The Department of Mineral Policy & Geohazards Management – through its Geohazards Management
Division (GMD) – issued an invitation in July 2021 to bid for the design of a new office of the Rabaul
Volcanological Observatory, East New Britain (ENB) Province, PNG. The overall intention was to relocate the
existing observatory facility in Rabaul to Kinabot in Kokopo, ENB. After successful formal engagement, MADD
Consultants & Associates Ltd was tasked to conduct an initial site inspection and assessment from 16th August
2021 through to the 26th of August 2021.

Scope of works called for the site investigation and architectural design and documentation of the
proposed relocation of the observatory facility from its current set up in Rabaul to Kinabot in Kokopo, ENB.
The major concern of the institution is to have it in a more organised manner such that every functional
space should be under one roof or a cluster of roofs with proper traffic within required doorstep accessibility
as opposed to the limited volume of space in certain functional spaces.

Therefore, the most appropriate configuration to address the current issue would be to have a layout of the
institution to harmonise all different functional spaces and sections within the new relocated facility under
an organised canopy with a sense of order and inter relationships of the various functionalities.
The design concept “Part of a Whole” summarises the idea of the various functional spaces and sections
under one administration through the reception’s desk. As such below is a successful concept proposal
approved for further development by the client where by MADD CONSULTANTS & Associates is currently
working on the complete technical documentation for tender and construction to house the new
relocation Rabaul Volcano Observatory Institution. The design is such that it captures a disaster prone
approach and has an helipad on the roof top.