Naidi Community Hall

The Naidi Community have been without a space for seven years, following the gradual decay of their previous hall, which was eventually deemed to be unsafe for use. As a result, The Naidi Community Hall was built to serve the village of 400 people and 75 households. The brief was to create a space which enabled the Naidi Community to express themselves creatively while providing a structure strong enough to take shelter in, in the event of any future natural disasters.

The design takes the form of a theatre stage, crescendoing out to the front facade which faces towards the centre of the village green. The three large counter-weighted doors open to create a stage to host various performances like the ‘Meke’ – a Fijian traditional dance.

The large ceiling height allows for a natural flow of air throughout the building, which is released through hit-and-miss timber cladding under the roof, resulting in a space that remains cool on the hottest days.

The opening shutters, louvre blades and large panes of glass create a naturally lit space internally, enhancing performances and events taking place within. Construction of the hall took place between July to September 2018 and involved a large team of overseas volunteers and villagers working together to complete the structure.