“Strengthening Ha’apai” An Architectural research project exploring the history of Pangai’s fish market and port, proposing a working outcome to strengthening the Ha’apai island group. Master Explanatory Document With supervision from: Jeanette Budgett Michael Austin A Research Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture. Unitec Institute of Technology 2018 Juan Blas Pedreira 1353012 A concern for the rural islands of Ha’apai and its community was my motivation for this explanatory document. My childhood was largely spent around the ocean. My family and I would spend our summers sailing the coast of New Zealand. Soon a lifelong dream to sail the world became a reality and for the last 10 years I have voyaged on numerous trips to the islands in the Pacific. PREFACE Having travelled around Tongan islands I became attached to the people, and the copious, untouched, captivating islets that make up the landscape of Ha’apai. When deciding on the topic for my research document it became apparent to me that I could deliver an architectural project to help the current situation in the Ha’apai Islands, in an attempt to create something meaningful for the community. The production of this document has broadened my knowledge of Tonga’s history, and the influence anga fakapalangi has had on their architecture and daily way of living. 3 Many people are to thank for assisting This research project focuses on the Having traveled there, there is an evident me in the development of this research marketplace and the existing port opportunity for architecture to achieve project. Firstly, thank you to my structure in Pangai. Once the primary a unity through building, while also supervisor Jeanette Budgett for your market place in the whole of Ha’apai benefiting from the influence of climatically guidance and support. This document island group, it’s destruction, caused from responsive Pacific architecture, as a would have been very different if it the cyclone has had a serious impact on solution to connecting its rich heritage. weren’t for your invaluable opinions. the community and their economy. With EXAMPLE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS EXAMPLE ABSTRACT no place for trade, the community’s future With vast ocean coasts, there is an To my family, mum and dad, who on the Ha’apai islands looks bleak. opportunity for Pangai and the Ha’apai supported me from day one. Thank islands to become the primary source you for always been there, your caring With natural disasters increasing in of the eco-tourism and fishing industries thoughts helped fuel my determination. frequency, every day, more and more in Tonga. En-richening the people to a people leave the islands, diminishing the healthier and prosperous future. Thank you to my fellow Unitec students, this possibility for a brighter future. journey has bound beautiful friendships. Lastly to Hannah, for keeping me sane when I couldn’t see the light. For being in my corner all these years. 4 5 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7. 0 8.0 Introduction pg.9 State of Knowledge pg.15 Site + Context pg.62 Design Process pg.79 Design Outcome pg.113 Conclusion pg.119 Bibliography pg.120 Appendix pg.130 1.1 Research Question 2.1 Geography 3.1 Site Location 4.1 Design Brief 6.1 Reflections 7.1 References Tonga Design Influence 1.2 Project Outline Ha’apai Islands 3.2 Social Context 7.2 List of Figures Districts in Ha’apai 4.2 Building Resilience 1.3 Aims and Objectives 3.3 Physical Context 2.2 History and Culture Port in Pangai 4.3 Master Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE 1.4 Methodology Anga Fakatonga Fish Market in Pangai Walkway People of Tonga Site Visits Auckland Waterfront Walkway Cultural Context Marina Market, Restaurant & Weaving 2.3 Pacific Architecture House Features in Typologies of the Pacific Boat Shed/Workshop Tongan Architecture Tongan Fale Architectural Approach Western Influence 2.4 Natural Disasters/Threats Tropical Cyclones Aftermath 2.5 Industries of Tonga Ha’apai Industries Re-Establishing Ha’apai Ha’apai Development Master Plan 2.6 Precedents Nest We Grow Besiktas Fish Market Nev House 6 7 1.0 INTRODUCTION 8 Figure1 Tongan Man in Ha’apai 9 1.1 RESEARCH QUESTION Falehanga - Weaving house. Falesiu - Meeting house for fisherman, How can a waterfront architectural proposition uplift the current socio-economic problems in Ha’apai, while providing a cyclone Fale Alea - Meeting house. resilient solution? Alafolau - Boathouse, storage place for fisherman. Feleoko - Food storage house. GLOSSARY 1.2 PROJECT OUTLINE Fale Va’inga - Game House Nature has the capacity to produce an uncertainty for the future. Explicitly, this research project will focus ‘Inasi - Inasi as a practice literally and metaphorically giving one’s “best” to honour or advance Tonga, overwhelming feeling of joy. We take In order to ensure a positive future for the around revitalising the existing wharf and nationally and locally, in return, elevating one’s status in society. nature for granted; but what if nature Ha’apai Group