Earth-based construction Architecture of Madagascar

town gates in highlands traditionally protected stone disks (vavahady) , shaded fig trees.

in central highlands, power struggles between merina , vazimba principalities , later amongst merina principalities on centuries inspired development of fortified town in imerina, central region of highlands of madagascar. first of these, ancient imerina capital of alasora, fortified 16th-century king andriamanelo, surrounded town thick cob walls (tamboho, made mud , dry rice stalks gathered nearby paddies) , deep trenches (hadivory) protect dwellings inside. entryway through town wall protected enormous stone disk (vavahady) – 5 feet in diameter or more – shaded fig trees (aviavy) symbolic of royalty. town gate opened laboriously rolling vavahady away entryway each morning , place again in evening, task required team of men accomplish it. fortified town model adopted throughout imerina , represented @ historic village of ambohimanga.

foreign influences

brick house arches , dormers inspired queen s palace in antananarivo

protestant missionary james cameron of london missionary society believed have been first in madagascar demonstrate how local cob building material used create sun-dried bricks in 1826. in 1831, jean laborde introduced brick roof tiles began replacing rice stalk thatch in antananarivo , surrounding areas, , disseminated technique of using kiln bake bricks.

foreigners responsible several architectural innovations blended traditions of highlands architecture european sensibilities. in 1819, louis gros designed tranovola radama in rova complex, introducing wraparound veranda supported exterior columns. jean laborde designed queen s palace in rova (built 1839–1841) using same model on grander scale enlarging building , adding third-story veranda. new wooden buildings constructed gros , laborde transformed tandrotrano of traditional aristocratic merina homes decoratively carved post affixed @ each end of gable peak.

local innovations

typical brick houses columns , west-facing veranda, near antananarivo

in 1867, restrictions relaxed on aristocracy s use of stone , brick building materials, before restrictions on construction abolished in 1869 queen ranavalona ii, had commissioned jean laborde in 1860 encase exterior of wooden palace @ rova in stone. building took final form in 1872 after james cameron added stone towers each corner of palace. queen converted christianity in 1869 , same year london missionary society commissioned james cameron construct private home missionaries. drew inspiration work of gros , laborde develop multi-story wooden house veranda , columns. model exploded in popularity throughout antananarivo , surrounding areas architectural style aristocracy, had point continued inhabit simple homes similar wooden palace of andrianampoinimerina @ ambohimanga. these newly favored brick houses featured shortened tandrotrano , elaborately carved verandas. these homes can naturally range in color deep red white depending on characteristics of earth used in construction.

trano gasy: in rural areas, simplified brick houses retain 2 stories may lose veranda , obscure supporting columns

over time, , particularly colonization of madagascar french, these earthen houses (known trano gasy – malagasy house ) underwent constant evolution. simplest form of earthen house 1 or more stories tall, rectangular, , features thatched roof overhanging eaves direct rain away foundation , thereby prevent erosion. wealthier families replace thatch clay roofing tiles , construct veranda on west face of building supported 4 slender equidistant columns; design more effective @ protecting building s foundations eroding effects of rainfall. further expansion entails enclosure of western veranda in wood , construction of open veranda on eastern face of building, , forth, leading wrap-around verandas, connection of 2 separate buildings covered passage, incorporation of french wrought-iron grills or glass panels verandas, application of painted concrete on brick surface , other innovations. in suburban , rural zones, ground floor of trano gasy reserved pen livestock, while family inhabits upper floors. entrance typically faces west; kitchen south, while family sleeps in northern part of building. configuration consistent seen in traditional zafimaniry houses , reflects traditional cosmology.