Comments on: Courtenay loses some parks; gains a Park http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/ A wide-angle view of architecture, urban design and life in Wellington Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:34:48 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Monday http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-14841 Monday Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:49:45 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-14841 Re: the clock. Next time you're there keep an eye out for the large box of plywood hoarding about 2m high between the seats and the old toilets. By my reckoning (could be wrong) it's in roughly the same place as where the clock used to be, and likely to be where it is to be re-placed.<br><br>Re: the "ubiquitous terracotta tiling". In my experience, WCC is adamant that any and all of their public footpaths will be finished in that particular brick. Nothing will sway them. Maintenance, cost and cohesion are, apparently, vastly more important than design-specific solutions. Long live terracotta! <br><br>I also love the seats! Simple, flexible, quirky, but structured.(Nice work Simon.) <br><br>My only gripe is with the signage panels which are exact similar if not identical to other WCC signs in close vicinity. I like them, but why use coreten steel on these ones when the ones across the road have a painted finish? Arguing that the seats are made of the stuff doesn't really cut it. It appears cohesion is used only sporadically... Re: the clock. Next time you're there keep an eye out for the large box of plywood hoarding about 2m high between the seats and the old toilets. By my reckoning (could be wrong) it's in roughly the same place as where the clock used to be, and likely to be where it is to be re-placed.

Re: the “ubiquitous terracotta tiling”. In my experience, WCC is adamant that any and all of their public footpaths will be finished in that particular brick. Nothing will sway them. Maintenance, cost and cohesion are, apparently, vastly more important than design-specific solutions. Long live terracotta!

I also love the seats! Simple, flexible, quirky, but structured.(Nice work Simon.)

My only gripe is with the signage panels which are exact similar if not identical to other WCC signs in close vicinity. I like them, but why use coreten steel on these ones when the ones across the road have a painted finish? Arguing that the seats are made of the stuff doesn't really cut it. It appears cohesion is used only sporadically…

]]> By: Robyn http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-2421 Robyn Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:42:02 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-2421 Just to add another skateboard incident: I recently saw a guy who I think was attempting to skate up the side of the seat, along the top and then off on to the footpath. He managed to get up the side of it, but his board his the bit of the seat top that slightly hangs over, and he spectacularly fell on his arse. But it's ok - his deadlocked girlfriend hugged him. Just to add another skateboard incident: I recently saw a guy who I think was attempting to skate up the side of the seat, along the top and then off on to the footpath. He managed to get up the side of it, but his board his the bit of the seat top that slightly hangs over, and he spectacularly fell on his arse. But it’s ok – his deadlocked girlfriend hugged him.

]]> By: Greg http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-486 Greg Mon, 19 May 2008 09:18:18 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-486 Jason: My opinion on the red pavers is exactly the same. I can actually slide along those pavers in my hard-soled outdoor shoes. If the footpath has been freshly washed, I can get nearly a meter before stopping. Fun on shoes, no fun on rollerblades. I kinda thought that people were catching on with the new lane configuration. It's been a few weeks since the last time a car got in the way of my bus in the morning. Jason: My opinion on the red pavers is exactly the same. I can actually slide along those pavers in my hard-soled outdoor shoes. If the footpath has been freshly washed, I can get nearly a meter before stopping. Fun on shoes, no fun on rollerblades.

I kinda thought that people were catching on with the new lane configuration. It’s been a few weeks since the last time a car got in the way of my bus in the morning.

]]> By: Jason http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-454 Jason Sun, 18 May 2008 02:26:09 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-454 I would have thought that the ubiquitous terracotta and light brown paving bricks would be more labour intensive, and thus more expensive, to lay and maintain than larger paving of a different colour might be. I don't dislike them at a distance, but they seem to discolour easily and appear dirty. I got the impression that the council was trialling larger, and quite attractive, pavestones next on Waring Taylor Street some eighteen months ago (these might still be there?) and got quite excited, as it felt as though the trial tiles addressed a dangerous flaw in the design of the terracotta bricks: slipperiness. My balance is poor at the best of times, so I am often foiled by the slippery bricks. The slipperiness is especially dangerous at roadsides on rainy days, as people run from shelter on one side to shelter on the other side. The asphalt retains some grip on smooth soled shoes in the rain which lulls pedestrians into a, usually brief, false sense of sure footing. A friend of mine made the mistake of wearing jandals on Cuba Street and ventured too close to the Bucket Fountain splashes. He's going to be okay. It would have been nice if the light-boxes were arranged a little less obviously. Perhaps more like that Earth from the Sky exhibition at Chaffers, or in a way that encouraged pedestrians to traverse the park in a more interesting route but, despite their similarity to the council advertising hoardings that offer little shelter for bus users, I like them. I wonder how long before our beloved traffic engineers reconfigure the turning/straight ahead lanes from Courtenay to Dixon. It's been months and a lot of people still haven't picked up that you can no longer travel straight through from the left lane. I would have thought that the ubiquitous terracotta and light brown paving bricks would be more labour intensive, and thus more expensive, to lay and maintain than larger paving of a different colour might be. I don’t dislike them at a distance, but they seem to discolour easily and appear dirty. I got the impression that the council was trialling larger, and quite attractive, pavestones next on Waring Taylor Street some eighteen months ago (these might still be there?) and got quite excited, as it felt as though the trial tiles addressed a dangerous flaw in the design of the terracotta bricks: slipperiness.

