Building a Natural Rarotonga.

From rusty iron sheds to luxury villas, Rarotonga has a diverse architectural landscape. I was lucky enough to spend some time in beautiful Rarotonga this month and couldn’t help but have some thoughts about the buildings that scatter the island paradise.

There is no questioning Rarotonga’s natural beauty. The small island nation maximises its resources to provide decent infrastructure and prides itself on its lack of rubbish. There is a scatter of high-end resorts and villas mixed with local homes and seaside restaurants. This unique blend somehow works together to feel inviting and friendly no matter your location on the island.

My key take though was the lack of natural building materials. Cost, ease of supply and durability concerns have impacted the choice to use unnatural materials throughout the island. I feel like in an ideal world there is an opportunity for Rarotonga to craft an architectural language around natural and raw materials. To reintroduce natural materials and forms to help Raro improve the quality and look of its buildings without having to overspend or import unnecessary goods.

I can’t help but feel as though it’s New Zealand's responsibility to assist and supply cheap, natural and sustainable building products to our neighbouring countries like Rarotonga. We have the resources to research and develop products that could improve the sustainability of not only New Zealand homes but also our neighbours. Something to think about.

If you have any thoughts on this topic I would love to hear them! reach out at hello@909design.co or DM me on Instagram @909_design