Page 25 - IB September 2024

Building and Construction

BUILDING FOR TOMORROW

TURNING TO TRADITION FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay

By Prerna Priyanka “We need to focus on sustainable building practices,
especially in places like the Pacific where climate
As the climate crisis accelerates, Pacific Island nations are vulnerability is so pronounced.”
looking to time-tested traditional architectural traditions to For Rankin and many others, the revival of traditional
help mitigate against and adapt to an increasingly hostile architecture offers a way forward.
environment. “In Fiji, the ‘bure’—a thatched roof house designed for
With rising sea levels and intensifying storms threatening natural ventilation and to withstand cyclones—is an ideal
the very existence of some Pacific communities, local model for resilience,” he explains.
architects are exploring sustainable construction methods to Rankin adds that these structures could significantly
create climate-resilient communities. contribute to our adaptation efforts with some modern
tweaks. For example, a modern interpretation of a Fijian bure
Sustainable architecture with local roots could include cyclone-rated roof bracing to provide stability,
For millennia, Indigenous communities across the Pacific and roof trusses to create openings on the lower part of the
have relied on traditional architectural techniques to roof for light, access and cross-ventilation.
withstand their harsh climate. The stakes could not be higher. According to a United
The design of structures like the Fijian bure and Samoan Nations Environment Programme report, the 55 most climate-
fale, allows for natural ventilation, resists cyclones, and vulnerable economies have already experienced more than
through material choices, minimises environmental impact. US$500 billion in losses over the last two decades due to
These techniques are now seeing a resurgence as architects climate-related disasters.
explore their potential in building a more resilient future. Pacific Island nations, being among the most vulnerable, are
Across the Pacific, architects are blending traditional facing significant challenges in mitigating further damage.
building techniques with modern sustainability principles, The Pacific cyclone season starts earlier and has become
offering energy-efficient, climate-resilient designs that are more intense.
also culturally significant. Cyclone Lola, which formed in October 2023, brought
Australian architect and Vice President of the Fiji Architects heavy rains and damaging winds to Vanuatu and neighbouring
Association, Peter Rankin, who has managed AAPi Design in islands.
Suva since 2007, has observed firsthand how climate change is It was the seventh pre-season cyclone to form in the region
reshaping the region’s building environment. since 1970, a sign of worsening conditions linked to climate
“The construction sector contributes over 23% of global change.
greenhouse gas emissions,” he says, citing data from C40, a In the Pacific, where the average temperature has already
global network of cities committed to climate action. risen by 1.43 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times,

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