Hmmm. You’re right. I’ve been had. “Our staff” and “We are passionate” do certainly seem to say that ArcHaus write their own articles – which is a pity, because the Audi / Porsche building is a lovely building, and I’m sure they could have found someone else to write an article about that building. But I would challenge them to find someone to write some nice words about other projects of theirs, like this one on Cobham Drive.

On the other hand, I’m very excited to hear that they are passionate architects and keen to create inspirational design. ‘Concrete’ – you listening? Inspire us mate!

Incidentally, I checked out the ‘leading’ claim, which is in fact a little misleading – I can’t find Archaus being referred to as leading architects in the cited article
( http://www.metalroofing.org.nz/SCOPE%20Magazine%20PDF/Scope%2017.pdf )
- in fact, it appears that the client wrote the piece, as it is all glowing about Audi rather than the actual architects of the building…

As it so happens, JasMax take the ‘leading’ mantle in that particular publication, with a quasi-John Scott rip-off, with what appears to be a cringe-inducing interior if the images are anything to go by…

The first image at http://archaus.co.nz/projects/project.php?pid=20 shows that the upper floor will have some actual windows (for restaurant and offices, according to the sales site), but it looks like apart from some surface treatments the ground floor will remain blank. The Tacy St side looks bad in a different way: the typical big box set behind a sea of car parking. It’s not the architecture that’s the chief problem, it’s the approach to urban design: I hear that another of Welly’s “leading architectural practices” is working on just the same typology down the road at the airport. But then again, I hear that “Big is Good”.

Methinks the retail centre architects do need a few prods in the right direction if they cannot even see beyond their own site boundaries….

G-R-I-M indeed…

Mind you, Concrete implies this is unfinished, so perhaps someone could set the rabble straight with the drawings for the final design…

I hope that was said with tongue firmly in cheek….

and yes, I agree, peer reviews are a good thing. too often people get caught in their little worlds without putting their heads up. they need to hear what people have to say every now and again.

Obviously, yes, its a difficult site, with no access allowed onto Cobham Drive, and a budget driven developer. But there’s more than one way to skin a cat, or in this case, a bulk retail outlet. Its a big blank facade – that could have been treated so many different ways.

If you were the designer – and if you had your chance to do it again – what would you do differently?

perhaps you would like to own up to being the author of this work, because your post certainly intimates it (or maybe you’re sleeping with the author….whatever…)

I’m not sure you do your argument any good by resorting to personal attacks. It makes you lack credibility…
There actually hasn’t been much slagging going on during this post, just a few comments on the appropriateness of the design and the concrete wall to the (sub)urban condition.