page_title: Architecture of Fiji
section_title: Residential buildings
hierarchical_section_title: Architecture of Fiji / Local architectural style / Residential buildings
caption_attribution_description: English: The_Government_House,_Suva.jpg
context_page_description: The architecture of Fiji has its own unique style and pattern. While Fiji is a famous travelling destination among tourists for its beaches and beauty, its architecture is unique and particularly attractive. Fiji is a pacific island belonging to the scope of tropical marine climate, whose capital and the country's largest city is Suva. As a coastal city, the main architectural style of the urban centre, Suva has a foreign classical beauty, antique as if back to a few centuries ago. It often reflects the socio-cultural heritage of the locale and the country. However, with the development in the society of Fiji and the spread of globalization, the architectural scenario of Fiji has incorporated several foreign styles without affecting the original style and yet enhancing the aesthetic value. The richness of Fiji's architecture can be comprehended from diverse styles of architectural designs for different kinds of buildings. Moreover, the architecture of the country changes with region to region and has varied influences.
context_section_description: The architectural design patterns of the residential buildings in Fiji is different from that of the resort hotels/villas. In numerous areas, people still use the village layout designs where the use of reed and palm wood that reflects on the culture and ensure ecological sustainability. Also, the use of reed in protecting the residential buildings in the cases of fire. While the urban space is being infiltrated by the brick and cement culture, many regions of the country still have traditional houses called bure/vale. Bure means men's temple or house, today it refers to more traditional residential houses. Bures are built of palm and wood are usually have a thatched floor or matted woven flooring. The traditional bure has no window and is quite dark, the only entrance is through a long-side door. In the contemporary times, bures have adapted according to change, while the traditional Bures lacked windows, has a single door or water and electricity, the Bure today is well equipped with modern facilities, doors and windows. Furthermore, the architectural patterns or styles of the residential buildings also depend on the geographical feature and natural environment surrounding the area as well as their economic impacts.  For example, people living near the Taveuni volcano build low-rise buildings so that higher economic damage can be avoided in case the buildings are affected by volcanic eruption. In these ways, the architectural pattern of residential buildings in Fiji depend on numerous factors including cultural, geographic, environmental, and economic aspects.
caption: The Government House in Suva
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