Traditional architecture, contemporary luxury

Photos: Courtesy Likuliku Lagoon, Como Laucala, Turtle & Tokoriki Island Resort By Mairena Suárez 

When we think of the Fiji Islands, the first thing that comes to mind is endless beaches, turquoise waters, and the idea of paradise, especially with the memory of summer holidays still so fresh.

But beyond the postcard image, Fiji is also a cultural crossroads: Melanesian, Polynesian, Indian, and British influences have all left their mark on architecture, craft, and daily life.

That blend, just like in Ceuta (you can read my article on Ceuta from last month), is for me an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Because design, when it’s real, doesn’t stop at beauty—it has to be useful, and it must make your everyday life better.

That’s why I want to pause on its architecture and cultural elements, which I think are less widely known.

Bures are Fiji’s traditional houses, built with local wood and palm-thatch roofs.

Vesi, a hardwood that resists water, is used for pillars and main structures because it holds its form for decades and resists insects. You may recognize it as the same wood used for canoes.

The idea is simple: cross-ventilation to keep interiors cool, wide overhanging roofs for shade, and open spaces that flow into the outdoors. The result is fresh, airy homes perfectly adapted to a warm, humid climate.

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