Lakatoi Sculpture – APEC Haus Papua New Guinea

APEC Haus was commissioned by the Government of Papua New Guinea and designed by Jim Fitzpatrick Architects to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit meetings held in Port Moresby in November 2018.

Following the summit, the building transitioned into a world-class conference and exhibition centre. The architecture of this iconic structure, together with the accompanying public artworks produced by Lump, was designed to reflect the rich cultural traditions of trade and negotiation throughout the region.

The Lakatoi Sculpture was developed in close collaboration with Jim Fitzpatrick Architects, the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG), and Oil Search (PNG) Limited. The sculpture references the sails of the lakatoi traditional sailing vessels used in historic trading expeditions to the Papuan Gulf.

The sails are positioned as if at full mast, symbolising not only the energy and ambition of past trading and exploration journeys, but also celebrating the enduring trade traditions that continue today.

Standing 12 metres tall, the sculpture’s sails are framed by the curved roofline of APEC Haus, which was itself inspired by the form of the lakatoi. The outer structure of each sail is fabricated from marine-grade stainless steel and infilled with strips of hand-woven copper, representing the woven fabric of the original sails.

For more information on APEC Haus in Port Moresby, visit Jim Fitzpatrick Architects (JF Architects).