Here deep below the harbour waves at the Eye of the Fish, the recent discussion on Domes, Power, and the Judiciary set us thinking: What exactly is our self-image as reflected through our National architecture? Why do we have an emergent dome just peeking up out of a box, as a undefined symbol of our highest legal power? We had an extended discussion on symbols of…
Maximus
5 Min Read
A local community pressure group, Rongotai Revived, has been set up to counter the proposed Wellington City Council proposal to limit the growth and zoning of ‘big-box’ bulk retail shopping. There have been a number of community pressure groups over the years – Waterfront Watch being amongst the more successful in recent years, but others include the Mount Victoria Preservation League, the Oriental Bay Rich People’s…
Maximus
1 Min Read
Although the Dompost has reported on it already, just a reminder that there is the most amazing piece of floating architecture anchored at Queens Wharf at present. The Masquerade, a 5 year old Dutch boat, is waiting here for its owner to come and join it this weekend. It is the most extraordinary piece of marine architecture – obviously money was no object, but its worth…
Maximus
2 Min Read
Here at the Fish, we’re doing our best to be as nice as we can be this year, as it’s going to be a tough year for all of you architects out there. So therefore we’ve been avoiding reviewing some buildings altogether as there may just be nothing good to say about them at all. Honest, I’ve been biting my tongue so much that the water…
Maximus
1 Min Read
America’s New Zealand’s Next Top Model is coming to TV3 and launches tonight. Not much reason to watch it unless you are interested in a bunch of pretty, vacant, stick insects walk down a runway. Except… tonight, the launch night, there may indeed be a small reason to watch: the NZ launch appears to have been filmed at the fantastic Peregrine Winery complex in Queenstown, by…
Maximus
4 Min Read
Aren’t you bored with all the talk of the recession / depression already? No one knows what’s going on, no one knows whether we are coming or going, down or up, or just remaining to go sideways. Our NZ press is woefully ignorant, having sacked anyone capable of independent thought, and just fill their pages with articles taken straight from overseas journalists. One minute we see…
Maximus
1 Min Read
Just a quick post – There is a silent protest planned for tonight – rain or shine – in Manners Mall, between 5pm and 7pm. This is for everyone who opposes the proposal to run buses through Manners Mall, and to “save the heart of the city”. As they say in their flier – “the city is ours”. And tv3 is arriving and broadcasting live at…
Maximus
2 Min Read
Its full steam ahead here at HMNZS Eye of the Fish, but every now and then I need to swim upstream and spawn, mow the lawns and trim the hedge, you know, that kind of thing. There may be the occasional drop in transmission whilst that’s underway, unless Philip steps once more into the breach and blogs on, but I suspect that he may be somewhat…
Maximus
2 Min Read
Following on from the previous post, where the power of the mighty telephoto reduced tall buildings to flatness in a single bound, we here at the Fish thought that it might be time to try that trick on other streets. Flattening out perspective, as shown here in the classic (but I’ve always thought, slightly dodgy) example of Albrecht Durer from 1525 “Draughtsman drawing a recumbent woman”…
Maximus
3 Min Read
Looking up Vivian St, past the closed down peepshows and the sadly tacky brothels, a new building can be spied on the hill. It’s the new student accommodation block called Te Puni, and the neighbours on the hill are in trepidation – apparently 375 horny 18 year olds are inside. Yes, it will be noisy – expect lots of puking in the bushes for the first…