i

Last week, was of course, the unveiling of the iPad, Apple’s biennale Next Big Thing.

However, on a more local note, last week also featured another product launch: the iLoft, or 85 Waterloo Quay. Normally a property development isn’t pitched as a ‘product’, but in this case the cue comes straight from the developers themselves. Their promotional effort is certainly prolific, boasting not one, but two websites, a twitter account, and a (now defunct) webinar.

For all its enthusiasm, the general voice of their marketing appears ill-considered. As with Apple, their choice of name suggests either naive ignorance, or an arrogant attempt to generate buzz. Given the gaudy slogans and colours spread across the iLoft promotions, Conrad Properties seems to have gone for the former.

If you can get past the absurdity of labeling a building with a prefix popularised by consumer electronics, iLoft serves as a decent description of the building and its inhabitants. The development features 288 units, with the majority being approxmimately 41m2. This size — and the i —indicate the target market: the young professional.

Each of these units is distributed across two levels. The architects — ArcHaus — used a similar loft layout in their design for Tattoo, and its good to see this approached repeated.

The Archaus website…

Basins

In other news, keep an eye out on this website from NZTA regarding the long-awaited ‘options’ for the flyover in the Basin Reserve. There’s nothing much there at present, as they have yet to load on the different ‘options’ their design team has come up with, but they promise to undertake some ‘consultation’ with the public, in 2 phases:
“The first will be in February…

Supreme Pacifika

Updated! Now featuring Paisley Park! A short post – featuring the work of one of our readers who prefers to remain uncredited: showcasing the new Supreme Court, but with a more pacific-style wrapping to the ’screen’. Frangipani rules!

Naughty: but somehow satisfyingly appropriate. Feel free to send us in your versions with other alternative schemes, should you feel so inclined, and we’ll post…

Scaffold’s Off

Hooray, the Dominion Post is finally taking an interest in architecture! Well Done to their photographer Kent Blechynden with his page 3 photo, a full frontal spread of the boys from PyraDeck striking the scaffolding on part of the Sodo apartments.

It’s a lovely photo – well composed, full of little colour accents ie the fluoro Hi-Vi vests of the workers, and its really…

iWant

In one of the increasingly un-secretish and badly-kept secrets that Apple used to be so good at, the world’s internet media has been double guessing what Apple’s “Media Event” on 27 January (our Thursday 28th) will be unveiling. Yes, I know, we’re a Wellington architecture and urban design blog, but who doesn’t like a juicy fresh apple? And besides, sometimes you just…

Big Willy in Town

We’re back in business. How could we not be – today of all days. There are so many things that we could discuss – a Whale on the loose, a Dolphin run amok, a Basset feeding kittens, horrific tales of woe from the mess that is Haiti, a right royal Willy shaking hands, a Cockatoo with a cock or too, and a Fish on…

Togs, Togs, Undies

The Tip Top icecream adverts of previous years have not survived through to this summer, a great pity as their useful tips for modern living had a excellent mellifluous effect on the general populace. My favourite being the man in speedos, walking away from the beach – if you’re more than a block from or can’t see the sea, then no matter how good the…

Trannie Gully

Wonders will never cease. According to the newspaper front headline today, Transmission Gully will go ahead, and will be announced today, along with the so-called “Improvements” around the Basin Reserve.

“Transmission Gully is expected to get the green light from the Government today as part of a $2 billion upgrade of State Highway 1 from Levin to Wellington Airport. An announcement will be made at…

Changes to Manners Mall and Cuba St confirmed

On Thursday, the Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee voted — 9 vs 5— to approve the proposed changes to Manners Mall and Lower Cuba St. Today, the proposal was finalised at a full Council meeting, and the plans look set to be implemented in the near future.
Despite a vocal opposition campaign, public and private views on the changes seem mixed. Written submissions were almost evenly…