, and how from the beginning of the nineteenth century, the new empire-
builders, the British, reinforced the racial order.

“From Barrack compounds to the single-family house: planning worker housing in colonial
Natal and Northern Rhodesia” (Home, 2010). An interesting article on the development of
worker housing in the colonial landscape and its influence in shaping cultural and urban
space. These were (are) all strategies used for the control of labour in colonial societies.
The use of special advisers regarding sanitation, engineering and architecture steered the
evolution of the built form towards typologies more controllable by the State
(dormitories) as opposed to single-family homes.
At the same time, the single residence’s requirements of expansion and adaptation,
married to economic limitations, led to the introduction of “cheap spaces” with future
potential.

“The Colony of Natal – an Official Illustrated Handbook and Railway Guide” (Ingram,
1895).
“Official Handbooks” were the best way to provide controlled information to the
colonists. These are useful guides for the research and analysis of the trends of time
concerning new technologies.

“Colonial Natal,1838 to 1880: The Making of a South African Settlement System (Vol I &
III)”. (Kruger, 1994).
The study of colonial settlement policy is one way for human geographers to understand
how people shape the places they inhabit. The major concern of this study was to
determine the impact of Dutch-Afrikaner, Native, and British cultures on the Natal colonial
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Global Typologies and Evolution

settlement system between 1838 and 1879. A prolonged era (1844-1879) of British
settlement policy was preceded by a brief period of Dutch-Afrikaner hegemony (1838-
1843).

“Early nineteenth century architecture in South Africa; a study of the interaction of two
cultures, 1795-1837” (Lewcock, 1963). I will need to visit the Built Environment Library as
this book is available on for on-site consultation. The study of the interaction between the
Dutch and British cultures seen through an architectural lens forms one of the main
questions of my research.

“The Physical Geography and Climate of the Colony of Natal” (Mann, 1866). An
understanding of the climatic conditions that led to the evolution of the veranda spaces.

“A West Indian Origin for the Verandah House” (Radford, 1987). In this article, Prof.
Radford argues the global importance of the veranda house as an expression of vernacular
architecture.

“The pioneer Natal settler's house” (Radford, 1998). An article on the early history of the
Natal house forms. It focuses on the period between 1850 and 1880, the first thirty years
after the beginning of large-scale white immigration. Again, the emphasis is on the
“typical” rather than on the unique.

The above are but a few, initial secondary sources that will further inform my research.
Further relevant readings will be discovered, the difficulty always being online accessibility
to books and articles.

Primary Resources
As Primary resources I will depend mainly on the Killie Campbell Africana Collections at
the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

I will want to interview Dr. Michele Jacobs who has recently written an interesting article
“The gabled veranda house: the everyday dwelling of colonial Durban” (Jacobs, 2019).
My understanding is that so far, she has limited her research and publications to the
history of architectural analysis only, and not necessarily the evolution of the particulars
of the veranda typology from a socio-economic aspect.

As stated by Prof D. Radford (Radford, 1998), “…knowledge of the 19th century Natal
house…still lacks the definitive, comprehensive study which I believe is its due”. I cannot
presume to even attempt to complete such study. However, I do aim at outlining the main
fields of research that will help guide more in-depth studies.

As an Architect, the subject of the built form has, by definition, been my single most
relevant field of interest. But the “built form” as such is composed of man elements, be
these archetypal, typological, or purely of technological relevance.
Furthermore, the ascendance of a certain vernacular presence (perhaps a better word to
describe “style”) needs to be examined in its context in order to understand its evolution.
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Global Typologies and Evolution

This is the purpose of my research, to find the correct context for the evolution of the
veranda within the vernacular language of the Natal homesteads.
The contextualization of the particular typology will need to find its roots in the evolution
of society and its socio-economic relevance.

There will need to be some logical sequence in my research, initially from a purely
historical perspective and thereafter from a developmental point of view, the difference
being that historical sequencing is linear whilst developmental sequencing does not
necessarily follow a logical path.

My research paradigm will most properly need to adapt as the findings become more
obvious and relevant, and it will be of primary importance to ensure to retain flexibility of
thought.

Theoretical Framework
The initial assumption is that the evolution of the Veranda House is not only caused
merely by the adaptation of white British immigrants to climatic conditions different to
their home country, but rather by the socio-economic diversification of different parts of
the population and the making of another status symbol used to enforce one’s place in
society. In other words, the evolution of a new vernacular.

In order to prove this assumption, I will need to show how these “added rooms” evolved
from the pioneer Natal Settler’s house (Radford, 1998) to more refined and developed
examples as documented by Michele Jacobs (Jacobs, 2019) and Jaqueline Kalley (Kalley,
2020).

