African Spaces: Designs for Living in Upper Volta

by Jean-Paul Bourdier, Trinh T. Minh-ha

The diversity and complexity of African vernacular architecture remain widely unknown both to the general public and to architects. Yet Upper Volta (Burkino Faso) encompasses an astonishing variety of design principles and building techniques that belie the widespread image of the primitive hut so readily associated with rural Africa. This work provides a convincing interpretation of the relationship between spatial organisation and daily activity in Gurunsi life.

229 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985