2008: nearly over. Lots of construction, lots of commentary. 2009: likely to be lots less of one, and who knows about the other. Thank you all for your input, your comments, your information, and your interest. Its been a blast, but its time for a break for a bit from the people behind the Maximus logon (note: one of the following images may be more true…
Maximus
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It seems to be such a shame to go off all ballistic on the eve of a pleasant Christmas week, but the announcement today about the cost over-runs on the Supreme Court fair made my blood boil. While normally a left of centre supporter, and one who lives in sick apprehension about the mayhem about to be unleashed upon us by National’s unrestricted puppies of Doom, the…
Maximus
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At face value it could be argued that the current rash of urgency infecting Parliament at the moment is no business of a group promoting discussion of architecture and urban design issues in Wellington. Over the weekend the government passed laws reinforcing (rather than strengthening) societal repulsion of violence towards children. Last week it reduced the rights of employees of small businesses. Apparently on the urgency…
Maximus
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In an act of architectural brilliance, the Duel on Vivian block of flats opposite the School of Architecture appears to be not only a green building (avocado green, or mushy pea green) with prefabricated external cladding (that I’m sure they will get around to finishing the corners on one day), but also appears to have gone all Richard-Rogers-style High-Tech on us, with the south facade featuring…
Maximus
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For one day only, – Sunday, today, you can see the city barricaded off. By tomorrow, it’ll be gone. It’s part of the Litmus series of One Day Sculpture, and this time has been brought to you by artiste duo Heather and Ivan Morison. It’s called the Journee des Barricades, and to me, seems site specifically reacting to the inspired sculpture outside the Athfield renovation of…
Maximus
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This city of ours has some fabulous little pedestrian byways and shortcuts which make walking at times a slightly smug activity – those few moments that cars don’t have an advantage over foot traffic, and steps which even challenge seasoned mountain bikers. We even enjoy the occasionally misplaced carpark – the ones which were bought to be built on but the developer’s luck has turned, the…
Maximus
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It’s good to see that there is a decent amount of interest in urban matters amongst Wellingtonians, with a couple of recent posts sparking off some healthy discussion. The debate on Manners Mall about the extent of Te Aro Park and the eventual removal of the failed Oaks complex, bought to mind another potential park a bit further up Cuba St. First brought up by a…
Maximus
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We had another post planned for today, but if ever there was a story that this blog should be discussing, then this is it. We’re big on mythology here at Eye of the Fish – we like the improbable tale that Maui and his brothers were in a big waka and overdid it with their kai moana quota, and basically fished up Aotearoa from the depths….
Maximus
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Venice has been in the news lately, with the highest floods recorded for 20 years. La Serenissima has always had a penchant for the wet and the melodramatic, but their recent experience is leaving them more than wet around the edges. While floods and Spring tides have always occurred, wetting the feet of the wealthy and raising the level in the tidal lagoon well above the…
Maximus
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Breaking architectural news this morning is that architect Jorn Utzon has died, aged 90. BBC has full coverage here, although I suspect that most of you already know the story: Utzon won the competition for the Sydney Opera House, walked out part way through construction, and never went back to Australia. The Opera House (competition 1957, completion 1973) is now happily described as an icon…
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