DOES MALAWI NEED ARCHITECTURE?

Inaugural Lecture
by
Professor William Frank Hill

THE UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI,

THE POLYTECHNIC
Private Bag 303,
Chichiri,
Blantyre 3,
Malawi.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI,

THE POLYTECHNIC
Private Bag 303,
Chichiri,
Blantyre 3,
Malawi.
Inaugural Lecture
by
Professor William Frank Hill,
Head, Architecture Section,
Department of Civil Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering.

DOES MALAWI NEED ARCHITECTURE?

In 1995 I presented the Curriculum for a

may see that a clear definition is not easy

Degree course in Architecture, to the

to arrive at.

Faculty of Engineering at the Polytechnic.

An engineer supported the submission

You may find this situation strange: here

with the comment: Architecture is all

we

Greek to me.

honoured

have

someone
with

the

who
title

has

been

Professor

apparently telling you that, perhaps he

deep

doesnt really know what the profession

understanding, since the word Architect

that he is a professor of actually does! In

is derived from the Greek, meaning Chief

the 20th Century, particularly, writers on

Builder. Conversely, the comment may

architecture - some of them practising

have been an expression of ignorance of

architects, have tended to become very

the subject. I rather fear that the latter is

obscure in their use of the English

the more likely case.

language, creating a sort of mysticism -

This

may

have

shown

giving the impression that architects are,

Given this public forum, I thought it

somehow, high priests of Design with a

opportune to try to define what architects

capital D.

do. In this I do not intend to be

among the more exotic - and very well

condescending; for it is clear that many -

paid architects. There is a sort of prestige

including architects themselves are not

in employing one of the great names,

always certain of the role of the architect

regardless of cost, and regardless of

in the 21st Century. And as architecture

whether the result is really what one asked

has changed greatly over the centuries,

for. Architects are even prone to inflict this

and varies from country to country, one

elitist attitude on themselves. An architect

recently

This elitism exists still today

designed

his

own,

very

3
expensive, high-tech house in London. A

unless you are familiar with Lincoln

minimalist design, beautiful in its plain

Cathedral - and, possibly, bicycle sheds,

white walls, polished hardwood floors,

this is not very helpful.

huge glass windows, no furniture: and it

iii

looked very good in the Journals. But his

The Roman architect and writer Vitruvius

wife had to rent a flat next door for them to

and his successors of the Renaissance

actually live in!

Alberti and Palladio seem to have arrived

at a definition which can be distilled into

Architecture is therefore a profession that

three

words:
iv

firmness,

commodity,

enjoys many views and opinions: Ludwig

delight.

Mies van der Rohe told us that less is

architectural theory seems to be an

more; Robert Venturi riposted with Less

elaboration of these three qualities.

is a bore.

I find that much writing on

Firmness: we very much hope and

Some insist that the modern architect is a

expect that any structural engineer will

manager first, bringing all the variety of

design his works for firmness. Soundness

skills and trades together to put up

of construction is what we may expect in

buildings in the most efficient way and for

any building.

the least cost; design is incidental to this

process. Others tell us that the modern

Commodity: this one is not quite so

architect is but one of a team, not even

straightforward: but basically it means that

primus inter pares (first among equals),

the building should be fit for the purpose.

but someone who, perhaps tries to ensure

The arrangement and sizes of its internal

that the building under consideration is not

spaces should suit the functions; it has

too offensive to the eye. Some architects

good lighting and ventilation, and the

believe that the best designers are in fact

services - water, electricity etc. are

the clients or the users, and the architects

conveniently arranged. Any designer will

role

community

spend much time satisfying the quality of

brainstorming sessions and draw up the

commodity. Those who think this is easy

results afterwards.

are

is

to

preside

over

But why bother to

liable

to

make

horrible

errors.

undergo an expensive training if one lacks

Consider the complexity of organisation in

faith in ones own expertise?

the layout for a hospital, for example. To

get this right requires serious study, and

So what do we mean by architecture?

deep understanding.

