Comments on: Wow Indeed

By: Eye of the Fish » Follow Up: Athfield at Kumutomo

Eye of the Fish » Follow Up: Athfield at Kumutomo — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:00:17 +0000

[...] my way down to the Waterfront Information Center, I was able to take more of a broad look at the Athfield Kumutomo wins. The pictures and write-up shown in the Dom really don’t give a full idea of the scheme, so [...]

By: Eye of the Fish » Two Steps Forward; One Back?

Eye of the Fish » Two Steps Forward; One Back? — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:18:14 +0000

[...] a few days after a clean sweep at Kumotomo, the Athfield-designed proposal for the Overseas Terminal has suffered a setback when an [...]

By: mobsta

mobsta — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:53:08 +0000

Regarding Ath’s success in Wellington – Ath struggled early here also, as other Architecture firms have done. He, at one stage, laid off 80% of his staff because there wasn’t enough work to go around. He has plugged away and is now (IMO) the pre-eminent architect in Wellington.

The thing I like about Ath is his “Wellingtoniss”. He (and when I say ‘he’ – I mean Ath and his cohorts) has an ability to read a site and understand the forces at play.
It is no accident that the Civic Square is New Zealand’s best urban space, (and it would have been better if Ath had been able to realise the whole scheme….)
It is also no accident that Waitangi Park is the best urban park in the country (even if the grey-hairs wring their hands and spout their babble…)
Ath + Megan Wraight are a formidable pair.

And besides there is enough major work to go around – CCM have the Defense and Vogel Buildings, StudPac had Meridian (don’t get me started….), Jasmax have BNZ, Herriot+Melhuish have the Bowen Campus etc etc. All of the good players are getting their share.

I personally think that Ath’s work makes our city a richer place.