Turning to tradition for climate solutions
As the climate crisis accelerates, Pacific Island nations are looking to time-tested traditional architectural traditions to help mitigate against and adapt to an increasingly hostile environment.
With rising sea levels and intensifying storms threatening the very existence of some Pacific communities, local architects are exploring sustainable construction methods to create climate-resilient communities.
Sustainable architecture with local roots
For millennia, Indigenous communities across the Pacific have relied on traditional architectural techniques to withstand their harsh climate.
The design of structures like the Fijian bure and Samoan fale, allows for natural ventilation, resists cyclones, and through material choices, minimises environmental impact.
These techniques are now seeing a resurgence as architects explore their potential in building a more resilient future.
Across the Pacific, architects are blending traditional building techniques with modern sustainability principles, offering energy-efficient, climate-resilient designs that are also culturally significant.
Australian architect and Vice President of the Fiji Architects Association, Peter Rankin, who has managed AAPi Design in Suva since 2007, has observed firsthand how climate change is reshaping the region’s building environment.
“The construction sector contributes over 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions,” he says, citing data from C40, a global network of cities committed to climate action.
“We need to focus on sustainable building practices, especially in places like the Pacific where climate vulnerability is so pronounced.”
For Rankin and many others, the revival of traditional architecture offers a way forward.
“In Fiji, the ‘bure’—a thatched roof house designed for natural ventilation and to withstand cyclones—is an ideal model for resilience,” he explains.
Rankin adds that these structures could significantly contribute to our adaptation efforts with some modern tweaks. For example, a modern interpretation of a Fijian bure could include cyclone-rated roof bracing to provide stability, and roof trusses to create openings on the lower part of the roof for light, access and cross-ventilation.
The stakes could not be higher. According to a United Nations Environment Programme report, the 55 most climate vulnerable economies have already experienced more than US$500 billion in losses over the last two decades due to climate-related disasters.
Pacific Island nations, being among the most vulnerable, are facing significant challenges in mitigating further damage.
The Pacific cyclone season starts earlier and has become more intense.
Cyclone Lola, which formed in October 2023, brought heavy rains and damaging winds to Vanuatu and neighbouring islands. It was the seventh pre-season cyclone to form in the region since 1970, a sign of worsening conditions linked to climate change.
In the Pacific, where the average temperature has already risen by 1.43 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, the challenge is not just about surviving storms but about planning for a future where such events are the norm.
For young architects like Tualagi Nokise, who won the New South Wales’ Architects Medallion in 2022 for his thesis on sustainable building in Fiji, the focus is on designing infrastructure that is not only cyclone resistant but also environmentally sustainable.
Nokise’s project, Niu Growth: The In-Between, uses traditional materials like local mahogany and vesi timber while incorporating modern cyclone-proof techniques such as cyclone roof bracing and trusses for cross-ventilation.
“My research was profoundly influenced by my experience growing up in the Pacific,” says Nokise.
“I’ve seen the damage that cyclones leave behind, but I’ve also witnessed the resilience of our people. That’s what I’m trying to capture in my work – how architecture can help communities recover and thrive.”
According to Nokise, the projects not only reduce the carbon footprint of structures, but they also support the region’s economy by adopting local materials and techniques.
“We’re creating jobs and reducing reliance on imported, high-carbon building materials,” Nokise added.
Challenges in green building
Despite the progress being made, Pacific nations still face significant challenges in their green building efforts.
One of the major hurdles is the competition from lower priced Chinese building materials, which have flooded the market.
Ba Industries Pte Limited, a Fijian construction company, says lower-priced Chinese materials are less environmentally friendly but far more affordable.
“The demand for Fijian-made products has decreased because customers are opting for cheaper Chinese alternatives,” says Sanjay Badgujar, General Manager of Ba Industries Pte Limited.
“It’s difficult to compete on price, but we’re focusing on the quality and sustainability of our products, like cyclone certified shutters and local timber structures.”
Badgujar remains hopeful that awareness can be raised about the advantages of locally produced, sustainable building materials.