I believe that, initially, my research will need to follow a Positivist paradigm, describing
and understanding at first what the historical timeline is, starting from the beginning of
the Groot Trek northwards, the first arrival of the Dutch in Natal, and subsequently the
immigration of British settlers, bringing with them yes different technologies and
architecture, but the inherent differentiation of cultural status.

At this stage, my research paradigm will need to shift to a more interpretative one, based
on meaning-oriented methodologies where I will need to correlate the evolution of built
form with the change in socio-economic realities.

My research will need to start from a general understanding of the migratory dynamics,
the “how’s” and “why’s” of the Groot Trek and the immigration of British colonists, the
construction of ports, railway lines, the arrival and establishment of different social classes
and the strong bond to the Home Country and its Colonial traditions.

In the final analysis, the Veranda is but one example of how status is expressed through
built form. But this is my initial assumption, it will need to be proven.
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An interpretative methodology will also be required to find the commonalities in other

evolutionary methods and systems, if any. Have documented typologies (not only the
veranda) evolved in the same way throughout the world? This may prove too large a field
of research, but I think that other examples should be mentioned, i.e., roofing methods,
use of materials, building components.
(Climate is taken out of the equation as it is a common factor to all regions researched)

Physical Factors
Various factors have impact on the evolution of architectural styles and typologies. These
may be the following:
 Change of building materials availability.
 Expansion of Roads/Railways – ease of access and transport
 Consolidation of cities – Centralization
 Larger families? Servants?
 Symbolism of the veranda – extending the “household footprint” or purely climatic
control?
 Change in relationship between the living space and the wilderness?
 Evolution of the Afrikaner “Stoep” to the British “Veranda” or viceversa.

In his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Darrel Kruger (Kruger, 1994) extensively outlines the
formation of settlements, first by the Boers and eventually by the English settlers, and
with that the change in living standards, the evolution from outspanned wagons to
settlers’ huts to the additional spaces eventually the introduction of external covered
spaces leading to the veranda house as we know it.

At the same time, I will need to understand the underlying factors that influenced these
changes, as follows:

Socio-Economic Factors
Other than purely socio-economic factors, the evolution of society often depends on
many points of view such as:
 Political evolution
 Economic evolution
 Change of the social status.
 Change of workforce.
 Differences between Dutch and English Settlement systems.
 The British Settlement system
 Interaction between Native, Dutch-Afrikaner and British colonial settlers.
 Determination of sociogeographic regions.
 Blending of ideas and institutions.
 Cultural persistence – adaptation – cultural change.

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There are quite a few studies that have already been undertaken for each of the above
“sub-sections”, Dr. Kruger’s doctoral dissertation being the foremost piece of analysis
undertaken on Natal’s Settlement systems specifically.
Also, veranda house typologies and examples are well documented, and primary
resources will be used in the documentation of these.

However, there seems to be a gap in studies that correlate the change in living standards
(evolution of the veranda house) to the changes in settlement systems and the
functioning of the Natal colony.
For example, “the constant flow of communication between metropole and colony, and
the implantation of British institutions” (Kruger, 1994) changed the way in which the
residential model was envisaged.

I will also attempt to draw a parallel between the South African/Natal evolutionary model
and other examples where the built typology relates directly to socio-economic evolution,
ranging from the Great Houses of Barbados to Plantation homes of the West Indies.

Finally, I will look at the express lack of typological evolution in “affordable housing” in the
same context, i.e., why hasn’t the architecture of low-cost housing units evolved in the
same manner? Is the veranda really a reflection of typological snobbism or just a much-
loved vernacular expression of form?
Is this purely due to diverse economic factors or is this a reflection of what different socio-
economic components of our society perceive as “necessary spaces”?
The beginnings of the Veranda House are found in the simplest evolutionary terms, the
lengthening of roof eaves to keep the sun and rain away, to the deepening of such spaces
until they were relatively simple to enclose.
However, this seems simplistic, and the simple evolution of spaces cannot be attributed
solely to technological interventions, but rather the coming together of varied influences;
some definitely of a technological nature, but also by the human desire of bettering one’s
station.

