SAMOA HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Apia, Western Samoa - 1984

The Baha'i House of Worship in Western Samoa, located on a mountain­side over­looking the capital Apia, was designed as a symbol of unity and peace, open to all people for prayer and meditation. Samoa's tropical land­scape and the interesting native struc­tures (falés), with their open plan, geometric form, and high, steep curved roofs, were the main sources of inspiration for the design. The Main Hall seats up to 1000 and a mezzanine rings the perimeter providing additional seating for 200, including the choir. The white mosaic tiled dome rests atop nine pairs of buttresses clad in flamed granite of a soft red tone, creating the required visibility against the tropical green of the mountain. The openness of the building allows for natural ventilation and a view of the beautiful surroundings. The selected white fair-face textured concrete, made with coral aggregate from the close-by Niue Islands, was the only suitable material for the South Pacific's humid climate and was chosen after extensive research