Description:

This project specifically focuses on reconstructing the gathering and dining hall at CATD. (Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development) in Nadave, Fiji, which was destroyed by a cyclone. It aims to serves the local community, residents, students, and visitors, accommodating up to 100 people for community gatherings, educational workshops, and cultural events. Regular events promote social interaction and cultural exchange.

The key concept of this project is to create a community gathering space that harmoniously blends traditional Fijian architectural wisdom with modern building techniques. By utilizing local materials such as bamboo, rammed earth, and employing innovative design strategies, the structure will adapt to the unique environmental challenges of Fiji, particularly cyclones. This project seeks to foster a sense of cultural identity and belonging, celebrating the communal aspects of Fijian life while providing a resilient and functional environment. Through this synthesis of the old and new, the design aspires to create a space that embodies the spirit of the community, encourages social interaction, and honors the rich heritage of Fijian culture.

The main form incorporates aerodynamic strategies inspired by the Fijian Drua (double-hull canoe), particularly its distinctive upright V-shaped sail, which helps to dissipate wind forces during cyclone season. This feature enhances the building's resilience and durability in extreme weather conditions. The tall roof of the gathering space draws from the traditional Bure ni Kalou (spirit house), as Fijians believe that a higher roof brings them closer to the divine. It also facilitates stack ventilation, enabling hot air to rise and escape naturally. The roof extends to the rear in a gable form, echoing the hull of a canoe and forming a dining area with a lower ceiling.

Floorplan-wise, the large circular area functions as the main gathering space, while the adjoining rectangular section serves as the dining area, which can be used as an extension of the hall during special events and festivals. The open floor plan allows for natural cross-ventilation, and the stack effect from the tall conical roof enables efficient heat escape through roof vents. Rotatable shading screens along the roof edges regulate sunlight and airflow, offering shade on hot days and redirecting winds for added protection during extreme weather.

The building features a hybrid structural system. Vertical loads are transferred through the CLT columns, which are secured with steel brackets, balancing structural stability with material efficiency. The bamboo framework supports the roof, tied with coconut fiber rope to allow flexibility and resilience against cyclonic winds. Each bundle of curved bamboo can be prefabricated on-site by local workers, promoting community involvement and reducing transportation emissions. Rammed earth, primarily used in the raised foundation that protect the building from flooding, act as thermal mass, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, while also managing humidity.

Beyond being a physical shelter, the building acts as a vessel for memory, cultural continuity internally and embodying material experience, climate-responsive strategies externally, ensuring that Pacific architectural and Culture identity not only survives but thrives within a contemporary framework.