Tuvalu Courthouse | Funafuti, Tuvalu

MODE provided a culturally appropriate building design which provides a significant presence, creating a grand entrance with spacious interiors befitting of the Court’s status.

Client: Government of Tuvalu
Location: Funafuti, Tuvalu
MODE Expertise: Architecture

Tuvalu Courthouse | Funafuti, Tuvalu

MODE was provided a brief to design a Courthouse for the Pacific Island of Tuvalu. The building would be an important civic statement as well as needing to double up for other government, civic and cultural functions.

MODE provided a culturally appropriate building design which provides a significant presence, creating a grand entrance with spacious interiors befitting of the Court’s status. The design provided a flexible building which is to be used for its core purpose of trials, in addition to being able to be used for civic functions, cultural ceremonies and office space for Government departments.

The end result was an environmentally sustainable design, simple to construct and easy to maintain. The design incorporates a piano nobile; not only to raise the courthouse onto a podium befitting of its status, but also to provide height to minimise the impact of regular inundation experienced on the island. This also provides a water storage cistern, fed from the rainwater collection system.