Ethan Hansell-Hunt from Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka, Unitec, School of Architecture has received Highly Commended at the 2024 Student Design Awards for his project 'Nofoaga Natia (A Hidden Place)'.
Judges citation
Modern and traditional approaches come together in a beautiful proposition that invites change in practice while respecting historic foundations. With a purist’s sensibility, the balance of positive and negative spaces is successfully achieved in a proposition that respects its Samoan community, while opening it up to tourism.
New and old appear at peace with each other in the village setting, with the designer pushing traditional building technologies to achieve a contemporary take on the fale, resulting in a respectful outcome for community and guests. People from near are invited to experience community and benefit from commerce, people from afar are invited to connect with culture and customs.
Project description
Nofoaga Natia combines traditional Samoan and contemporary architecture, creating a space for villagers and tourists in the underdeveloped inland village of Aleisa, Upolu.
The project provides a market for locals to sell their goods, and a restaurant and communal space that invites tourists to experience food, craftsmanship and fa’a Samoa. Elements of the customary fale – in particular tala (rounded end section) and paepae (platform) – are incorporated into the design, which honours the past while embracing the future.
