Sun, Sea and education: A Transformation of the Rarotongan Sheraton

Abstract

The initial aim of this thesis was to analyze the current state of Rarotongan architecture and to produce a process in which to investigate and produce a local bicultural architecture. It is in response to superficial “Pacific styled” buildings such as hotels that generalize Pacific architecture. The scope of this research would be limited to the Island of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, whilst also touching on some aspects of Pacific culture and architecture. Further research found the idea of slippage useful in creating a dialogue between Pacific and Western architecture, in turn producing a form of bicultural architecture. Slippage is the transformation of the formal to informal through alterations to its original standard form. Research carried out focused initially on Pacific architecture in general, but further on became refined, concentrating on the island of Rarotonga, specifically the abandoned Sheraton hotel. Research was gathered through books, articles, documents, websites, a site visit to Rarotonga and further discussions with local Rarotongans and Rarotongan academics. In addition to this research the abandoned Sheraton hotel complex become the site for testing the application of slippage. The Sheraton’s modern architecture and incomplete state provided an opportunity for testing the ability to combine an existing building with Rarotongan concepts, with the aid of slippage. It was found that the idea of slippage produced an architecture that allowed a depth of manipulation and exploration of space, due to its informal and flexible nature. In conclusion the idea of slippage provided an effective tool in analyzing and rethinking existing spaces through the flexibility of informality.