architecture madagascar architecture madagascar unique africa bearing strong resemblance construction norms methods earliest inhabitants madagascar believed immigrated madagascar region borneo traditional houses follow rectangular round form feature sloped peaked roof supported central pillar differences predominant traditional construction materials serve basis diversity architecture locally available plant materials earliest materials remain common traditional communities zones central highlands humid coastal areas hybrid variations developed use sticks wood construction common island declined growing human population destroyed greater virgin slash burn agriculture cattle pasture communities central highland forests ethnic group preserved island original wooden architectural traditions craft added list wood scarce time wooden houses privilege noble class certain communities exemplified homes nobility 19th century kingdom madagascar use stone building material traditionally limited construction tombs significant feature cultural landscape madagascar prominent position occupied ancestors island produced distinct traditions tomb architecture southwest coast tombs stacked sacrificed carved tomb posts historically constructed small wooden house tomb symbolize status provide space house ancestors spirits traditional styles architecture madagascar impacted past years increasing influence european styles shift brick construction highlands began reign based models introduced missionaries contacts foreigners foreign influence expanded following collapse monarchy french colonization island modernization past decades increasingly led abandonment certain traditional norms related external orientation internal layout houses use certain customary building materials particularly highlands means foreign construction materials techniques imported concrete glass wrought iron features gained popularity traditional practices origins architecture madagascar unique africa bearing strong resemblance architecture southern borneo earliest inhabitants madagascar believed emigrated traditional construction borneo known south distinguished rectangular houses raised piles roof supported central pillar sloped beams cross form roof horns carved central highlands madagascar populated peoples bear strong cultural resemblance ancestors traditional wooden houses aristocracy feature central pillar supporting sloped roof decorated roof horns southeast madagascar actual horns traditionally peak madagascar houses rectangular roof central pillars widespread handful regions traditional homes built piles manner handed generation generation regardless feature suited local conditions certain symbolic elements common indonesian architecture central house pillar sacred madagascar alike places constructing new house pillar traditionally blood features building dimensions length size particularly height symbolically indicative status occupants importance purpose islands likewise madagascar borneo tradition partially ground tomb construction inhabitants islands practice carving decorative wooden posts called western madagascar dialect borneo plant based construction dwellings plant material common coastal regions commonly highlands types plants available given locality determine building material style construction vast majority homes plant material rectangular low story houses peaked roof built low architectural features nearly identical found parts indonesia materials construction include near rivers rushes southwest endemic fencing south wood south common highlands bamboo especially eastern rain forests highlands lake grasses prevalent west especially north northeast length eastern coast madagascar bordering indian_ocean architecture highly uniform nearly traditional homes region built low traveler palm floor walls commonly trunk plant typically pounding flat wide floors narrow strips walls strips vertically frame plant way place traveler palm north bamboo place long sheets woven create walls like pattern traditional homes chimney floor covered woven mat stones corner wood fires burnt cook food smoke ceiling interior walls time homes traditionally left open shut woven screen held closed leather today frequently hung fabric curtain variations basic template found coastal regions locally available material largest traditional coastal houses found southeast peoples homes reach long wide high coast homes smaller averaging long wide high wood based construction believed wood construction common parts madagascar disappeared especially true highlands recently wood building material reserved aristocratic class increasing rarity leaving lower classes construct locally available materials grasses sticks branches occasionally available creating sporadic villages wood typically proximity forest reserves wooden architectural tradition aristocracy died ethnic groups said continuing tradition wood architecture central highlands far south traditions described aristocratic tradition central highlands people southeastern region ethnic groups rendered wood valuable construction material traditional association royal class led king issue royal forbidding construction stone brick earth limits tradition houses nobles constructed wood peasants local plant materials tradition historically existed number ethnic groups madagascar particularly eastern coast preservation continues facilitate access wood construction traditional peasants houses featured thick central pillar supported roof