The societal value of architecture is not just about placemaking or city building, it can also be a powerful social and political symbol. My recent trip to Noumea included a trip to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, a magnificent building by Italian architect Renzo Piano.
Following the political upheaval in New Caledonia in the 1980s, during which indigenous Kanak leaders struggled for recognition from the French government, it was decided to build a cultural centre. The centre was named after Jean-Marie Tjibaou, the Kanak leader and activist who, during the struggle for independence, had recommended the government build a cultural centre for the local Kanak community. Read more