Proposed Chapters

I would like to outline the research with the following Chapters:

1. Introduction.
a. Outlining the research Question
b. Explaning the Aim of my Research
2. The arrival of the Afrikaner in Natal
a. Timeline -1836 to…
b. The Natalia Republic – 1839 to 1842
c. Broad outline of the Groot Trek
d. The Zulu Wars
e. Agriculture-based economy – trading

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3. The first British immigrants

a. Timeline
b. Origins
c. Annexation of Port Natal (Durban) to the British Colony – 1843
d. Became part of the Cape Colony in 1844 until 1856
e. The Sugar Cane industry and Indian endentured slaves

4. From the tent to the Pioneer House – Building technologies.

a. Tents and huts
b. Wattle and daube
c. More permanent materials…
d. Labourer’s Shared accomodation vs Single Family dwellings
e. Additions…

5. The estabilishment of socio-economic classes

a. Labourers, farmers, administrators

6. Architecture vs Vernacular.
a. Building technologies
b. Materials
c. Space requirements

7. Examples of typical Veranda Houses

a. Definition of the Veranda
b. Plantation homes
c. Veranda houses in the city.
d. The Veranda House and the Middle Class
e. Victorian influence.
f. Veranda Houses in the British Colonial context.
i. The West Indies
ii. East Africa
iii. Natal
iv. The Sugarcane Economy.

Final Dissertation Document – Proposed Timeline

1. RESEARCH
a. The research part of this project will be conducted need to be completed
by no later than the end of August, as follows:
i. Primary Sources research and interview(s) completed by end of May

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ii. Revision of Bibliography

iii. Secondary Sources & readings completed by the end of August.

2. WRITING
a. Writing will be structured in the following ways:
i. Collation of reading material
ii. Collation of illustrations, drawings and images.
iii. Categorization, per chapter, of each subject matter.
iv. First draft completed by end of November 2021
v. Final draft completed by end of December 2021
vi. Final submission

3. SUBMISSION
a. I expect final submission by the last week of January 2022.

from “Farmhouses of Old Natal – Jaqueline Kalley)

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Bibliography
Ballard, C., 1989. Traders, Trekkers and Colonists in Natal and Zululand from Earliest Times to
1910: A New History. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter.

Bigelow, P., 1900. White Man's Africa. New York: Harper & Brothers.

Elphick, R. a. G. H., 1989. The Shaping of South African Society - 1652-1840. Middletown,
Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press.

Etherington, N., 1985. African Economic Experiments in Colonial Natal 1845-1880 In Enterprise and
Exploitation in a Victorian Colony: Aspects of the Economic and Social History of Colonial Natal.
Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press..

Etherington, N., 1989. The "Shepstone System" in the Colony of Natal and Beyond the Borders in
Ncual and Zululand from Earliest times to 1910. Pietermartizburg: Shuter and Shooter.

Home, R. H., 2010. From barrack compounds to the single-family house: planning worker housing
in colonial Natal and Northern Rhodesia. Published online, pp. 327-347.

Ingram, J. F., 1895. The Colony of Natal - An Official Illustrated Handbook and Railway Guide.
London: Sir Joseph Causton & Sons.

Jacobs, M., 2019. The gabled veranda house: the everyday dwelling of colonial Durban. Natalia 49.

Kearney, P. B., 1973. Architecture in Natal from 1824 to 1893. Cape Town: Balkema.

Kearney, P. B., 1976. Picturesque Architecture in Southern Africa. Cape Town: Lantern.

Kearney, P. B., 1989. Verandas. Building, pp. 1-10.

Kruger, D. P., 1994. Colonial Natal,1838 to 1880: The Making of a South African Settlement System
(Vol I & III). Ann Arbour MI: LSU Historical Dissertations & Thesis 5809.

Lewcock, D. R., 1963. Early nineteenth century architecture in South Africa; a study of the
interaction of two cultures, 1795-1837. Cape Town: Balkema.

Mann, R., 1868. An Emigrant's Guide to the Colony of Natal. London: Virtue & Co..

Mann, R. J., 1866. The Physical Geography and Climate of the Colony of Natal. Durban: The
Campbell Collections: Pamphlet Collection.

Radford, P. D., 1987. A West Indian Origin for the Verandah House. The South African Journal of
Cultural and Art History, p. Vol.1 no. 2.

Radford, P. D., 1998. The pioneer Natal settler's house. Natalia 28, pp. 34-44.

Spencer, S. O., 1981. British Settlers in Natal, 1824-1857. ed. (): University of Natal Press.

Tatlow, A., 1911. Natal Province: descriptive guide and official handbook. Toronto: South African
Railways Printing Works.

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Primary Resources
List of works by R.S. Upton – Natal Mercury 1865 – 1883
Killie Campbell Africana Collections – UKZN
Interview with Dr. Michele Jacobs – University of KwaZulu-Natal.

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Student – Giuseppe G.U. Soffietti – SFFGIU001