But both firmness

and commodity can be achieved on the

The noted architectural commentator, Sir

basis

Nikolaus

construction, a diligent study of practical

Pevsner,

tried

to

define

of

good

engineering,

architecture in his Outline of European

needs and common sense.

Architecture. His much-quoted definition

buildings

was A bicycle shed is a building; Lincoln

application of these qualities.

Cathedral is a piece of architecture.

ii

But

are

constructed

good

Very many
from

the

4
'Delight' as an English word is inadequate

Although Lilongwe is termed the Capital

to encompass all that is meant, when it

City

comes to good architecture.

amorphous character.

Vitruvius'

of

Malawi,

it

has

curiously

Its buildings of

original word was 'venustas', sometimes

distinction stand alone, and there is no

translated as 'beauty'; but Vitruvius goes

urban context to identify. The tallest

on to expand on this under six more

building,

concepts, so it is not easy to find a

Kang'ombe House is further isolated from

succinct definition. The cliche 'beauty is in

the community as it proudly stands alone

the eye of the beholder' ignores thousands

on its green platform.

the

ultra-modern-looking

of years of study in the subject. I avoid the

word 'aesthetics' as this makes people

By contrast, Blantyre is densely built, so

frown and scratch their heads - and the

that the interrelationships of all buildings

Americans have trouble spelling it! It was

make up the built environment. The hilly

Sir Henry Wotton in the 16 Century who

terrain, the Mudi river, the fine views from

suggested that 'delight' might answer the

various

case. Perhaps Professor Mtenje can

surrounding vegetation provide a splendid

provide a more appropriate Chichewa

setting for any designer of worth to

word! Much of the five or more years it

demonstrate his or her abilities. Therefore,

takes to educate an architect is spent in

for the purpose of this discussion, I have

attempting to refine one's design abilities.

concentrated upon the City of Blantyre.

th

parts

of

the

city

and

the

Students study form, proportion and scale,

symbolism, light, colour, texture, context
and architectural history, all with the aim
of achieving beauty in their designs. In the
course of this lecture, I hope that the
deeper meaning of 'delight', or 'beauty' will
emerge from the examples I will mention.
Suffice to say here that without it, a
building is a building; but with it, a building
may be called 'architecture'.

Chayamba Building,
Clinton & Evans

Standing clear against the sky, Chayamba

Building is perhaps the most distinguished

Allow me to take a brief look at some of

of a series of tall buildings lining Victoria

the buildings in Malawi. This review must

Avenue.

be highly selective and fairly superficial - I

character and one may even recognise a

will not attempt to take you on a landmark

defining style, showing the pervasive

tour of the country. My purpose here is

influence of the Modern Movement or

simply to draw attention to the fact that we

International style. Dark recessed ribbon

are indeed surrounded by the efforts of

windows contrast with the white horizontal

architects.

spandrels between. At the top of Victoria

They all have a distinctive

is Mount Soche Hotel. Until recently the

horizontal form

of this building was

5
deliberately emphasised by the careful
choice of dark brickwork, lining in with the
windows. By this means the building
appeared to be a handsome conclusion to
the

sequence

of

horizontality

also

appearance

when

buildings.
presented
seen

This
fine
Finance Bank,
Clinton & Evans

approaching

Blantyre along the Zalewa Road, as if the

To

natural strata of rock had been interpreted

element, after the basics of firmness and

in built form. Unfortunately, in recent days

commodity have been satisfied. It is not

an utterly insensitive painting scheme has

uncommon for a speculative developer to

given a temporary smartness, but has

pay someone to produce a cheap plan,

destroyed the formal qualities of the

and then approach an architect to add on

building; and over time this paintwork will

the

deteriorate,

planning authority would turn the scheme

unlike

the

expensive

brickwork it now covers.

modernism in the Air Malawi building, the

adjacent M.D.C. House and the Ryall's
Annex.

