I’ve done a quick google review and I believe what you are about to read is a true EYE OF THE FISH EXCLUSIVE! This week I’ve had the opportunity to go on site and look inside Shigerua Ban’s Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral here in Christchurch, and I have to say what I’m writing weighs heavily on my architectural conscious. Since moving to Christchurch I have encountered a…
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I’m quite interested in New Zealand’s old architecture, particularly those old colonial buildings that we haven’t preserved much of, but can still be found. So I went to Glenside, near Tawa to see an old colonial house. Apparently the suburb of Glenside used to be called ‘Halfway’ back in the day because it was located right in the middle between Wellington and Porirua. What a cool…
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Later today the Council will vote on their support of the flyover. Related to this, an interesting tidbit came out yesterday and almost slipped me by: “Steps to move state highway traffic off Vivian St are among measures needed to ease the impact of a Basin Reserve flyover, Wellington City Council says.” Holy-moly. That’s new. Up until now some Councilors have been willing to admit privately…
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Hi there, Sav here. I came across an interesting area of buildings lately courtesy of Max’s recent post on boatsheds, so this is really an expansion of that post. Recently I went to the shore of Pauatahanui Inlet in the suburb of Camborne to find what I think are some architectural gems for a variety of unexpected reasons. Access to this area is a little unconventional…..
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I’ve been really impressed by the pace of construction of the sparkly-new bypass-of-the-bypass since I’ve got back. Apparently this started in late October, and as I walked by today the road was just about ready for sealing. The new NZTA website doesn’t seem to offer any drawings or maps of this, so for those who haven’t had the chance to see it, I took these pictures…
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Labour’s 100,000 homes in 10 years housing policy is certainly ambitious, and awesome, and downright scary. What could this mean for Wellington? Well, assuming Labour is elected in two years time and the policy hasn’t been thrown in the dustbin, it may mean something on the order of $2-3 billion of investment in Wellington. Christ on a cracker that’s a lot of money. Of course, the…
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We’ve had a bicycle-mad mayor for two years now and I don’t think I’ve seen one new bike lane, or any real indication that the council still even gives two hoots about cyclists and pedestrians. In fact our transport planning has just become, frankly, bizarre. For example our city council, regional council, and NZTA apparatchiks seem to think it’s a suitable use of millions of dollars…
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Since moving to Christchurch I have occasionally taken to the streets to take photos of the state of the rebuild. Â No specific methodology, just whatever catches my eye. Recently while I walking around I was taking these pictures when an older lady started talking to me. “I don’t even miss it. Â Between The Palms, Northlands, and Westfield, I don’t need the city. Â I don’t miss it…
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Today: a guest writer: I’m writing this guest post about a proposed housing development in Upper Hutt, (so not quite Wellington, but we’re still part of the Wellington region, right : ). For those still struggling to find the relevance to this blog, remember this post? (“Upper Hutt State of Mind†song). Now this new development of some 1800 houses is being put forward by the…
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It’s Sunday evening and I just saw through a friend’s Facebook a link indicating that Wellington icon Blanket Man (Ben Hana) died in hospital. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10778915 Since this is a blog devoted to the city of Wellington and its sense of place I can’t imagine that we could not mention his death. Â He was a permanent fixture of the streets of Wellington and was a bit of…