LOCAL architects have been urged to explore designs and use material that will stand the test of element and time, following the widespread infrastructural damage in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Architects gathered in the capital on the weekend for the revived Fiji Architects Association awards night, where Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure & Transport, Vijay Nath noted that local architectural capability had never before been challenged as it was by the category-5 TC Winston.
“It is a wakeup call for us to be more innovative, more stringent and more rigorous in our approach towards designing and building,” he said.
“It has also raised expectations of ordinary Fijians that you our local architects will develop the capability to design the building we want and need in Fiji. It means that you will need to be better, more efficient, more modern and more self-critical.”
Nath stressed that Fiji would face many challenges encompassing climate change, urbanization, the need for better urban design and keeping in line with evolving technology and an increasing population, which architects would be required to adapt to.
Around 10 awards were presented, with Conway Beg scooping the main award, alongside the Residential New Project and Interior Architecture awards for projects on Naisoso Island, Nadi.
The Association was formed 41 years ago.