Fale

A Samoan house.

To borrow from “The Samoan Fale“, a report published by UNESCO:

Samoa is the last of the Polynesian countries to make extensive use, even today, of its own traditional architecture in the construction of houses.

Nowhere in the Pacific is a more felicitous traditional dwelling to be found.

Pleasing to the eye, a standing tribute to its builders, open to the cooling sea breeze, highly resistant to cyclones, able to accommodate large numbers of people for formal meetings, to eat, relax, sleep … the fale does indeed seem to be without peer in combining so many positive features.

UNESCO 1992 report, “The Samoan Fale”