This

delight

extras

without

is

an

added-on

which

the

local

down. This unfortunate attitude - that one

Nearby we see the influence of Post-

Hotel

some,

style

can add a bit of architecture to a banal

design seems to be quite widely held, but
does a grave disservice to the profession
of architecture.

borrows

superficially from classical architecture,

but adds whimsy in its childish simplicity,
whereas the classic forms are rich in their
details.

The qualities that good architecture can

bring to a community go far beyond
superficial

pleasure.

They

are

the

essence to a Nations character.

The Post-Modern fashion was hesitantly

adopted for the Finance Bank Arcade.
This uncertainty was well demonstrated by
the several colour schemes that the
arcade entrance went through before the
present bland result was obtained. I recall
that several bold colours where tried,

Frank Lloyd Wright, who was anything but

modest about his works, claimed that the
staff in his newly opened Johnsons Wax
Building loved their working environment
so much that at the end of the day they
were reluctant to go home!

including I think, purple and green. The

present maroon and beige is much less
striking. I suspect that the architect
preferred one of the bolder alternatives,
but weaker hearts prevailed.

This inspiring building was not without its

faults: the story goes that, soon after
completion,

the

Director

telephoned

Wright to complain: Mr. Wright: its

raining outside, and theres water dripping
on to my desk.

What should I do?

Wright replied: Move your desk!

pleasant

environment,

merely

Good design can contribute to healing. It

properly lighted and providing shelter, but

is now well recognised that a positive

with

mental

fine

qualities

of

not

space,

well

outlook

will

speed

physical

considered colours and variety must have

recuperation. It follows that a pleasant

a positive psychological and physiological

environment in health centres, clinics and

effect. An economic gain comes through

hospitals, all too often absent in such

less

places, should be part of the prescription

absenteeism,

efficiency.

The

and

famous

improved

Willis

Faber

to promote recovery.

Dumas building (1976) by Norman Foster

shows this quality - and the architect

Must public architecture be such as to

included

the

appeal to peoples traditional concepts of

basement for staff to enjoy. There is a

design? The Pompidou Centre, Paris, by

restaurant on the roof, opening onto a

Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, is an

generous lawn from where to have ones

art gallery.

lunch in sunshine, raised up from the

Renaissance and Empire style, as seen

noise of the city. In Germany, it is now a

in the Louvre for example.

requirement that new offices are designed

Pompidou, the designers produced a

so that desks must all receive a good

startling design we now recognise by the

amount

term hi-tech (high technology).

of

swimming

natural

pool

light.

in

In

the

Paris is renown for its Late

But with

This

Commerzbank, Frankfurt, Norman Foster

expressed the steel structure, service

ingeniously includes

three-storey high

pipes, and escalators on the outside. The

voids at intervals up this tall building.

building caused immense controversy. It

These contain abundant vegetation, so

was designed for a calculated 5,000

that one may be in an office on the 20th

visitors per day.

floor and be able to look out on to a little

alien in the midst of the city? In fact, since

park complete with trees!

it opened in 1977 it has received a steady

Did people shun this

average of 25,000 visitors per day, and

three years ago had to be refurbished
throughout due to the excessive wear and
tear from so many!

Piano & Rogers, 1997

Centre Pompidou

The Sydney Opera House by Joern Utzon,

took 20 years to build and cost more than
10 times the original estimate. Its form,

7
which does not easily fall into any category

styles. Curiously, following Prince Charles

or style, is unique and well known around

attack

the world. It is now the symbol of

British architects, far from being cowed,

Australia, much loved, much admired,

have exhibited a surge of imaginative and

much visited, and tremendously enjoyed.

innovative design approaches. Two of the

Incidentally, the high cost was not met

leading lights are Richard Rogers and

from the public purse.

