Comments on: Newlands Community Centre

By: che tibby

che tibby — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:34:11 +0000

weeeelll… not everyone can afford to buy apartments in the city, so even though we wanted to buy we needed to be realistic.

and after three years of cuba street we needed some respite. the city is great and all, but there are a great many poseurs obsessed with booze and shoes.

PS. your site loads like a dog.

By: Maximus

Maximus — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:09:43 +0000

What ? Me? Venture forth into the suburbs again voluntarily? As Sean Connery once said, “shurely shome mishtake”. I’ll leave that to bigger Fish than me.

Bit I’m interested in what you say about architects high fees and leaky houses – said with a wry, lop-sided grin and barbed point I’m sure, to see if I would take the bait. But no, happy to say, the architects I know don’t design leaky houses, and of course their fees are only fair commensurate with their talent…..

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:07:55 +0000

Hmmm – architectural quality in the suburbs? Probably pretty much like city apartments. There are a few bold exterior statements both ways but at the end of the day, it still comes down to practical service areas, living spaces and bedrooms. As most people don’t sit outside admiring the sculptural magnificence of the edifices in which they live, a few extra rooms are in most cases bound to win out against high architects fees and exhorbitantly priced fittings. Besides, recent experience shows that architects were pretty good at designing leakers which didn’t do the profession much good.

Note to Maximus: Perhaps your undoubted seek and evaluate skills could lead to an article or two on examples of past and present good quality suburban domestic architecture. There must be some from the past and present.

By: Maximus

Maximus — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:50:55 +0000

John H – yes yes, I know of the argument that suburbs are best for bringing up children although I don’t really subscribe to that myself. But if we’re talking of architectural quality (as we should be, given that this is an architectural blog) then could you answer me this: where in the suburbs can I find any semblance of quality? The one virtually precludes the other.

By: Arthur

Arthur — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:31:51 +0000

Some words quoting from Prof Jock Brookfield that would seem to be relevant.
“The role of “critic” may be mainly negative, censuring society from outside. The added role of “conscience” is positive, operating from within society in a stance of shared involvement and responsibility.”

discussion on the merits or otherwise of suburban living none-with-standing, critical commentary and the raising of matters for discussion, would seem to be an admirable aim in our society.

By: John H

John H — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:36:32 +0000

Can I take it Maximus that you don’t have any children?
I too grew out in the suburbs (Karori if you must know), and moved out as soon as I could (off to an “away” university at the age of 18). After an extended O.E in Europe, I spent over a decade living in Mt Victoria with my partner (now wife) and loved it. Close to town, close to work, close to shops, pubs, clubs, loads of sun – what’s there not to love?
Then came the patter of little feet and everything changed with the realisation that despite its charms, a tiny 19th Century working-man’s cottage was not suitable to raise a growing family. True – its original inhabitants may have raised six kids in that place but they were also probably living in near-poverty with minimal comforts and short-lives.
So back to the burbs we went (Ngaio) with the desire to find a part of Wellington where our children can run, climb trees, have adventures and not come across drunken loons until they have reached a more appropriate age. Essentially I want them to have the type of childhood that I recall growing up. I know that they too will reach an age where they will reject the nice safe (= boring) middle-class environment we live in and will go off to seek the grittiness of a lively inner-city urban environment (be it Wellington or London) but in the meantime I know they are safe, happy and I would like to preserve their innocence for as long as possible – and I can enjoy a sunny spring Sunday afternoon working-bee at our local playcenter with a couple of dozen similarly-minded young Mum’s & Dad’s. Currently you may retch at the thought (less than five years ago, I know I did) but don’t knock it until you have tried it. Who knows – one day you may find yourself in the same situation.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:17:11 +0000

Seems to me that Max is equally rude to city buildings as she is to suburban buildings. Don’t hold back! Let it all out!

By: Maximus

Maximus — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:38:51 +0000

Chris, Sally, Barb, glad to hear you’re fighting back. I really should offer you an apology, as my remarks were somewhat barbed and just a wee bit damning… but to be honest, the mere thought of living in the suburbs gives me the willies. I was born there: never want to go back. I’m glad you like it there – each to their own.

I’d disagree with Chris’s comments about superiority over the working classes – There are working class enclaves in the city, and working class areas in the suburbs as well, but I would have thought that both city and suburbs would be bastions of the staunchly middle class. And the bit about superiority? Just remember that I write with a smile on my face… always nice to have feedback – sometimes I just need to prod you to get it.

But just for you more sensitive suburban souls: Sorry. I will try to keep my vile venal verbiage down to shrubbery levels, rather than the wild forest thicket it naturally wants to be. How’s that for a suburban scriptorial simile?

By: Chris H

Chris H — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:20:08 +0000

Wall said, Sal. Some of us live in the suburbs becasue we like to garden, there’s space for our kids to play, and we can’t afford to live in the central city. Some of Maximus’ writing is excellent, but this post reeked of yuppie-style superiority over the working classes. A pity, because I really like EOTF.

By: Rhu Barb

Rhu Barb — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:02:48 +0000

Hear hear. Enough of your snotty nosed parochialism. Cities aren’t6 the be-all and end-all of civilisation you know! Live goes on quite happily in the suburbs. We’re happy here. Get your own life to moan about.