Post #641357 by SpaceAgeCity on Fri, Jun 22, 2012 9:35 AM

A big part of the "is it tiki" answer lies in the intent of the architect. Unfortunately, we often can't determine that intent at this late date.

Sometimes, tiki-themed landscaping, light fixtures, decor, signage, etc, can help us detect that intent. On the other hand, a LACK of those features really tells us nothing, since those features are often stripped away over the decades.

That said, I think there's something to be said for asking, "Would a big tiki, if placed in front of this building, look perfectly at home?" It's certainly not a perfect test, but it's an indicator.

I like Sven's idea for a "How Tiki IS It?" guide. I'd like to see a visual guide of "Tiki Architectural Features," with a building getting a point added for each feature on the list, and perhaps two points added for certain features. Not that this stuff won't still be fairly subjective, but at least we'd have a semi-official system of classification.

Chris