The money was

Norman Foster. Both have been made

raised over the years through a series of

Lords, which has not suppressed their

State lotteries.

exuberance a jot!

All

of

these

examples

on

contemporary

architecture,

clearly have

Does this mean that only well trained

qualities which go far beyond the basic

architects have this special ability - to

needs of firmness and commodity. This

design in a manner that encompasses

brings us to the touchy subject of 'style'.

many complex concepts?

around

the

world

at

If we look
examples

of

Just as there are many views on what

delightful buildings, the answer is clearly

architects in the 21st century should be

no. Like Robert Maillert in the early 20

doing, and many architectural theories,

Century, the Spanish engineer Santiago

there

Calatrava shows that it is possible to

are

many

views

about

what

th

constitutes good and bad architecture.

create

Prince Charles believed, or believes he

Unfortunately, many engineers seem to be

knows what is good architecture, and let

jealous of his versatility, and architects are

his opinions be so well known that many

also jealous that an engineer can beat

have

them at their own game! When architects,

jumped

on

his

coattails.

structures

and

of

great

sculptors

beauty.

Unfortunately, his understanding tends to

engineers

collaborate

the superficial.

By some ill-considered

closely, wonderful things can happen, as

remarks, he ensured the rejection of the

with the Millenium Bridge, London, by

winner of the National Gallery Extension

Foster, Arup and Caro. Bernard Rudolfsky

competition, in London. The replacement

demonstrated in his book Architecture

scheme was designed by one of the

without Architects that there are many

founders of the short-lived post-modern

non-architect-designed

style, Robert Venturi. In my view and in

architecture. In Africa alone, especially in

that of many who have been there, that

the traditional forms which have evolved in

building is stultifyingly banal. No delight

many societies, notable buildings, and

there.

indeed towns and cities exist which,

works

of

unarchitected are very fine in their

No particular architectural style can be
called bad or good. We are fortunate
today to be able to enjoy a wonderful
historical inheritance of a multitude of

architectural qualities.

vi

8
policies, so that Barcelona is nowadays
one of the few beautiful cities in the world.
Needless to say, it is also a very popular
tourist attraction, so delight is translated
into very positive commercial and social
benefits for the whole population. And the
population, justifiably, are very proud of
Bandiagara, Mali House

One may note particularly the traditional

buildings of Saharan West Africa.

The

use of the natural material - soil, and the

way the city has grown, as in the ancient
city

of

Zaria,

has

produced

an

environment of harmony with nature, of

dignity and beauty, whilst well satisfying
the traditional lifestyles of centuries. The
buildings take their form because of the
structural and the plastic properties of the
material. These forms are often called
organic -associated with nature. Thus
firmness is satisfied. The appearance is in
harmony
around

with
-

the

delight

natural
is

there

landscape

their city. The one architect that everyone

there knows about is Antone Gaudi. Over
a lifetime, he designed and supervised the
construction of some of the most amazing
buildings in the world.
Nouveau.

The style is Art

The form is organic.

material is stone laid at angles and carved

to follow the structural lines of force. Does
this sound familiar?

Compare some of

Gaudis works with the traditional works of

north west Africa. The similarity of form is
striking. Gaudi has been honoured since
his death in 1934. In 2000, the Pope
agreed to his Beatification, the first step
towards sainthood!

already.

Regarding commodity: the walls are thick a structural requirement, but they also
provide good protection from the Saharan
heat, whilst radiating warmth in the cold
nights.

The material also allows for

flexibility of design - rooms and courtyards

of the same materials can be added with
no fear of disharmony - the building can
grow, the organic form is carried through
over time.

The City of Barcelona, in Spain, was

awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 1999.
The award was in recognition of the long
term policies of the local authorities in
preserving

and

honouring

its

older

buildings, and in being both sensitive and

forward-looking

in

its

development

The

Plan, Village of Seripe, Ghana

1969

9
but also Renaissance, almost up to the
20th century.

