Comments on: Follow Up: Athfield at Kumutoto

By: Old fossil

Old fossil — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:49:24 +0000

There are models at the info centre that make some things clearer, including the likelihood that the actual "fossil" bit (sites 8/9) will create quite a good edge for Kumutoto Plaza. On the other hand, this plan almost completely gives up on Waterloo/Customhouse Quay, with no real active edges to them at all.

The "impossibly thin" glass box shows up on the plan as part of the continuous office floors, and while it could probably hold a few workstations, it seems more likely to be intended for meeting & breakout rooms. While the "crane" bit protrudes into the Whitmore St viewshaft, it certainly doesn't block it, and if handled well it could be a valuable part of the viewshaft's composition.

It's quite possible that what impressed the judges most was the commercial buildability and amount of floor space on offer, rather than any aesthetic qualities.

By: Philip

Philip — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:36:48 +0000

Briefly for now:

- If you look at the other entries, only a couple of them seem to be actually viable/buildable.
- Which viewshaft were you referring to? There’s a viewshaft diagram in the proposal:

http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1008870kq7.jpg

It doesn’t show the bit that overhangs out onto the water, but that bit is elevated by a few floors, so there should be something of a view.

By: Old fossil

Old fossil — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:17:26 +0000

There are models at the info centre that make some things clearer, including the likelihood that the actual “fossil” bit (sites 8/9) will create quite a good edge for Kumutoto Plaza. On the other hand, this plan almost completely gives up on Waterloo/Customhouse Quay, with no real active edges to them at all.

The “impossibly thin” glass box shows up on the plan as part of the continuous office floors, and while it could probably hold a few workstations, it seems more likely to be intended for meeting & breakout rooms. While the “crane” bit protrudes into the Whitmore St viewshaft, it certainly doesn’t block it, and if handled well it could be a valuable part of the viewshaft’s composition.

It’s quite possible that what impressed the judges most was the commercial buildability and amount of floor space on offer, rather than any aesthetic qualities.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:31:00 +0000

I agree Maximus – the blocking of the viewshaft is a travesty.
What the planners are thinking, letting this go ahead when this is the very thing they rail against…?

By: Kimmie

Kimmie — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:33:55 +0000

oh that’s really interesting!
I am doing a Geography project on this subject, so any information like this is great, thanks!

By: Maximus

Maximus — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:16:39 +0000

I have to say, on seeing these images for the first time, that i am deeply, deeply unimpressed. It all just looks so boring! I fail to understand why this was so impressive to the judges.

A bad patchwork quilt that is already a copy of a copy, and then an ugly podium that looks as near as dammit the same as the ugly podium on the much reviled NZ Post building it is trying to hide! And, by the look of it, a massive blocking out of the view shaft. Totally ludicrous decision to run with this scheme – these schemes. Any explanation why this was selected?