“We need to make people understand that quality and sustainability come at a cost – but it’s an investment in the future,” he adds.
Blending traditional knowledge with modern innovation
In Niue, architects are also looking to balance tradition with innovation.
In January 2024, Anthony Liuvaie, a Niuean architect based in Wellington, held a presentation in Aliluki, Niue, focused on sustainable rebuilding efforts following Cyclone Heta. Liuvaie’s research investigated the integration of resilient materials like bamboo and native trees into modern construction.
“One of the key solutions we discussed was planting trees, like the ovava, to create natural barriers against king waves,” says Liuvaie.
“Bamboo has been used for centuries across the Pacific,” Liuvaie explains.
“It’s sustainable, durable, and, with the right design, can withstand the strongest cyclones. During my presentation, I displayed a bamboo model structure and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. People want solutions that are affordable and rooted in their culture.
“I also proposed using bamboo as a building material. It’s extremely resilient and has a 20-year sustainability window. We can build structures that are both cost-effective and durable.”
According to Niue news media, Television Niue, Liuvaie’s approach goes beyond simply rebuilding stronger structures – it aims to reconnect with the land and traditional knowledge.
“By combining modern techniques with Indigenous practices, we can build homes that reflect our culture, our environment, and our future,” he explains.
Niueans are still grappling with the emotional toll of climate disasters. In 2018, survivor of Cyclone Heta and former Aliluki resident, Esther Pavihi spoke about the importance of documenting these experiences.
“We lost more than our homes; we lost our stories,” she said.
“It’s our responsibility to record these memories for future generations, so they can make informed decisions when the next Category 5 cyclone hits. It’s not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’”.
Empowering women through architecture
While traditional techniques are gaining recognition, so too are the efforts of women like Loata Ho, a Fijian architect who has battled cultural and gender-based barriers to bring her climate-resilient vision to life.
In 2022, Ho collaborated with the nonprofit Architects Without Frontiers to design a women’s centre on the island of Vanua Levu, working alongside women from local villages. The project’s goal was to design a space using sustainable materials and techniques for local women.
Ho told ABC Pacific: “From the beginning, we wanted the women to be part of the process.
“But it took time for them to feel comfortable enough to express their opinions. We held workshops and listened to their conversations, and slowly, we began to shape the project into something truly community-driven.”
The centre, known as Ita Tadra (Our Dreaming), incorporates traditional Fijian building methods and locally sourced materials.
Designed to withstand cyclones, the structure offers a safe space for women to gather and share their stories.
Ho claims that discussions about building and climate resilience have excluded women’s voices for far too long.
“This project is about reclaiming that space and proving that we have the knowledge and the power to make our communities stronger.”
A path forward for Pacific nations
With rising temperatures and sea levels, the need for climate adaptation in the Pacific has never been more urgent.
Rankin states that modern innovations and governmental policies must support traditional building techniques, which offer a promising path forward.
“Governments need to update national building codes to reflect the climate challenges we face,” says Rankin.
“We also need to work more closely with the construction sector to implement sustainable practices.”
Despite the challenges, there are numerous opportunities for Pacific Island nations to lead the world in green building and climate resilience.
In July, the Tongan government, along with UNDP and GCF, launched Tonga’s Joint National Adaptation Plan 2 (JNAP2), which aimed to serve as a blueprint for other Pacific nations looking to integrate climate risks into their development strategies.
“The goal is to ensure that every level of government and community is prepared for the impacts of climate change,” says a representative from Tonga’s Department of Climate Change.
According to UNDP, the Pacific region is also witnessing a surge in interest from global institutions. Universities like Stanford in the United States and the University of British Columbia in Canada have launched programs focused on Indigenous architecture and sustainable design, recognising the global relevance of Pacific building techniques.
As Pacific Island nations continue to bear the brunt of climate change, their efforts to build a more resilient future through green architecture are gaining momentum.
“We have a responsibility to use every tool available to us—traditional knowledge, modern innovation, and community engagement—to protect our people and our environment,” says Liuvaie.