Antoni Gaudi, Casa Mila

Barcelona, 1910

Ictinus & Callicrates

Parthenon, Athens, 432 BC

The Modern Movement or International

Style intended to reject precedent.

Yet,

soon after its invention in the 1920s, its

most dedicated adherents, such as Le
Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe were
applying the fundamentals of classicism,
such as the Golden Section

vii

in their

attempts to arrive at ideal proportions.

This style continues today. Perhaps the
most noted exponent is the architect
Richard Meier.

The proportions of his

crisp white architecture are arrived at

Casa Mila Barcelona, 1905-10

Antoni Gaudi

Organic forms, as well as a lightness of

spirit are to be seen in the recent work of
Frank Gehry. Most notable are the famous
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and the
Music Experience in Seattle. Bilbao is now

through

rigorous

application

of

geometry, based upon the circle, the

square and derivative dimensions from
the square, such as the double square, its
diagonal, and the Golden Section.
R.Meier, 1892
Royal Dutch Paper Miels H.Q.
Hilversum.

very much on the map.

Frank Gehry
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, 1997

Post

Modernism

acknowledges

the

These forms contrast with what we may

elements

call

its

stripped of elaboration. Some architectural

If one had to distil all of

theorists maintain that the Renaissance

architectural design into two categories,

as a basic style is still with us in these

the terms Classical and Organic may

modern interpretations.

the

derivatives.

Classical

style,

well serve the purpose.

and

The Classical

would cover Greek and Roman of course,

of

classical

architecture,

10
Frank Lloyd Wright commented that the

wonderfully

Renaissance

surroundings, but is all straight lines.

was

the

sunset

that

integrated

with

its

everyone mistook for the dawn.

The

Organic

would

include

the

Romanesque and Gothic, Art Nouveau

especially

Gaudi,

the

so-called

metabolists and much of the work of

Wright, Soleri, Scharoun, and now Gehry.
One might stretch the term a bit to include
Richard Buckminster Fuller, and from him
the exponents of High Tech. From these
specific examples you may be forgiven for
thinking that 'organic' must mean that
curves are of the essence. 'Nature abhors
a straight line' it's said. But the term
'organic' applied to architecture has a
deeper implication. Fuller's domes are
made up of short straight members,
connected and related to each other in an
'organic' way. This can be seen in the
dramatic construction of the Eden Project,
in Cornwall, by Nicholas Grimshaw.

Falling Water U.S.A.

Frank Lloyd Wright
1936

In Africa, the term Organic must apply to

most of traditional architecture. But with
the advent of colonialism followed by
increasingly

rapid

travel

and

communication, the Modern Movement

and Postmodernism - that is the classical
influence - seems to have been the
fashion for the last 30 years, as I have
noted in Blantyre.

In many discussions I have had with

students of architecture in Africa, the
question

often

arises:

what

would

constitute modern, African architecture?

Nowadays we are being urged to consider

the natural environment and its protection
Eden Project, U.K.
Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners

- or restoration, in much of what we do.

We are being asked to produce lowenergy-consuming designs - in terms of
the materials and the use of the building and its afterlife.

Materials that can be

recycled are preferred.

This approach

may be called an ethical approach, which

as Allsopp pointed out, is not the same as
aesthetics
Hexagon 11 m diameter,
on Eden Project,
Under construction

Wright's 'Fallingwater', sometimes called

the most beautiful house in the world, is

viii

However, such an ethical

design philosophy must surely harmonise

better with the organic aesthetic than with
the classical.

11
The traditional construction materials and

unimaginable twenty years ago. But I am

methods

these

pointing out that the modern desire for

requirements very well. Locally available

sustainability has long been a feature of

materials demand no consumption of

traditional architecture in Africa. The

fossil fuel energy for their transport and

award-winning

processing. In their appearance they

workshop by Edward Cullinan could be in

harmonise with the natural surroundings.

