Founded in Suva, Fiji, in 1971 by Stuart and Gilly Huggett as Architects Pacific Design Partnership (APDP), Architects Pacific has grown into one of the Pacific region's most respected and enduring architectural practices. For more than five decades, we have delivered innovative, environmentally responsive, and culturally significant projects, helping shape communities throughout Fiji and the wider Pacific. For much of our history, the practice operated from a beautiful heritage timber residence near the centre of Suva. This iconic building served as the home of Architects Pacific for over 50 years, evolving alongside the practice and providing an inspiring environment for generations of architects and designers. In 2022, as part of the firm's continued evolution, the original Suva office was closed, marking the end of an important chapter in our history. Recognising opportunities to expand our regional presence, Architects Pacific established an Auckland studio on Hobson Street in 2007. The Auckland and Suva studios worked seamlessly together through shared ownership and integrated digital technologies, strengthening the firm's creative capability, technical expertise, and regional reach. Following many successful years of operation, the Auckland office has recently closed as the practice consolidated its operations in Fiji.

Today, Architects Pacific operates from its modern head office in Vatuwaqa, Suva. This purpose-designed workplace provides a collaborative environment that supports innovation, efficiency, and the delivery of high-quality architectural and design services to clients throughout the Pacific.From the beginning, Architects Pacific has been entrusted with projects of regional and international significance. Among our earliest landmark commissions were the headquarters for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva and, in association with Belt Collins and Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison & Tong of Honolulu, major works for The Fijian Hotel. These pioneering projects established the firm's reputation for excellence and innovation across the region. Our design for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat headquarters received international recognition and was nominated for the prestigious Pritzker Prize in Architecture, affirming our commitment to producing architecture of exceptional quality while remaining deeply connected to the culture, environment, and communities of the Pacific.

Today, our portfolio encompasses hospitality, commercial, civic, education, healthcare, residential, industrial, tourism, and master planning projects across Fiji and the Pacific. Every commission reflects our commitment to thoughtful design, environmental responsibility, technical excellence, and lasting client relationships. More than 50 years after our founding, Architects Pacific continues to build on its legacy of innovation while embracing the opportunities of the future. From our head office in Vatuwaqa, Suva, we remain committed to creating architecture that is timeless, sustainable, and distinctly Pacific.

In the late 70s and 80s the practice expanded to work in other parts of the Pacific and carried out significantly larger and more complex projects. We became strongly identified with an architecture of and for the Pacific Islands - then Prime Minister describing our work as ‘The Pacific Way in Architecture’. A major strength of the practice is the documentation of large and complex projects.The Reserve Bank of Fiji Building, completed in the mid 80s, was then Fiji’s Largest and most complex office building. An aspect of our work which derived from our interest in Pacific architecture was the design of ‘Pacific Villages’ at World Expos.This very stimulating aspect of our work resulted in several important commissions. Our aim is to create buildings that are comfortable, efficient, cost effective, long lasting and culturally identifiable. We believe that references to ancient knowledge, culture and specialist skills are an integral part of the evolution of modern architecture. 

Our fundamental approach to design has been to involve the client in the design process so that the end result achieves two significant goals: 

• The client has maximum input and interaction with the design process

• The client is conversant with the reasoning behind the design decisions of the project

In recent years we have had increasing interest from overseas clients who wish to draw on our experience in three specific and related areas:

• The need for a design approach which incorporates and reflects the culture and traditions of the population in which the project is located.

• The need to respond sympathetically to the remote sites in a tropical environment whilst using simple building techniques to advantage in innovative ways.

• Our use of technology for speed and accuracy of communication.

Fiji’s special geographic, climatic, and cultural characteristics form a singular and special architectural environment. Until recently the special design problems of the warm, humid tropics have not received the attention they merit from the international architectural profession. Over the years Architects Pacific has acquired unique experience in this field. Humid climates, land mass subject to earthquakes and cyclones require careful understanding if buildings are to be safe, comfortable, efficient, cost effective, long lasting and culturally identifiable. Not only in the Pacific, but also in our more international projects, we are advocating the involvement of local craftsmen, and hope that in so using their traditional skills, younger generations will be inspired to recognise their value and evolve their craftsmanship. We believe that the pride in ancient knowledge, culture and in their specialist skills are an integral contribution to the evolution of modern architecture. AP provides a full range of architectural services, from master planning to design, documentation and construction supervision.