Page 27 - IB September 2024
P. 27

Building and Construction                                               Building and Construction





























        Cakaudrove Women’s Resource Centre photo by Architects without Frontiers.  Interior of a Samoan house, photographed ca 1900 by Alfred John Tattersall.


        like the ovava, to create natural barriers against king waves,”   it aims to reconnect with the land and traditional knowledge.
        says Liuvaie.                                         “By combining modern techniques with Indigenous
         “Bamboo has been used for centuries across the Pacific,”   practices, we can build homes that reflect our culture, our
        Liuvaie explains.                                   environment, and our future,” he explains.
         “It’s sustainable, durable, and, with the right design, can   Niueans are still grappling with the emotional toll of
        withstand the strongest cyclones. During my presentation,   climate disasters.
        I displayed a bamboo model structure and received     In 2018, survivor of Cyclone Heta and former Aliluki
        overwhelmingly positive feedback. People want solutions that   resident, Esther Pavihi spoke about the importance of
        are affordable and rooted in their culture.         documenting these experiences.
         “I also proposed using bamboo as a building material. It’s   “We lost more than our homes; we lost our stories,” she
        extremely resilient and has a 20-year sustainability window.   said.
        We can build structures that are both cost-effective and   “It’s our responsibility to record these memories for future
        durable.”                                           generations, so they can make informed decisions when the
         According to Niue news media, Television Niue, Liuvaie’s
        approach goes beyond simply rebuilding stronger structures -   Continued on page 30









                                        We are a Civil Engineering Contracting Company
                                        with  a  vision of  providing quality results and
                                        comprehensive and dependable service in the
                                        areas of:
                                        •  earthworks
                                        •  roading
                                        •  drainage
                                        •  watermain construction                VUKSICH & BORICH (FIJI) PTE LTD
                                                                                      Denarau Island, Nadi
                                        •  development and construction of subdivisions  PO Box 794, Nadi
                                                                                       Ph: (679) 675 0266
                                        •  siteworks                                  Mob.: (679) 999 1365
                                        •  land reclamation and foreshore protection    Mladen Matulic
                                        •  golf course & sports facilities construction  vandb@connect.com.fj



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