Prof offers lecture series on traditional architecture

THE Domestic Architecture of Rural Southern Africa lecture series at the Phansi Musuem is set to kick off this Thursday evening by Professor Franco Frescura. The series will consist of six hour-long lectures given once a week from 25 October to 29 November at 5.30pm.

Frescura said the lecture series was prompted by his academic life spent documenting the architecture and decorations of indigenous people. “I believe that the key to all architecture lies in the use of space and the use of building forms,” he said.

“The key to understanding the greater cosmology is through our built environments, our rural architecture and sites, specifically within a Southern African paradigm.There is this modernist ideal that aesthetics is the key to architecture, my work not only rejects it, but proves conclusively that it is not, that it is the use of space which is a reflection of a peoples culture,” he said.

With a six-lecture series lined up to take place every Thursday at 5:30pm, Frescura will touch on a number of topics related to the main theme of Domestic Architecture in Rural Southern Africa. Each topic is layered and Frescura hopes to share knowledge and engage with attendees in an intimate setting such as The Phansi Museum. In true Frescura style there will be a mix of academic insight as well as anecdotal stories shared.

ALSO READ: Collaboration produces first-of-its-kind indigenous architectural glossary

“I encourage all who are interested in learning more about the socio-political layers to the function and form of rural architectural designs, to attend these lectures. At the end of the series I will be touching on gender roles in architecture and discuss the cycles of life and lineage left on traditionally decorated homes,” he said.

The Professor, who is currently exhibiting political graphics at the Phansi Museum, began to document the self-built architecture of indigenous communities living in rural South Africa in 1975. His first book, Rural Shelter, was published in 1981. Since 1978 he has published 16 books and over 393 articles and conference papers, 46 of which have appeared in peer-reviewed publications. A book illustrating Franco’s work is currently on sale at The Phansi Museum.

The total fee for the course for adults is R360 for six lectures, or R80 per individual lecture. This shall be non-refundable in the case of non-attendance. A set of lecture notes will be made available gratis to persons attending this course. Pensioners, learners and university students pay R240 for six lectures, or R50 per individual lecture. This shall be non-refundable in the case of non-attendance.

A set of lecture notes will be made available gratis to persons attending this course. A Certificate of Attendance will be issued upon request to those who complete this course. The Management of the Phansi Museum reserves the right to allocate a number of bursaries to cover lecturing fees to any meritorious student wishing to attend this course.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts