STEAMSHIP BAR

Grand Pacific Hotel, 584-618 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji

Visited: 10th August 2014

Design: Before lunch we headed in to the STEAMSHIP BAR. You enter through the exquisite foyer and reception area with its modern/nostalgic fit out that transports you back to 1920. It had that feel of a lodge one would retreat back to after a day of big game hunting. The natural timber flooring against the white French windows and doors simply could not be faulted. The soft yellow lamps on wooden tripod stands entice you in to the comfortable interior of the bar. I found the three ribbed bands that followed the contours of the room, broke up the pillars and reflected the wooden louvers at the top of the door. The brass handles were of a time long gone but still held an antique beauty that will never pass. You could imagine F. Scott Fitzgerald putting to pen to paper many years ago in this bar plotting out the foundations for The Great Gatzby. 

Door resistance: 1.5

Closure mechanism: Manual

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 43 sec

GRAND PACIFIC HOTEL

584-618 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji

Visited: 10th August 2014

Design: Well it was a nice change to finally get out of the resort and see some of the countryside and the nearby islands. We have been exploring the cultural riches of the island and today made our way down to the capital, Suva. Only to realise that everything was closed and most people were at church. However, in our search for lunch we came across the beautifully restored Grand Pacific Hotel. Built by the Union Steam Ship Company in 1914 for their passengers travelling the Transpacific route, the rooms were made to look identical to the first-class staterooms onboard the cruise ships. Queen Elizabeth II and Charles Kingsford Smith were just some of the guests that have stayed here. This year being the 100 year anniversary, a Government run investment group brought the 'Grand Old Lady' back to life. To see the images of it back in 2010 and earlier of it run down and weather beaten and to see it fully restored to its former glory with contemporary touches throughout was amazing. The whole building screamed,'White British Colonialist' with its pompous grandeur and Titanic interior decor. I always find these buildings beautiful, but find they feel awkward and out of place on Continents or Islands that are outside of the UK. There is a pretentious air that permeates you as you wander the grounds. Apart from that, an amazing job had been done and it felt like it had been built yesterday. The reception door was outstanding with concierge and bell boys dressed like characters from a Wes Anderson film. You are instantly transported to another era once you enter the foyer. I found the white double doors with the French windows, accompanied by the two palms, marine pendant lights and the soft grey walls complemented each other a perfectly. The brass handles were divine on the hands and there was an effortless push on the open.

Door resistance: 2

Closure mechanism: Manual

Draft: Medium

Squeak level: 0

LAGOON TERRACE RESTAURANT 

Shangri La Fijian Resort & Spa, Fiji

Visited: 9th August 2014

Design: Nothing screams a family restaurant (kids welcome) at a resort than a marquee plastic door entrance. The non-slip red safety mats over the polished floors so the kids don't run slip, do give that Cannes film festival feel. Except, when you have a bright yellow CAUTION / SAFETY FIRST sign in the middle of the entrance warning people, it kind of takes the glamour away. Plus the two hundred screaming families inside politely fighting over the endless breakfast buffet didn't help either. It's funny because they have used the same menu display stand as the rest of the restaurants, the welcome desk is done in the same mahogany stained wood as the others, the lamp shades were actually quite a nice design and yet as soon as you stick a marquee over the entrance, the whole essence of a tropical island goes from exotic Pacific holiday, to N.S.W. Bachelor and Spinsters Ball. 

Door resistance: 0

Closure mechanism: Never closed except in cyclones.

Draft: Maximum

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 33 secs

GOLDEN COWRIE RESTAURANT 

Shangri La Fijian Resort & Spa, Fiji

Visited: 7th August 2014

Design: Stepping up a little in quality, I came across the beautiful craftsmanship of these carved doors of the Golden Cowrie Restaurant. Also located in the Shangri La, these doors I believe were hand crafted by local Fijian couple, Wea and Maika Cakacaka who did a number of the main doors located throughout the resort. From entering a long passageway you are greeted by these two magnificent hand crafted doors. Stained to a dark rich mahogany red the vertical beams of each door panel emphasize the height giving them a sense of grandeur. There is a clever yet simple S-bend design formed at the top and bottom that not only strengthens the design, but also creates a wonderful tribal pattern. The centre of each door is elegantly decorated with two framed carvings from Wea and Maika depicting the sun, a hut and two village boats on black stained wood. I know with tribal tools and weapons they would bury the wood in the mangrove mud for a number of weeks, this in turn would stain the wood a deep black. I wasn't able to find out if this process was applied to these carvings or whether they were just stained by hand. The effect was still visually striking. The whole time I was at the resort I never once saw these doors closed, I did however manage to give them a push and pull to get an idea of their weight. There was a nice resistance to their swing where I had to use my whole body to get them moving. They were functionally perfect for this climate being rigidly secure when closed and yet they still allowed the sea breeze to flow through easily. The old fishing pots over the lights ran the full length of the passage adding to the Golden Cowrie nautical theme. You are presented with some cowrie artworks, stone tiles and a couple of inoffensive menu boards upon arrival. A little mystery is created as you don't get a full view of the interior until you are around the corner. I found the colours worked well together and with the foliage decorating the left side on the walk up, you are instantly taken to paradise.   

Door resistance: 3.5

Closure mechanism: Manual

Draft: Maximum

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 1.22 min

TAKALI TERRACE RESTAURANT

Shangri La Fijian Resort & Spa, Fiji

Visited: 5th August 2014

I'm back and what a week it was. Eight days in paradise sampling some amazing food and getting to test out some tropical doors. Let's just say there were some interesting doors this time round, from high-end refined right down to a family business just trying to get by without their window being smashed.    

Design: Let's begin with the Takali Terrace located at the lovely Shangri La Resort where I had the pleasure of spending a week. Once again, the tropics and its beautiful climate made it hard to find actual doors to review. When you have amazing weather all year round who needs doors or walls. In the end it becomes more about the entrance than the door itself. 

Supported by four solid natural timber tree trunks, the roof of the entrance sits rigidly on its foundations. I found the trunks projected a tribal strength, an almost raw heroic welcome similar to a Roman pillar. With its freehand font in black surrounded by cartoonish tribal objects, the sign worked well to entice the wandering, hungry white tourists ready for that authentic western styled food that only resorts in other countries can provide. The band of cross-hatched wooden framing around the roof combined with the two blue pots filled with bamboo, helped to unify the tropical essence. It gave one the feeling of walking into a local chiefs ceremonial hall at Movie World on the Gold Coast. I found this entrance simple in its design, and soft on the eye. It was contemporary, symmetrical and not too over the top with island kitsch to turn you off. I think it needed a little more as the the bamboo just looked like someone had thrown it in the pots, put up a couple of menu displays and went, "that'll do". Yet the simplicity seemed to work as well. The placement of the round maitre d desk at the top of the stairs was a nice focal point as you arrived with a glimpse of the restaurant in the background. I must admit there was a certain romance about this entrance at night, however in the day time it lost everything. Without the warmth of the night lights framing it in the dark, during the day, it just looked like a middle aged divorcee coming out of a nightclub at 8am in the morning after a full night out on Barcardi Breezers. 

Door resistance: 0

Closure mechanism: Never closed

Draft: Maximum

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 2.05 min