Comments on: WAM Bam Thank you Ma’am http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/ A wide-angle view of architecture, urban design and life in Wellington Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:14:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: c-m http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-5916 c-m Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:13:26 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-5916 I've just got 'round to reading Jim Traue's piece in the NZ Herald on the proposed (and now more expensive) national library "make over" (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10558268). I missed this little snippet of info when the initial promo did its round: "No books whatsoever will be seen or available on the ground floor to acclimatise users for the totally digital future of the library." Will this be like those school children who don't know milk comes from cows? I’ve just got ’round to reading Jim Traue’s piece in the NZ Herald on the proposed (and now more expensive) national library “make over” (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10558268). I missed this little snippet of info when the initial promo did its round:
“No books whatsoever will be seen or available on the ground floor to acclimatise users for the totally digital future of the library.”
Will this be like those school children who don’t know milk comes from cows?

]]> By: mobsta http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-3259 mobsta Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:54:56 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-3259 I couldn't agree more (and think I have said so on this site). The National Library is a significant piece of architecture. It does not matter that it is a copy of another building in Boston. This is our National Library. It sits well (architecturally, and literally) in the Government sector. We do not need our National Library to be an Imax theatre. I couldn’t agree more (and think I have said so on this site).

The National Library is a significant piece of architecture.
It does not matter that it is a copy of another building in Boston.

This is our National Library.
It sits well (architecturally, and literally) in the Government sector.

We do not need our National Library to be an Imax theatre.

]]> By: Maximus http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-3258 Maximus Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:37:33 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-3258 And again – the DomPost today has a letter from architect Duncan Joiner, absolutely lambasting this current proposal for destroying the external facade and installing a glass wall: version taken from the website has been reproduced here:

“Destruction of cultural heritage
The arts, culture and heritage minister has announced a proposed $67 million rebuild of the National Library building. The national librarian’s statement, on the library website, explains that the rebuild is intended to extend storage capacity and deliver a closer relationship between the library and New Zealanders. What it also says, however, is that the minister and national librarian are set to destroy a significant piece of our cultural heritage, the National Library building itself.

These people are supposed to be looking after our things.

On the website are more images and a short video of the proposed rebuild. After some poignant words that end with “protected here” and “forever” is an animated sequence showing how the building (our first permanent National Library building) will be destroyed. The irony couldn’t be more pronounced.
Why, and with what criteria, did the national librarian decide to sacrifice the architecture in favour of all the other taonga and items of cultural heritage entrusted to her care?

As an architect, I want the minister and national librarian to think again and continue to build our national heritage, not destroy it. They must use the $67 million to make another significant place.
DUNCAN JOINER
Khandallah”

]]> By: Robyn http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2420 Robyn Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:24:44 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2420 Another thought - this design seems like it's turning the National Library into a "young adults" section of a suburban library. Another thought – this design seems like it’s turning the National Library into a “young adults” section of a suburban library.

]]> By: Robyn http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2419 Robyn Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:23:38 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2419 I saw the National Library for the first time a couple of days ago. I was struck by its strong exterior. It didn't scare me off - it made me want to explore its interior, which I couldn't do because it was a Saturday afternoon and closed. I don't understand how the only solution for making more space is to remove the distinct facade from this building and replace it with, uh, glass. Concrete = bad; glass = good? I saw the National Library for the first time a couple of days ago. I was struck by its strong exterior. It didn’t scare me off – it made me want to explore its interior, which I couldn’t do because it was a Saturday afternoon and closed.

I don’t understand how the only solution for making more space is to remove the distinct facade from this building and replace it with, uh, glass.

Concrete = bad; glass = good?

]]> By: rondo http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2418 rondo Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:19:02 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2418 lemon squeezers? Que? lemon squeezers? Que?

]]> By: o http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2417 o Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:26:53 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2417 what is wrong with this counrty? why is everything going to become a big disneyland, with pumpkins and lemon squeezers. the nature of a national library is definitely not one that is even close to that. WAM is not the only architectural practise in nz (they might be big and there for ages - although i haven't heard of them before i came to nz - but that doesn't mean they get everything right ), where is the healthy competition that makes a lot of people to think about a project and brings up more than one solution and may be NOT another 'disco'. what is wrong with this counrty? why is everything going to become a big disneyland, with pumpkins and lemon squeezers. the nature of a national library is definitely not one that is even close to that.
WAM is not the only architectural practise in nz (they might be big and there for ages – although i haven’t heard of them before i came to nz – but that doesn’t mean they get everything right ), where is the healthy competition that makes a lot of people to think about a project and brings up more than one solution and may be NOT another ‘disco’.

]]> By: rondo http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2396 rondo Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:49:00 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2396 it doesn't break the height limit, so my guess would be: no. It'll sail right through. it doesn’t break the height limit, so my guess would be: no. It’ll sail right through.

]]> By: Monday http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2393 Monday Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:57:42 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-2393 Does anyone know if this would need a notified resource consent? Does anyone know if this would need a notified resource consent?

]]> By: electric http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-1701 electric Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:00:01 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/wam-bam-thank-you-maam/#comment-1701 Yay, a pastiche of crap architectural trendiness. WOW DIAGONAL LINES AND GLASS! How deeply disappointing that one of the few truly unique buildings in the govt precinct cannot be left alone for even 30 years and must be bludgeoned to fit the glass box mafia prescription. This oh-so-modern "update" will look like sh!t in 10 years. Why not just leave the current imposing intensity of this building alone (apart from fixing the leaks), but rethink the street level access and the ground floor- instead of the blank ribbed concrete wall have something that actually entices people in. Perhaps an overhanging glass box on top for a vistor centre and restaurant?! Look at this building- there is a lot that can be done while retaining this WACKY and INTERESTING structure. Leave it alone you vandals! http://www.natlib.govt.nz/files/Media-images/building-pictures6-front.jpg Yay, a pastiche of crap architectural trendiness. WOW DIAGONAL LINES AND GLASS! How deeply disappointing that one of the few truly unique buildings in the govt precinct cannot be left alone for even 30 years and must be bludgeoned to fit the glass box mafia prescription. This oh-so-modern “update” will look like sh!t in 10 years.

Why not just leave the current imposing intensity of this building alone (apart from fixing the leaks), but rethink the street level access and the ground floor- instead of the blank ribbed concrete wall have something that actually entices people in. Perhaps an overhanging glass box on top for a vistor centre and restaurant?!

Look at this building- there is a lot that can be done while retaining this WACKY and INTERESTING structure. Leave it alone you vandals!

http://www.natlib.govt.nz/files/Media-images/building-pictures6-front.jpg

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