Adapation, accretion and architecture : a proposal for the island of Funafuti

Abstract

The climate is shifting and this shift brings with it a number of effects. Perhaps the most devastating of these effects is sea level rise and its impact on low-lying island nations. One of these nations: Tuvalu, may have to face the very real possibility of mass migration as the situation progresses. But Tuvaluans do not want to abandon their homeland; to do so would be to abandon their cultural identity.

This research project explores an alternative to mass migration, an architectural solution that addresses current and future challenges, improves self-sufficiency, and strengthens cultural identity. This solution revolves around integrating traditional Pacific Island design principles with a number of contemporary strategies and technologies. The result draws upon the past and the future in order to tackle the problems of the present.

Project site: Vaiaku area of Funafuti, Tokelau