Abstract
The classical Tongan fale (The Tongan term fale describes a building for human habitation.) constructed in the capsular plan with elliptical roof form popular during the nineteenth century and into the mid-twentieth century has been described well (see Austin 1997; Vea 1985; Tuita 1988; Kaloni 1990, 1997; Potauaine 2006, 2010); however, there has been little research on the architectural developments of the fale in the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries (‘Ilaiū 2007, 2009, 2011). This chapter discusses the emergence of fale puha , fale ‘ Amelika and fale tufitufi (Fale puha, fale ‘Amelika and fale tufitufi are terms coined by the author for description purposes.) as twenty-first-century Tongan house types.
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Notes
- 1.
The Tongan term fale describes a building for human habitation.
- 2.
Fale puha, fale ‘Amelika and fale tufitufi are terms coined by the author for description purposes.
- 3.
This is a recently adopted term, loaned from the English term for ‘hut’, referring to the temporal and makeshift quality of craftsmanship.
- 4.
Toli is a colloquial Tongan term and short form for toli ‘akau, which describes picking fruit from a tree.
- 5.
A house with a gable roof structure.
- 6.
A house built using rafters within the roof structure.
- 7.
Tongan architects have commented that the faletolo (porch addition) may have been inspired by the European settlers’ timber cottages, while others suggest that the construction of a faletolo at the Royal Palace may have been a source of inspiration (Vea 2007).
- 8.
The Tongan word tapa literally means ‘the border of’.
- 9.
A term used by Tongan people to describe a building that has a temporary and makeshift quality.
- 10.
The USA is considered the more ‘prestigious’ and ‘preferred’ of three ‘host’ countries to which Tongans Nations migrate (other countries are Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand) (Lee 2003: 23–24).
- 11.
For further discussion of the concept of ‘slippages’, see Bhabha (1994: 86).
- 12.
The term tufitufi means ‘to collect’ and in this chapter will be used to refer to the reclamation of building materials.
- 13.
Reasons for return often include the desire to build a holiday home for themselves and their family remaining overseas, to begin a business or, as in the case in most situations, to retire in Tonga.
- 14.
Ironically, using the damaged fitting to complete the set assisted to ‘disguise’ the reclaimed nature of the building materials.
- 15.
The limestone platforms built by the early Tongans in ancient times.
- 16.
Based on observations and discussions with transnational Tongans, their intention to retire in Tonga suggests this architectural phenomenon is just the cusp of further fale developments.
- 17.
For example, in 2014, homeowner Petelō Vākē imported second-hand goods from the USA to sell in Tonga from his fale (designed as a shop). The profit would then fund the aforementioned masonry extension. In the transactions, other goods (including a pig) were exchanged. The pig was nurtured, possibly to hold a celebration at the completion of the project and to thank relatives for their assistance. Concurrently, Petelō filled the same container with yams, as a method to also reciprocate for a relative’s assistance on the project. Petelō also planned to export yams to the USA to cover the purchase of building materials for the family’s next fale project.
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‘Ilaiū Talei, C. (2018). The Twenty-First-Century Tongan Fale: The Emergence of Fale Puha, Fale ‘Amelika and Fale Tufitufi. In: Grant, E., Greenop, K., Refiti, A., Glenn, D. (eds) The Handbook of Contemporary Indigenous Architecture. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6904-8_26
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