Architecture collective Caukin Studio has completed a wooden cultural hall for a small village in Fiji, replacing the previous structure that was destroyed by cyclones.
The building provides local residents with a venue for weddings, funerals, celebrations, traditional Fijian dance performances and other gatherings.
Called Naidi Community Hall, the structure serves the 400 residents of Naidi on Vanau Levu, the second-largest island in Fiji. It replaces the previous community hall that was destroyed by a cyclone in 2016.

The main exoskeleton of the structure is made from pine poles that are each 20 centimetres in diameter, with a pine truss. The pine poles are set in foundations made from concrete pads.
Built from locally sourced timber, the design is intended to be easily replicated in other Fijian villages. The hall was built by local workers helped by 20 participants from international architecture schools and practices, who were hosted by local families. It took eight weeks to build.

The flat-roofed structure consists of a single open-plan room. At the entrance, three top-hung doors open to create a stage for dances and other performances.
The high-ceilinged room features unglazed clerestory windows along each side, maximising the flow of air.

Below this, louvred glass windows can be opened to further increase ventilation while timber shutters provide protection against bad weather.
The hall was longlisted for Dezeen Awards 2019 in the small building category, along w...