Surprising Fractal formations
 

 



  • Aerial photographs of some African societies have revealed that they are modeled on fractals. In his book, African Fractals, Dr. Ron Eglash of the Renesslaer Polytechnic Institute describes how fractals are apparent in many different types of art and architecture, including building structures. The pictures to the right depict one of the largest buildings in Logone-Birni, Cameroon: The palace of the chief. The pictures clearly show that the scale decreases towards the center. These structures were not purposefully built as fractals; local inhabitants cited the reasons for the layout include family members building new houses adjacent to their father's houses and military fortification.


    Click here for Dr. Eglash's African Settlement simulation Software

  • Other African settlements including Ba'ila and Mokoulek have also been modelled by Dr. Eglash using fractals. Fractals are not limited to settlements; they also appear in "...African architecture, traditional hairstyling, textiles, sculpture, painting, carving, metalwork, religion, games, quantitative techniques, and symbolic systems."



    References:

    (1)African Fractals

     

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                                                                                                              
    •  
     
     
     

     

     

     

     

     

       

       

    3