Africa. It is in fact in Southern England

They insulate against the heat, and

and was completed in 2001.

of

Africa

meet

timber

museum

and

protect against the cold. They may not be

as durable as modern materials such as
concrete and steel, but community action
for maintenance is a socially benevolent
feature. In this it may be noted that the
mud Mosques of north west Africa have
lasted many years - in some cases

Downland Gridshell
Workshop, U.K. 2002.
E. Cullinan, Architects
Architects.

hundreds of years; and this is possible

In the first of these inaugural lectures,

because of an annual ritual of communal

Professor

repair and resurfacing, which is akin to a

democratic governments in Africa could

festival. In a way these materials are

make reference to African tradition if they

recyclable inasmuch as that they will be

are to evolve into a form most suited to

absorbed into the landscape leaving little

the community. This finds an echo in my

or no trace, if abandoned.

views on architecture in Africa.

Furthermore, the climate of much of Africa

Almost

including

accumulated an interesting mixture of the

Malawi

lends

itself

to

an

Kings

Phiri

accidentally,

exclusive of the landscape. It is ironic that

Movement and Post-Modern, as well as

in the so-called temperate climates,

the mundane. The facelift to receive

many

of

SADC did refresh existing buildings, and

architecture attempt to include within their

the Local Authority is to be commended

skin atria, lush with tropical plants on a

for this.

works

colonial,

has

traditional

modern

the

Blantyre

that

architecture which is inclusive, rather than

exciting

and

observed

Modern

large scale. But in some modern offices in

Malawi, the only acknowledgement of
nature takes the form of rather feeble
philodendrons in pots on secretaries
desks.
I am not advocating a return to some
imagined idyll. On the contrary, modern
materials and computer aided design
techniques offer us design possibilities

However, one might wish for a more

sensitive

treatment

of

the

street

environment - including the pavements,

seating and signage, for the majority of
the public - who are non-car owning
pedestrians,

children

and

mini-bus

passengers. It is also distressing to note

that some prime sites have given way to a
form of development that disregards the

12
general public, and is designed with
commercial gain only in mind. Instead of

Let me quote again:

an uplifting experience we have a right to

We see the greatest danger for our

expect of public buildings continually in the

artistic

public eye, we are offered the cheap and

speculators, who without ideals, swayed

the banal. Large advertising hoardings -

by greed, exploit the otherwise beneficial

billboards are destroying those aspects of

freedom of enterprise.

the city which once made it pleasant.

new suburbs of our cities we meet

life...

in

the

unscrupulous

In the extensive

everywhere the cold commercial spirit, the

A poem (Ogden Nash):

blunt spiritual poverty of the building

I think that I will never see

bunglers...The

A billboard lovely as a tree.

architect has long ago lost his influence on

Perhaps unless the billboards fall

the construction of the streets in our new

Ill never see a tree at all.

suburbs...

artistically

creative

Here is a wide field of

endeavours for our association: what

The landscape designer, Lancelot Brown,

matters now is to gain influence on the

otherwise known as Capability Brown,

customs in building and on the building

acquired the nickname from his habit of

codes, by industrious activity, also by the

reassuring clients on viewing a site, with

local groups, by enlightened lectures, by

the comment: it has capabilities. It is my

the press, and in particular by the

view that the capabilities of Blantyre as a

delegations of representatives... to the

fine city are being squandered by the rapid

municipal committees...

encroachment of inappropriate structures.

That was a translation from the German of

I am saddened to see structures put up in

parts of the Manifesto of Bund Deutscher

public places that the powers that be

Architekta, the German equivalent of the

would never dream of allowing in their own

Malawi Institute for Architects. It was

back garden.

written in 1903!