beam smaller upright beam corner extending ground stabilize structure unlike coastal houses highland homes raised sat flush ground south central pillar area designated sleeping cooking wooden bamboo occasionally installed woven laid packed earth floor extended north past pillar traditionally bed head family southeast corner house northern area distinguished stones set vertically ground houses tombs aligned north south axis entrance west face north portion house reserved males guests south women children inferior rank northeast corner sacred reserved prayer offerings tribute ancestors houses nobles constructed according cultural norms additions distinguishable outside walls upright wooden long wooden horns formed crossing roof beams end roof peak length indicative rank longer length higher status noble family lived interior building somewhat modified featuring central pillars occasionally wooden platform bed raised high ground construction materials capital revoked late 1860s wooden construction abandoned older wooden houses rapidly replaced new brick homes inspired missionaries british style dwellings horns gradually replaced simple decorative installed ends roof peak architectural norms north south orientation central pillar interior layout homes abandoned presence roof peaks longer indicative particular social class classic examples highland wooden architecture aristocratic class preserved buildings compound destroyed fire reconstruction walled compound location wooden palaces queen arguably culturally significant remaining example wooden architecture highlands aristocracy named traditions inhabit heavily forested rainy temperate region highlands east homes rectangular large long wide high peaked roof wooden windows doors standards found aristocratic architectural traditions present structures including central wooden pillar supporting roof beam exclusive use tongue groove joining technique orientation building features windows doors interior layout houses decorated carved symmetrical abstract patterns rich complex spiritual mythological symbolism architecture houses found region considered representative architectural style highlands prior represent historic tradition significant element cultural heritage reason knowledge added list traditions contrast inhabit madagascar extremely dry hot region south madagascar unique forms drought resistant plants evolved homes traditionally square rectangular raised low topped peaked roof constructed vertically hung wood wooden frame homes traditionally windows featured wooden doors door women entrance door rear house children door men fences constructed houses pear lengths indigenous surrounding forests earth based construction central highlands power struggles later centuries inspired development fortified town central region highlands madagascar ancient capital fortified 16th century king surrounded town thick walls mud dry rice gathered nearby deep trenches protect dwellings inside town wall protected enormous stone disk feet diameter shaded trees symbolic royalty town gate opened rolling away morning place evening task required team men accomplish fortified town model adopted represented historic village foreign influences protestant missionary believed madagascar demonstrate local building material create sun dried bricks introduced brick roof tiles soon began replacing rice stalk surrounding areas technique bricks foreigners responsible architectural innovations blended traditions highlands architecture european designed complex introducing supported exterior columns designed queen palace built model scale building adding story new wooden buildings constructed transformed traditional aristocratic homes carved post end peak local innovations restrictions relaxed aristocracy use stone brick building materials restrictions construction abolished commissioned exterior wooden palace stone building took final form added stone towers corner palace queen converted christianity year london missionary society commissioned construct private home missionaries drew inspiration work develop multi story wooden house columns model exploded popularity surrounding areas architectural style aristocracy point continued inhabit simple homes similar wooden palace newly favored brick houses featured shortened carved homes naturally range color deep red white depending characteristics earth construction time particularly colonization madagascar french houses known house underwent constant evolution simplest form house stories tall rectangular features roof slightly direct rain away foundation prevent erosion families replace clay tiles construct west face building supported slender columns design effective protecting building foundations effects rainfall expansion enclosure western wood construction open eastern face building forth leading wrap connection separate buildings covered passage incorporation french wrought iron glass panels application painted concrete brick surface innovations suburban rural zones ground floor reserved pen livestock family inhabits upper floors entrance typically faces west kitchen south family sleeps northern building configuration consistent seen traditional houses reflects traditional mixed construction eastern madagascar virtually zone transition houses highlands dwellings plant materials common coastal regions vast sparsely populated highlands western coastal areas inhabitants utilize locally available materials construct dwellings bear features regions houses