AFRICAN HUT CONSTRUCTION (2)

Photos and captions by John A. Harris

Breaking ground | Preparing materials | Walls begin | Walls built | Roofing begins | Roof takes shape | Towards completion

Rope with which to bind the structure together and make it firm and stable is made from the bark of a certain type of local tree. Other fibers are used to make rope for other purpose, but for house building tree bark remains suitable.

To make the rope pliable, flexible and easy to use, the strips of bark are first soaked in water. The resulting ropes are used to tie horizontal beams to the uprights as well as hold the rafters together. The bark rope is knotted securely while it is wet. As it dries, the bark contracts and so pulls the entire structure tightly together.

This close-up shows the vertical poles more clearly. The bark is left in place to keep the wood protected from insects and moisture.