My balance is poor at the best of times, so I am often foiled by the slippery bricks. The slipperiness is especially dangerous at roadsides on rainy days, as people run from shelter on one side to shelter on the other side. The asphalt retains some grip on smooth soled shoes in the rain which lulls pedestrians into a, usually brief, false sense of sure footing. A friend of mine made the mistake of wearing jandals on Cuba Street and ventured too close to the Bucket Fountain splashes. He’s going to be okay.

It would have been nice if the light-boxes were arranged a little less obviously. Perhaps more like that Earth from the Sky exhibition at Chaffers, or in a way that encouraged pedestrians to traverse the park in a more interesting route but, despite their similarity to the council advertising hoardings that offer little shelter for bus users, I like them.

I wonder how long before our beloved traffic engineers reconfigure the turning/straight ahead lanes from Courtenay to Dixon. It’s been months and a lot of people still haven’t picked up that you can no longer travel straight through from the left lane.

]]> By: artandmylife http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-418 artandmylife Fri, 09 May 2008 08:38:03 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-418 I saw the light panels this morning - quite liked them but looked a bit like more advertising for a start I saw the light panels this morning – quite liked them but looked a bit like more advertising for a start

]]> By: Monday http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-396 Monday Sun, 04 May 2008 05:12:48 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-396 Yeah, what Simon said. My flatmate tells me it looked like they attempted cutting with a "plasma cutter", and then cut with what we now know as the "magna drill". Yeah, what Simon said. My flatmate tells me it looked like they attempted cutting with a “plasma cutter”, and then cut with what we now know as the “magna drill”.

]]> By: Greg http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-394 Greg Thu, 01 May 2008 01:33:43 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-394 As my bus was running down Courtenay Place this morning, I noticed that several of the art panels have now been populated. I quite like the look. Well done, Simon. I am worried, though, about vehicle traffic in there. I noticed that there is enough room to get a truck up there - well, I actually noticed a truck parked in there; is the paving is in danger of being destroyed in the same way Manners mall has been? As my bus was running down Courtenay Place this morning, I noticed that several of the art panels have now been populated. I quite like the look. Well done, Simon.

I am worried, though, about vehicle traffic in there. I noticed that there is enough room to get a truck up there – well, I actually noticed a truck parked in there; is the paving is in danger of being destroyed in the same way Manners mall has been?

]]> By: Simon Bush-King http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-393 Simon Bush-King Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:24:16 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-393 hmmmmn, the holes were cut by a 'magna drill' or at least thats what i know them as? Basically a large magnetic drill with a 52mm drill bit....Dr Grordbort was my next option though hmmmmn, the holes were cut by a ‘magna drill’ or at least thats what i know them as? Basically a large magnetic drill with a 52mm drill bit….Dr Grordbort was my next option though

]]> By: maximus http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-392 maximus Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:04:35 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-392 Monday - out of interest - with what was the 'poor guy' melting the holes with? Was it just an oxy-acetylane torch, or did he have a portable laser to get a nice neat edge? ....cos that would be rather cool to have someone waving around a laser strong enough to cut steel and not just blind cats.... ...i'm intrigued! Or is it just a Ray gun (like Dr Grordbort's Infallible Aether Oscillator? http://www.wetanz.com/collectibles/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=47 Monday – out of interest – with what was the ‘poor guy’ melting the holes with? Was it just an oxy-acetylane torch, or did he have a portable laser to get a nice neat edge? ….cos that would be rather cool to have someone waving around a laser strong enough to cut steel and not just blind cats…. …i’m intrigued!

Or is it just a Ray gun (like Dr Grordbort’s Infallible Aether Oscillator?
http://www.wetanz.com/collectibles/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=47

]]> By: Philip http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-390 Philip Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:55:48 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/courtenayparks-gains-a-park/#comment-390 The tree surrounds were something I also meant to mention, a nice way of covering/protecting the soil - unlike the lambton plantings which tend to be having a few issues. Anyway, thanks for your replies Simon. The tree surrounds were something I also meant to mention, a nice way of covering/protecting the soil – unlike the lambton plantings which tend to be having a few issues. Anyway, thanks for your replies Simon.

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