Judges Residence, Apia, Samoa
In 2010, Samoa’s Cabinet Development Committee drafted a Heritage Conservation Policy, and formed the Heritage Advisory Committee, to assist with the conservation of four key heritage buildings. Today, only the former Head of State’s Residence remains. While this building is a physical remnant of early colonial administration (German and New Zealand), it now also symbolises the reemergence of Samoan independence and governance. Its cultural significance has grown with the loss of the other sites. In 2023, government support for its conservation was secured during an exploratory visit by Christian Reepmeyer (DAI - German Archaeological Institute) and Christoph Schnoor (Unitec).
"We initially thought the house was for the Agricultural Expert, but the more we investigated, the more things didn’t add up. After checking the Wellington archives, we found it was actually built for a judge from German South West Africa, now Namibia, and he wasn’t exactly a nice man!" Professor Dr Christoph Schnoor, School of Architecture, Unitec.
Judges Residence, Apia, Samoa
Tanya Thorpe of Archifact – architecture & conservation ltd comments “traditional methods of surveying are much more time consuming and require manual measurements, focusing on targeted points to collect data. As a result, less overall detail is captured, and the process more prone to human error. Led by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), this architecturally driven project highlights the shift from traditional surveys to 3D laser scanning. It provides a baseline for the documentation of any future development but also provides an accurate archival record of the building and its site.”
Recon eagerly took on the project. On the ground in Samoa, UAV pilot and surveyor Matt faced the challenge of securing approval for a drone flight at an altitude of 40m, as the building was near a local airport. With time ticking, he navigated communications from council staff to airport officials. Matt completed a laser scan of both the interior and exterior, created a 3D scan pointcloud and a Scene2Go walk through tool of the building, and a full site orthophoto from the flight.
“The laser scan provides an accurate archival record and a valuable baseline for monitoring future changes or deterioration. The scan produced a variety of data—point cloud, Scene2Go, and a photographic survey—all accessible for reference and as valuable as an in-person visit, especially when the site is remote or difficult to access. The point cloud also enables the creation of 3D models, which are essential for planning potential future developments.” Adam Wild, Director, Archifact – architecture & conservation ltd
Adam continues “with the data produced by Recon, we can capture all the imperfections, slopes, and curves of elements that hand surveying may miss. The scan helped confirm theories about past alterations by accurately documenting changes in floor levels and slopes. It also provided a comprehensive view of the subfloor framing, making it clear where modifications to the building’s footprint have occurred.”
Scene2Go offers an interactive walkthrough experience of the building and site, making it especially valuable when access is limited or unsafe. It provides a deeper description of how the spaces and surroundings relate—something traditional drawings and photos can't fully capture. This is particularly important for the Judge’s Residence, which is currently in a precarious condition. Scene2Go offers a valuable "virtual tour" for anyone who wishes to experience the building.
“Potentially there would be a need for more surveying, there are one or two old colonial buildings left, with one being the old Samoan Administration building. It is currently overgrown by another structure and it’s hard to detect what the original structure is but in terms of politics between the German Reich and Samoa, it’s almost the most interesting building. Going forward, there are ideas whereby demolished buildings could be re-enacted as a ghost structure, and that could be half material half virtual, or fully virtual, so you know it might be that these point clouds help future visitors get an idea of the places that are no longer there.” Dr. Schnoor
“Archifact has worked with Recon on many projects and Recon has always delivered highly successful results. While the scanning was underway in Samoa, the Recon team in NZ were quick to process the data in order to ensure all areas were properly captured before the team needed to return to NZ. Extra care was taken to make sure that absolutely everything that could be captured, was captured. Recon were very accommodating with the travel schedule and were able to manage the travel /weight restrictions to Samoa of their equipment” Adam Wild, Archifact.
“It’s wonderful to work with Recon, very easy going and very un-problematic.” Dr. Schnoor
“It was a cool project to be part of. I got to work alongside the architects, and learn more about their work, and just the amount of detail they go into when dealing with heritage buildings. I also got to sample some wonderful local cuisine!” Matt Covich, Recon UAV Pilot & Surveyor
Enquiries to Recon can be made through our freephone 0800 732 669 or email info@recon.nz.