small room story high constructed skeleton horizontally arranged sticks wooden house frame pictured preceding section wooden construction unlike coastal homes stick skeleton serve base plant material form walls packed framework instead roof complete dwelling houses distinguished presence shortened highlands style wooden columns western face support elongated peaked roof support larger homes floor typically packed dirt covered woven grasses tomb construction according traditional beliefs ethnic groups status ancestor death believed ancestors continue watch shape events earth intervene behalf interfere living consequence ancestors revered prayers sacrifices honor common observation local ancestors established life gestures respect throwing new bottle northeast corner room share ancestors practiced island visible emblem respect ancestors construction elaborate family tombs dot countryside madagascar earliest burial practices traditionally majority ethnic groups construct solid tombs dead bodies deceased left designated natural area people southern arid plains instance tombs built natural features rock placing bodies partially entirely sealing space stacked stones alternately deceased placed logs left caves sacred grove trees covered wooden held small piles stones said earliest inhabitants madagascar submerged dead waters designated river lake estuary considered sacred purpose practice existed earliest submerged dead chiefs highland designated waters tombs built minor variation form placement ethnic group overshadowed common features structure partially fully subterranean typically rectangular design stone stacked loosely cemented masonry early stone tombs burial sites indicated upright unmarked standing stones islamic origins tomb construction earliest known rectangular stone tombs madagascar likely built arab settlers 14th century northwestern island similar models emerged later western highlands peoples stones packed earth transitioning masonry highlands transition masonry preceded construction tombs massive stone collectively hauled community members tomb site late 18th century king said encouraged construction tombs observing house lifetime tomb highlands traditions highlands ground entrances ancient tombs originally marked standing stones walls formed loosely stacked flat stones examples ancient tombs found sacred hills body able retrieved burial times war tall unmarked standing stone male stone traditionally erected memory deceased promoted elaborate costly tomb construction worthy expense honoring ancestors declared highest noble sub enjoy privilege constructing small house tomb distinguish tombs lower highest sub built tomb houses called sacred house tomb houses called cold house houses identical standard wooden nobles houses fact windows wrapped remains laid rest stone tomb deceased valuable possessions gold silver coins elegant silk decorative objects placed decorated like regular room comfortable furniture water deceased spirit enjoy king burned structures fire palace compound said richest known today tombs constructed traditional methods materials incorporate modern innovations concrete inside superimposed stone concrete line walls bodies ancestors individual family wrapped silk laid sleep remains periodically removed celebration honor ancestors remains wrapped fresh amid extravagant communal festivities laid rest tomb significant expense associated tomb construction ceremonies honors ancestors emergence unequal wealth distribution traditional communities southern western traditions tombs found southwest madagascar striking distinctive like highlands generally rectangular partially subterranean modern tombs incorporate concrete addition place traditional stone distinguished highlands tombs elaborate decoration images painted exterior tomb recalling events ancestor life roof tomb stacked horns sacrificed ancestor honor funeral numerous wooden posts carved symbolic patterns images representing events life deceased planted tombs people especially famed type construction western coast topped erotic carvings evocative cycle birth life death modern architecture foreign architectural influences having arisen increased european contact course 19th century intensified dramatically advent french colonization past decades increasing availability relatively inexpensive modern construction materials imported china reinforced growing trend urban areas away traditional architectural styles favor generic structures produced materials concrete sheet metal certain modern innovations highly region instance sheet metal typically expensive prestigious common addition traditional house replacement locally sourced wood frames factory lumber common house modification followed laying concrete foundation houses built entirely concrete glass windows imported decorative balcony window bars implied great wealth highest social status low income levels served preserve traditional construction majority population madagascar prestige associated modern architectural innovations traditional construction abandoned income increases limited number recently constructed homes attempt blend architectural traditions modern house construction hybrids resemble traditional brick highlands houses exterior use modern materials construction techniques efficiently incorporate electricity air conditioning current kitchen features fully contemporary interior innovation exemplified recent residential development water district downtown
Architecture of Madagascar