locals must understand waterfront, in an attempt to strengthen fought back? What if the welcoming gentle how to build to withstand the harsh Ha’apai’s main income sources - tourism Natural Disaster - Natural event such as a flood, earthquake, or cyclone that causes great damage or loss of life. The breeze on a hot day turned into a storm? tropical conditions. Western influenced and fisheries - analysing mechanisms to risk of a natural event turning into a disaster always depends the force of the natural event itself and the Would you be prepared? For life in the architecture is not the solution. integrate an interactive public precinct living conditions of the regions affected. Pacific Islands, nature isn’t always kind. into Pangai’s waterfront. In the past 10 years Tonga has fronted 7 As the world becomes more accessible Va - Samoan origin. A space between. Denotes the relationships between people, places and social high category tropical cyclones.1 the core values and traditions of countries The new waterfront will play an active environments. like Tonga are becoming vulnerable. An role in providing the people a place to This project addresses the effects that essential intent for the architecture and sell their produce that they gather from the Anga fakatonga- The Tongan way various tropical cyclones have had on it programme is to create a hub where land and sea. It will also become a new Tonga, Ha’apai. Each cyclone adding anga fakatonga (‘the Tongan Way’) is place where tourists and local inhabitants Anga fakapalangi- The Western way damage to an already bruised economy expressed and celebrated. Additionally, can interact. Making the Ha’apai islands and its infrastructure in Ha’apai. It has this project will explore how an more appealing to the tourists, while Moana - A body of open water, in particular the sea affected financial security and brought assimilation between traditional Tongan also giving locals the opportunity for a 1 “List of Tropical Cyclones that have architecture and modern technologies financial gain. Fahu - Father’s oldest sister accorded the highest levels of respect within her kin group. Acts as the family matriarch. affected at least a part of Tonga from 1960 - Pres- can produce resilience against the harsh ent,” accessed April 2, 2018, http://www.met. tropical climate. gov.to/index_files/TC_list_update.pdf Diaspora - The migration, dispersion, or spread of people from their original homeland 10 11 1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.4 METHODOLOGY The focus of this project is to produce a maximize the financial value that This research project incorporated the This led to research ‘by design’. The realistic, responsive design solution that tourism brings to the islands. following two frameworks; research ‘for approach was to design with the literature will create opportunities for the community • Integrate cyclone resilience into the design’, and research ‘by design’. at hand, whilst drawing upon immediate in Ha’apai. The proposal will enhance built form as a precedent to educate contextual feedback, such as location, Pangai’s waterfront. This can be achieved locals. Research ‘for design’ is explored through surrounding communities, infrastructure by engaging the locals and tourists in a People of extensive precedent and literature - based pre-cyclone, and future proposals and marketplace where locals can trade their Preserving Tongan architecture is a key on the history of Tonga, climate, natural industries, which will amalgamate with Ha’apai INFLUENCED WITH PACIFIC goods resulting in a financial benefit to driver. The intention is not to criticize DESIGN APPROACH disasters, Tongan architecture, Western the design intent. A seesaw process the community. As well as a space where the Western culture, but to propose influence overall and in architecture, of research and design was constant Tongan ceremonies can be celebrated a solution that can benefit from the and exploring further into the reasons in the project until the design intention and shared. attributes that each culture has to offer. why outer islands like Ha’apai group are was achieved. The questions raised Currently in touristic destinations such struggling for survival. There is limited through initial research were resolved The following goals are to be achieved: as Ha’apai, Pacific architecture is the published literature on traditional Tongan using various methods, such as 3D and common typology in holiday resorts, architecture, however information from 2D diagramming, sketching, massing • Celebrate Tongan culture, informed exhibited as a form of grandeur. Yet, this Port Waterfront other South Pacific Island, such as Samoa, in context, and modeling. 3D physical in the design desirable structure is rarely seen in local will aid where lacking. The majority of modeling was the most effective method • Combine modern and traditional communities, instead adopting foreign this material was sourced from academic to explore design ideas and further building techniques to showcase how techniques.