Supporting sustainable tourism in Samoa

Samoa’s Government wanted to transform the Mulinu'u Peninsula to the Apia town area to create a safer, more inclusive waterfront reflecting a unique and memorable Samoan experience for locals and visitors.

We were proud to collaborate with friends and partners OSM Consultants to help turn this vision into reality, through the design, consultation, engineering and construction of the Apia Event Space and Clock Tower Boulevard.

The space was officially opened by the Samoan Prime Minister in July 2019, in a ceremony including traditional song, prayer and blessing. Now, locals and visitors have a place to come together and experience Samoa’s beautiful natural environment, art, food, history and culture.

Interwoven throughout the design are motifs and cultural narratives - developed in partnership with local advisors and artists. Five large decorative sails line the edge of the boulevard and draw people from the clock tower down to the sea. Designed by Samoan artist and graphic designer Nadya Va'a, each vibrant and colourful sail has its own story; land, sky and bird, sea and fish, weaving Fa'a Samoa, and navigation.

Beca, together with OSM Consultants, were engaged on the project by the Samoan Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, and Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. The New Zealand Aid Programme, which is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, provided funding as part of a wider programme of support for sustainable tourism in Samoa. 

Our team brought together experts from our environment, design practice, transport infrastructure and traffic divisions, with specialist support in lighting and power supply, to work in collaboration also with the Samoa Land Transport Authority and local utilities agencies.

Check out the before and after here - ​move the arrow sideways to see the transformation!​

Pictured above from left at the official opening ceremony: Vui Sebastian Mariner, Managing Director of OSM Consultants Ltd; Emma Stiven; Tom Abbott; John Youdale; Graeme Roberts and Ying Liu​.