Architecture of the South Pacific tells of the making of the contemporary South Pacific and its architecture. Presenting material not previously seen in print, it traces the European architectural overlay onto the islands scattered through the vast waters, and its transition towards a regional identity, fashioned by the remote location, the splendid matchless setting, the vibrant colour and the distinctive ethnic mix. A series of themed essays present the story of architectural development in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Samoa, American Samoa and French Polynesia. Of particular interest is the recent architecture, for while there are buildings of note from the nineteenth century, major building activity commenced in the twentieth century, notably after 1980. This book, in full colour, will appeal to architects, armchair-tourists, students, and all those who continue to find the South Pacific the idyll of their dreams."