The Architecture of Peter Rich: Conversations with Africa traces one architect's lifelong search for a contemporary African design language — from Ndebele documentation and township housing to timbrel vaulted earthen structures at Mapungubwe.
About This Book
Peter Rich's practice sits at an unusual intersection: Modernist principles filtered through deep immersion in African indigenous architecture. This book follows the chronological arc of that project, from Rich's early documentation of Ndebele art and architecture, through community-oriented work produced under and after Apartheid, to his technically inventive timbrel vault structures built from hand-pressed soil tiles. What holds it together is Rich's concept of 'African Space Making' — a design philosophy rooted in complex symmetry and environmental responsiveness. For architects and researchers engaged with postcolonial design discourse, vernacular building traditions, or low-tech construction innovation, this is a rare sustained account of a singular career.
Key Features
- 184 pages of chronological project documentation, design analysis, and archival material on Rich's practice
- Written by Jonathan Noble
- Notable projects include Mandela's Yard in Alexandra township and the award-winning timbrel vault work at Mapungubwe
- Published by Lund Humphries
What You'll Discover
- How Rich's concept of 'African Space Making' draws on complex symmetry found in indigenous African settlements
- The influence of sculptor Jackson Hlungwani and Rich's long-term documentation of Ndebele art on his architectural thinking
- Community-oriented design practice during and after Apartheid, examined through projects including Mandela's Yard in Alexandra township
- The structural and material logic behind Rich's timbrel vaulted buildings, constructed from low-tech hand-pressed soil tiles
About the Author
Jonathan Noble is the author of this monographic study of Peter Rich's work. The book draws on close engagement with Rich's practice, writings, and built projects across South Africa.
Specifications
- Format: Hardcover
- Pages: 184
- Dimensions: 190 x 250 mm
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9781848222571
- Publisher: Lund Humphries
- Publication Date: [Details available upon request]
Perfect For: Architects and researchers working with vernacular or postcolonial design traditions, students of African architectural history, and practitioners interested in low-tech earthen construction and community-based design.