The History of Rwandan Architecture 2
African architecture is rooted in and informed by African cultures and traditions. And then ultimately, it serves specifically African communities because architecture is not universal. It’s not a copycat solution. It’s not a shoe that fits all. It needs to be customized for the people first.
The unique thing about African design is not that it was created in Africa or by African people; it’s the skills, craft, knowledge, and culture that we can use as the source to create the architecture. Architecture as a skill is internationally practiced. You don’t have to be an African architect to produce African architecture. You also don't have to make something entirely out of grass to claim to have created African architecture.
Stages of architecture development
1- Early Architecture
Homes weren't clustered into small villages; instead, they were dispersed across the hills and inhabited by family members. Each home was surrounded by fields that were primarily used for growing bananas, sorghum, beans, and sweet potatoes. There were several huts among the wealthy: a chief's hut, usually the woman's hut; a second hut for cooking; a third hut for teenage girls; and a fourth hut for guests. Both the house's and the enclosure's entrances were on the same axis. Within the enclosure, smaller buildings like granaries and/or henhouses were housed.
2- Medieval Architecture
Nyanza was the royal capital of Rwanda. The king's residence, the Ibwami, was built on a hill. The surrounding hills were occupied by permanent or temporary dwellings. These dwellings were round huts surrounded by big yards and high hedges to separate compounds. The Rugo, the royal compound, was made of circular reed fences around thatched houses. The houses were carpeted with mats and had a clay hearth in the center for the king, his wife, and his entourage. The royal residence was only 200–100 yards away. It looked like a huge maze of connected huts and granaries. It had one entrance that led to a large public square called the karubanda.
Later, the colonization would export the first European architecture. So after the arrival of the first Germans in Rwanda, Mr. Oscar Bomman in 1892, and the second, Mr. Von Gortzen, in 1894, Germany decided to put Rwanda under its protection, and later, in 1897–1903, the first European building became the residential house of Germany's representative, Richard Kanth.
It is a simple house, with brick walls and a cross-hipped roof covered by aluminium sheets.
This house has seen some renovation work but never had its structural system changed. After the Second World War, Germany was replaced by Belgium; this period was characterized by the construction of different Catholic churches and the building of the King's palace at Nyanza.
Rwandese continued the vernacular architecture characterized by the use of wood, mud, mudbrick, stone, and glass as the roof covering materials.
3- Modern Architecture
This stage may be considered in Rwanda as the continuation of the medieval period. There is now the use of mud bricks, heated bricks, tiles, aluminium sheets, etc. In general, the structural concepts did not change. Also, the shapes of the roofs remained unchanged; only the materials and sizes could change.
