Architecture of Tuvalu
Most of the historic and traditional architecture in Tuvalu is in the form of housing. The houses in Tuvalu were, and still are, primarily made of wood and these rectangular structures were simple in design and appearance. They often stand a bit above the ground and have thatched roofs. Villages also had a meeting house, which was large enough to fit much of the community.
With the arrival of the Europeans the greatest initial change to the architecture came in building materials and techniques. Some foreign materials were added, such as nails, but it was the new woods and more durable joining materials that truly changed the architecture as structures survived much longer due to better construction. In more recent years the building materials have continued to change as they now primarily consist of imported materials, although these can be very expensive so not accessible to much of the population.