Giant fale rises at university

By ANGELA GREGORY

The second-largest traditionally styled Pacific meeting place in the Southern Hemisphere is set to become a new Auckland landmark.

The fale being built at the University of Auckland is part of a $6 million complex which will include new buildings to house facilities for Pacific research, teaching and student services. It has taken 10 years of planning and consultation with Pacific communities.

The timberwork of the 12m-high fale is already making a strong architectural statement in Grafton Gully.

"The main challenge we faced was to design a traditional fale that could withstand the Auckland climate and conditions," said principal architect Ivan Mercep of Jasmax.

The giant framework was built using New Zealand radiata pine, both solid, straight timbers and timbers that had been laminated so they could be curved.

Mr Mercep said traditional fales were supported on internal scaffolding while they were built. But at 26m long and 15m wide this was much bigger than a traditional fale and the system did not meet New Zealand structural standards.

Instead the timber poles were connected with bolted steel gussets, which will be covered with traditional lashings.

The other challenge is to keep the Auckland weather at bay, as traditional fales are open structures. The university fale will have glazed walls, glazed doors and louvres.

Academic wings and a small multi-media building will surround the fale and malae (greeting area) in village style, with Pacific art displayed throughout the complex.

The centre is due to be completed this year to meet the needs of more than 2000 Pacific students at the university as well as other students whose areas of interest include Pacific studies and the Pacific communities of Auckland.

Dr Melani Anae, director of the university's Centre for Pacific Studies, said the fale, which will also be used for wider community events, was the second biggest in the Pacific after the one at the National University of Samoa.