Samoa: Round dome shaped buildings – fale, sweet fale!

Samoans favor high, domed structures to live in. Each home and building is lashed together without nails, compliments of savvy Samoan craftsmanship. Heavy tropical rains easily run off the durable sugarcane roofs that are supported by tall posts. A good roofing job can last 15 years!

You might ask yourself: Why do skilled Samoan builders fail to add walls to the house? It is all for a good reason! Take the dense tropical humidity, add temperatures topping 88 degrees, and you too will want a cool breeze! Hot air rises to the high ceilings, leaving room for cooler air to move freely through the house.

Do Samoans ever need walls? Yes! Walls come in handy during hurricane season. Coconut leaves woven into screens or blinds can be let down from the ceiling in the event of severe weather.

You can test the success of these specially designed buildings right here in our Samoan Village. The Chief’s House is one of the best examples, and one of our villagers will be happy to give you a tour.