Socrates Never Cried and Jesus Never laughed : Realising the Fale Alea 'o Tongan under the concept of Ofs

Abstract

When Architecture is Not Enough For this architectural thesis, West’s remedy is modified into a Tongan context, where Paideia, becomes moments of teaching and influence. Parrhesia becomes a language of honesty and openness, and Love becomes the social binding agent of ‘Ofa’. This is applied onto the real case of Tonga building its House of Parliament (Fale alea) as the process to realise that project by. Instead of the normal process, that as a foreign funded development, it comes pre-bundled with. A behind closed-doors affair, that despite its rhetoric of ‘enhancing; democracy, it paradoxically distances democratic participation from the start. Considering that Tonga, per capita is amongst the highest receivers of foreign-aid. Much of it in the form of infrastructure that promises to boost its economy, stabilise its politics and consequently bring cohesion to its society. Yet, Tonga perpetually remains the opposite of all that. This thesis however recognises that the practice does leave assets, that Tonga would otherwise not have. But it believes the key for their success is in using a different, people-centered process of realising these buildings, so that they live up to their development bombast. Although proven, the current process leaves a ‘free’ building but nothing more. Not the experience, learning nor the fulfilling glow of self-achievement for the nation to continue building upon. Instead, of standing as evidence of the uselessness of this development model. It is clear that architecture, in and of itself, cannot create democracy or bring good governance. But good governance, builds good architecture that enhances democracy. In making this case, the thesis holds up the powerful symbolism and timeliness of the Fale alea project, against the country’s decades long troubled democratic journey. And demands, with evermore urgency, that the Fale Alea, be realised under the process that reflects the quality of democracy Tonga desires. Therefore, this proposed process must be openly transparent, and centered on engaging with the demos, to give the ordinary citizen a sense of ownership and stake-hood in the project. Not by way of the normal client consultation. That is just, cheap-schooling to the paideia of immersing the project into a thoughtful supporting framework of public engagements. Tasked with taking the project(s) beyond the architecture, and into the hearts, minds, and homes of the Tongan people. Educating, familiarising, and garnering their emotional investment, and bond the people with the project. Consequently, it seals the building’s identity as a beacon of Tongan democracy, well before its grand opening. Why leave it to chance to see the democratic success, or failure of the Fale Alea, and the following foreign funded buildings? For while it is impossible to give everyone a say, it is possible to give everyone the feeling of participation, into what is the most important building of their age. Making the difference between a government building, which Tonga has many, and a democratic one, of which this thesis contends Tonga has none thus far.