Bruce Allsopp in A Modern Theory of

The quality of the public environment in a

ix

Architecture wrote: If architecture is to

democratic society should be the concern

be

of everyone. I have been gratified to note

humane

rather

sympathetic

common

than

doctrinaire

sense

should

that the Minister for Lands, Survey,

replace functionalism... There are those

Honourable Thengo Maloya has spoken

who think that the cheapest solution is the

out against ill-scaled development in

best.

of

Lilongwe. But such comments are rare in

functionalism which gives top priority to

the public domain. Blantyre could benefit

saving money

from a more critical scrutiny of proposals

This

is

perverted

kind

for the erection of buildings, advertising

The apparent conflict between design that

hoardings and other elements, which have

respects the needs of the community and

such

building for personal gain is not new.

environment. The City would also greatly

powerful

impact

on

the

13
benefit from a strong sense of civil
responsibility in those who have influence

This does not mean that all we need to

over the decision-making process. Here

know is how people provide shelter with

may I suggest that, in pursuance of this

limited means in a traditional way, and

objective, each building developer be

then

required,

planning

lifestyles, and new materials and devices

application, to agree to rehabilitate and

require a design response that can adapt

maintain one of the public parks which

the existing to suit the present and the

once graced Blantyre and Limbe.

future. Moreover, some traditional habits

as

part

of

the

merely

copy

them.

Changing

of life are frankly dangerous.

For

The evolution of a truly civilized built

example: mothers cooking on large pots

environment is not a matter to be left to

balanced on three stones or a small

the personal whims of a few individuals.

charcoal burner should not be surprised if

The provision of courses in the design of

their children end up in hospital with

the built environment is not a luxury, but a

serious burns and scalds. And how many

necessity in any developing nation.

people are injured or killed from falling

down unprotected wells, or unsafe pit

Here I turn to the Architecture Degree

latrines? Visits to clinics or hospitals in

course we have recently started at the

many countries will reveal how very

Polytechnic.

Central to the third and

frequent these sorts of accidents are.

fourth years of study is the consideration

Cheaper photovoltaic cells are coming on

of the modern society in Malawi. The third

to the market, so that many who now use

year students have made a detailed study

dangerous candles and paraffin lamps will

of Nancholi - better known to some as

be able to use solar powered electricity.

Manase.

But

As well as recording the

interesting

topography

the

design

of

buildings

should

built

accommodate these as an integral part,

environment, these students looked into

not as an add-on which in itself can be

the many lifestyles of the inhabitants of

dangerous. Diseases such as T.B., and

this

malaria, major killers in Africa, can be

rapidly

growing

and

informal

development.

reduced by careful design.

It may be thought that such studies are

superfluous,

as

the

students,

being

Malawian, should know about such things.

But we all come from our own limited
backgrounds.

An

architect

must

recognise that the world around us is full

of variety, and that includes how people
live. Only by understanding this, can one
hope to design appropriately for such
neighbourhoods.

Innovative

approaches

environments
resources

for

and

to

people
income

design
of

of

limited

can

bring

increased safety and improved health, as

well

as

pride

and

enhancement of life.

pleasure

an

14
If you need a slogan to sum all of this up,

addressed.

And 'delight' by making the

it could be: 'Good design saves lives'.

city really enjoyable to be in; ease of

Perhaps it should be put on a billboard!

access to amenities; pocket parks and

vegetation in abundance with tree-lined

In the fourth year, we study the urban

pedestrian malls and well designed and

situation - such as is found in Blantyre and

located seating. All these and more are

Limbe.

well within the possibility of an imaginative

group of urban designers.

