It was decided to build the Tjibaou cultural centre as one of the « Grands Travaux de la République » (one of the Republic's major achievements). Designed by Renzo Piano, whose project was selected from an international architectural competition, the Tjibaou cultural centre was built in Nouméa, on the Tina peninsula.
Work on the building began in May 1995 and was completed at the beginning of 1998.
The official opening took place on 4 May 1998 and the centre opened to the public on 16 June 1998.
The centre's architecture
With a surface area of 6,970 m², The Tjibaou cultural centre stretches over 8 hectares. It is comprised of 3 villages which include a total of 10 huts, each having an average surface of 90 m² with the tallest culminating at 28 metres. Renzo Piano designed the buildings to blend in with the surrounding vegetation.
He drew inspiration from traditional kanak architecture, especially for the construction of the huts where his designs situated the ten huts in the centre, with their framework mixing metal with wood. The huts are a blend of future techniques such as glue laminated timber structures and traditional materials.
The huts in the three villages are linked to each other by a dorsal spine which evokes the central alley specific to the traditional kanak dwelling. The centre's architecture is in symbiosis with the wind which is ever present on the site.
The cultural centre blends in with the site's original vegetation which has been enriched with numerous species endemic to the country.
The reception area
With a surface area of 816 m², this area enables the public to be welcomed in comfortable surroundings.
A boutique sells craft objects, t-shirts, books, postcards… and a cafeteria provides refreshments and snacks.
The kanak path
The kanak path which winds its way around the mangroves, surrounds the cultural centre and provides the link with Téa Kanaké, the founding hero.
Evoking the origin of beings, the nourishing earth, the ancestral land, the realm of spirits, it leads the visitor through many essences enabling tourists to discover the many plants and their meanings and functions in Melanesian culture.
Every Thursday at 14H30, dancers from the Nyian company perform on the kanak path and tell the story of the myth of Téa Kanaké through music and dance.
The cultural centre's three villages
The main building with a surface area of 6,060 m² is comprised of three villages each having distinct functions.
Village 1
This invites the visitor to discover different facets of Melanesian and Oceanic culture around several themes.
- In the "case Kanaké" (Kanaké hut), the visitor can watch an 8 minute film on specific aspects of kanak culture.
- The "case Bwénaado" permanently houses a collection of kanak art from museums in France, Switzerland, Germany and Australia.
- The "case Jinu" houses works created specifically for the cultural centre by artists from Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya, Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand.
- The Bérétara hall is an exhibition hall for numerous works by artists from the region.
Village 2
This includes the three huts of the "médiathèque" (audio-visual library) as well as a space for the organisation of temporary exhibitions.
Village 3
Slightly apart from the tourist areas, this area is reserved for « culture classes » in residence. School groups experience a week of discovery while staying on site in huts. The village also welcomes dance, painting and music workshops.
The mwakaa culture area
Three traditional huts represent respectively the south and the north of the Mainland as well as the Loyalty Islands. They enable the diversity of traditional architecture to be showcased.
The entertainment areas
The salle Sisia is used to organise indoor entertainment.
Outside, Ape Vila is an area able to seat 1,000 people situated on the edge of the mangroves and Kâmi Yo is an area seating 2,000 built into the side of the hill.
The role of the ADCK
The Agency for the Development of Kanak Culture has the task, since its creation in 1988, of highlighting and promoting kanak culture with the following missions :
- showcasing the archeological, ethnological and liguistic kanak culture,
- encouraging contemporary forms of kanak culture,
- promoting cultural exchanges,
- defining and conducting research programmes.
Bibliography
| « Carnet de travail » | Editions Seuil (Renzo Piano) |
|---|---|
| « Guide des plantes du chemin kanak » | (ADCK) |
Site Internet de l’ADCK : www.adck.nc