Privacy and crowding concepts in Melanesia: the case of Papua New Guinea

This paper examines the concepts of privacy and crowding in Melanesian and particularly among Papua New Guinean societies. PNG societies are chosen as the case study because they are invariably described as “lacking any form of privacy”. First, the paper defines the concepts, how Melanesians and Papua New Guineans apply and perceive them. Then the paper describes cultural forms or etiquette of achieving privacy and/or avoiding crowding. Finally, the paper recommends that cultural norms need to be encoded in the design of contemporary urban spaces, houses and settlements. It is only then that designs become beneficial in the moulding of social relations and in the maintenance of personal or group privacy.