fiji island community works with CAUKIN studio to build coconut oil processing plant

through a collaborative effort with fiji’s bula batiki community, CAUKIN studio designs and builds a facility programmed for the production of coconut oil. for over four years, the community-owned collective has been producing virgin coconut oil as a means to forward the development of batiki island and to take control of its economic independence. with four villages on the island, the collective is comprised of an harmonious collection of three hundred people. the introduction of CAUKIN studio’s centralized coconut oil facility — built of expressive timber — is driven by the previously informal and unorganized system of production which had been scattered inefficiently across the island.

image courtesy of CAUKIN studio

CAUKIN studio organizes its coconut oil processing plant for bula batiki as a series of flexible spaces which can accommodate groups both small and large. the project offers the community a centralized space which is adaptable, and which can be expanded in the event of a new line of seasonal products. the facility provides areas programmed for the production, sterilization, changing, and storage of virgin coconut oil — introducing one building to house the whole cycle. the expressive facade is designed to integrate large swathes of black mosquito netting, drawing influence from the local batiki patterning which emerges through the orientation of the material and placement of the apertures.

image courtesy of CAUKIN studio

with respect for its remote, natural context, caukin studio designs the coconut oil processing facility to be completely self-sustaining. the project employs solar energy to power production machinery, a mono-pitched roof for the collection of rainwater, and passive ventilation strategies. the self sufficient closed cycle introduces to the community a great amount of independence while minimizing future operation cost. the adaptive, on site design allowed for the exchange of knowledge and experience between the international team and local community members. over the eight week build process, the team lived among the local people, housed and fed by their adopted families. the project ultimately proved to bring the entire group and community together in a true display of teamwork.

image courtesy of CAUKIN studio

image courtesy of CAUKIN studio

image by jack lehanne

image by jack lehanne

image by jack lehanne

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project info:

project title: coconut oil processing plant

architecture: CAUKIN studio

location: batiki island, fiji

build length: eight weeks

project leaders: harry thorpe and rosie hanks

project participants: niamh blackett, ife somefun, julia estrella assis de faria, mollie powell, jack lehane, harry hogan, rose hanmer, iulia popescu, caius jucan, james pope, jack jefferson, alex ferragu, irene dumitrascu-podogrocki, tom smith, maura mcgrath, jason vo, kristin read, melissa ruckert, katharina fesenmair, celina qiu and
helena nghipunduka.

project partners: bula batiki, TECA: the earth care agency, MoA: ministry of agriculture (fiji), MITT: ministry of industry, tourism and trade (fiji), centrespace design

photography: callum drummond, jack lehane