Looks like a BeeHive, doesn't it?
This traditional dome-shaped hut with a thatched roof is part of a Zulu cultural village in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The shape of the hut as well as the thatched roof provides natural insulation, making it warm in winter, and cool in summer.
And, an interesting fact - the women, not the men, traditionally thatch the roof with grass. The men are responsible for setting up the framework using young, flexible tree branches. We saw this particular hut at a tourist destination; it is not seen in urban areas.
A thatched roof usually is made of grasses, reeds, or straw that is strung together in bunches and tied to a wooden structure. It is, of course, eco-friendly and looks attractive, but there's always a fire risk, especially in strong winds.
This beautifully restored 1838 building now is a museum. Thatched roofs were used in the Cape-Dutch style architecture. I took this photo on holiday in the Western Cape Overberg region, Swellendam, back in 2020, just before our COVID lockdown.
Another beautifully maintained thatch roof at a trout-fishing resort, Doornkop Fish and Wildlife Reserve in Mpumalanga. That's my son in the photo doing some fly-fishing.
Here's another thatched roof atop a round building known as a rondavel, traditionally built by the Zulu people. This design is also popular in tourist destinations, especially in game reserves. I saw this one at Tala Game Reserve in the KZN Midlands.
This thatched roof tops a gazebo, a shaded entertainment area popular in private homes as well as holiday resorts; the one in the photo was taken at the Drakensberg Sun Hotel & Resort.
This is the concrete tiled roof of what was my B&B, slightly damaged by a fallen papaya tree. Fortunately, this tree has a hollow trunk, so it is not as heavy as other trees, but it was tall and still heavy enough to cause damage.
We high-pressure cleaned the roof, removing mould and taking it back to its natural state. Looks like new, doesn't it!
A roof of a different kind - canvas, offering shade for a caravan and extra cover for its side-tent. We used to go camping when growing up, but mostly in tents.
Lastly, I could not resist sharing this photo that I took in 2023 while on holiday in the Netherlands. A very different kind of roof and building, known as the Cube Houses in Rotterdam. Built between 1982-1984, they look more like something from the future!
The only recent photo I have to show you is a kind of roof, a gazebo made of canvas. Of course, it is used as protection against the scorching hot sun, not for protection against the rain!
Most of the images were taken from my archives, but it was too tempting not to share just some of the various types of roofs I have seen in the past few years.
This has been my contribution to @friendlymoose's Photo Contest- Roofs, I hope you enjoyed it!
I've shared roofs of many kinds, but they all have one thing in common: they protect against the elements!
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