Indigenous Culture and Architecture in the South Pacific Region

Abstract

Through an analysis of over 100 papers presented at conferences of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand and published in its journal Fabrications, this retrospective study examines the development of architectural history and theory within SAHANZ, with reference to the indigenous cultures of the South Pacific and South-East Asia regions. Over the last 25 years, SAHANZ researchers have departed from a Eurocentric preoccupation with the region's historiography to a broadening set of cross-cultural themes that move beyond commentary about the influences of these indigenous groups on transported colonial architectural styles from the 1800s, to more complex issues about the representation of indigenous cultural identity in contemporary architecture, and the processes of cultural change and transforming Indigenous architectural traditions. Gradual infusion of contributions from disciplines such as architectural anthropology, cultural studies, history, political science and fine arts into the debate has culminated in a sustained revision of what architecture is in the South Pacific and how cross-cultural theory may serve the region's architectural production in a socially and environmentally appropriate manner, reflecting the ongoing presence and cultural significance of the first peoples.