The students have attempted to identity

x

the positive and the negative aspects of

To quote Allsopp again : Architecture is

the city, and have been encouraged to

often said to reflect society. It does, and

propose

there is nothing architects can do about it,

imaginative

development

and

proposals.

far-reaching
The

overall

as architects, except to offer the best of

concepts are largely based on the needs

which they are capable. The responsibility

of the pedestrian, with provision for

for architecture rests upon the people in a

vehicular traffic by way of one-way street

society who commission buildings.

systems and good parking. Notable in the

proposals are the identified needs for a

I have tried to show that architecture must

welcoming, striking entry to the city, a

satisfy more than the basic needs of

building of grace and invitation. The need

shelter in a soundly constructed building. I

for a centre of focus in the town has also

have also suggested that Africa, and

been identified, possibly in the form of a

Malawi

city square.

distinctive, modern architecture, referring

in

particular,

can

evolve

to tradition, but addressing the needs of

So our students make proposals not just

the society in the 21st Century. And I have

for individual buildings, but for a built and

indicated how we at the Polytechnic are

landscaped environment that integrates

addressing architectural education.

the

many

needs

of

developing

community. We hope that by our teaching

The quality of the built environment can

programmes we may inculcate a feeling of

make a very positive contribution to the

civic responsibility.

health, wealth and well-being of the whole

population, whether people live in humble

How far do these ideas match with the

circumstances or in palaces. The quality

broad definitions of architecture I have

of urban development as a whole, and not

been discussing?

Firmness will be

just the quality of individual buildings,

addressed in the detailed consideration of

should be beneficial to everyone - an

structure and construction.

environment we can all be proud of and

Commodity:

the redefinition of space usage - traffic

look after accordingly.

control, easing pedestrian circulation; the

appropriate locations of additional shops,

Does Malawi need architecture?

offices, flats, public amenities are all

definitely!

Most

15

W. F. Hill. 2002.

16

Venturi, Robert. Complexity and

Contradiction in Architecture. MOMA. New
York, 1966.
ii
Pevsner, Nikolaus. An Outline of European
Architecture. Harmondsworth - Penguin,
London. 1943.
iii
Vitruvius, Marcus Pollio. De Architectura.
C40 BC.
iv
Hanno-Walter Kruft, 'A History of
Architectural Theory'
Princeton Architectural Press New
York 1994.
v
Rudolfsky, Bernard. Architecture Without
Architects. Museum of Modern Art. New
York. 1964.
vi
see: Gardi, Ren. Indigenous African
Architecture. Van Nostrand Reinhold. New
York. 1973.
Oliver, Paul (ed.) Shelter and Society.
Barrie & Jenkins. London. 1969.
Oliver, Paul (ed.) Shelter in Africa.
Barrie & Jenkins. London. 1970.
Guidoni, Enrico. Primitive
Architecture. Faber & Faber. London. 1987.
vii
Golden Section: the division of a length into
two unequal lengths, so that the ratio of the
shorter to the longer is the same as the longer
to the total length. The ratio is: 1: 1.61803....
viii
Allsopp, Bruce. A Modern Theory of
Architecture. Routeledge & Kegan Paul,
London 1977.
7ixIbid.
x
Ibid.

Buildings mentioned and architects:

Kang'ombe House. Norman & Dawbarn.
Chayamba House. Clinton & Evans.
Mt. Soche Hotel.
MDC House. Montgomerie, Oldfield & Denn.
Ryall's Hotel Annex. Clinton & Evans.
Finance Bank Arcade. Clinton & Evans.
Johnsons Wax. Frank Lloyd Wright.
Willis Faber. Norman Foster.
Commerzbank, Frankfurt. Norman Foster.
Pompidou Centre. Piano & Rogers.
Sydney Opera House. Jorn Utzon.
British National Gallery Extension. Robert
Venturi.
Alamillo Bridge. Santiago Calatrava.
Lyon-Satolas Airport Railway Station.
Santiago Calatrava.
Millennium Bridge. Norman Foster.
Casa Mila. Antone Gaudi.Sagrada Familia.
Antone Gaudi.
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. Frank Gehry.
Parthenon. Ictinus & Callicrates.
House. Richard Meier.
Berlin Philharmonic. Hans Scharoun.
U. S Pavilion, Montreal. R. B. Fuller.
Blantyre Proposals.Polytechnic Architecture
Students.