Fale is the Samoan word for all types of houses, from small to large. In general, traditional Samoan architecture is characterized by an oval or circular shape, with wooden posts holding up a domed roof. There are no walls. The base of the architecture is a skeleton frame.
The traditional Samoan fale, also known as fale Samoa or Samoan faletele, is a traditional house or dwelling that has been used by the Samoan people for centuries.
Master builders The Tufuga Fau Fale is the name given to the builders of the fale.
Many accommodation providers offer fale or fale-style accommodation, from completely traditional structures with nothing between you and the ocean view but a mosquito net and optional pull-down woven blinds.
A Fale will often go to great lengths to maintain their image, even if it means lying or deceiving others. In many ways, being a Fale is seen as a negative trait. It is considered dishonest and disingenuous. People who are labeled as a Fale may be ostracized or excluded from social circles.
A traditional fale is an open-style house with no walls and uses blinds made from coconut fronds. So with a mattress and mozzie net supplied, we couldn't think of a better way to experience the local lifestyle.
More than thirty years in the making, ‘Samoa’s Iconic Fale: How Culture Informs Its Architecture’ by co-authors Peter Higginson and Philippe Lair, is a comprehensive and original study of the Samoan fale (Council House).
The word fale (pronounced fah-leh) is the Samoan word for any type of building. A similar word is used in other Polynesian languages, for example hale in the Hawaiian language, and whare in the Māori language.