The following is a Guest post from Dominic Kelly, the Director of Hashigo Zake: For a year and a half, the conversion of the Manthel building on the Taranaki/Wakefield St corner into Xero’s headquarters caused substantial damage to my business, Hashigo Zake, and to that of our fellow tenant, Zibibbo restaurant. During the period of the work, both businesses suffered a significant downturn in trade, which…
Fish
1,098 Articles
4
1
Leviathan
1 Min Read
If you’re in the world of architecture and construction then, like me, you’ll be stunned and horrified at the extent of the pile of bad news coming out of Fletcher Construction. Having declared a loss of $292 million last year, and $660 million this year, the total combined loss is $952 million over the last two years – almost a billion dollars. Coming from New Zealand’s…
3
2
Leviathan
2 Min Read
In a move that surprised nobody, Mr Blinglish announced his resignation yesterday, potenshully removing the millstone that currently hangs around National’s neck. Clearly the Nats won’t win with the current team of Blinglish, Gerry Brownlee and Stephen Joyce as front runners, so an entirely new lineup needs to be put in place. Curiously, Nick Smith hasn’t put his hand up yet, as he is clearly the…
12
4
Leviathan
4 Min Read
After what seems like the longest of times, the new building for PWC on Site 10 at Kumutoto (by Athfield Architects) is now progressing well. Strong advances on the cladding front, with the end of the cantilever now glazed and looking reasonably interesting, with the massive braced cantilevered box projecting out above the south end of the building. The top two floors are expressed as a…
7
1
Leviathan
1 Min Read
A pause for thought today : evidently the silly season is still with us. Point in case the front page of the Dom Post today – and cub reporter Julian Lee tries to argue the case for a bridge – or tunnel ! – across the Cook Strait is a viable thing. Both possible options are as silly as each other, both are physically impossible, and…
3
2
Leviathan
2 Min Read
At long last, what looks like it may be a productive Waiting Day. Big steps forward by Adern, particularly in saying “Hold us to account” and also to the smaller details, like the Ministers cooking the kai for the ordinary people, instead of the other way round. Cooperation, coordination of effort, mutual respect. Isn’t this the way it always should have been? Fingers crossed that it…
3
1
Leviathan
1 Min Read
Hugely intriguing story going on in Auckland at the moment, which most of us in Wellington are watching with intense interest. You all know the back story – Auckland’s various cities amalgamated into one “Super City” and this would cut costs, streamline decision making, increase cohesion, integrate transport planning, and a million other things. So far, not really any of those showing up. I’m certainly glad…
14
2
Leviathan
2 Min Read
Yes indeed – it’s hot, and dry. The sea beckons. As much as is allowed by law and social decorum, I’ve been at the beach with as little on as possible, and more often than not in the water rather than just sitting on the edge. At last I am understanding why Maximus was always banging on about being a fish – it is truly lovely…
4
1
Leviathan
1 Min Read
One of the more poignant parts of taking a trip on the train from Auckland to Wellington, is that you pass over the bridge at Tangiwai, the site where many died on Christmas Eve in 1953. The mountain erupted and a deadly lahar headed down the creek-bed, wiping out the bridge shortly before the NZR passenger train hurtled into the breach. Sad, sad tale. It is…
5
1
Leviathan
1 Min Read
Now this is a story that should concern us all, as architects, as human beings, as Aotearoans. And also as consumers of our abysmal media… Here is the link to the article on Stuff – from the Auckland “Western Leader”. Bad choice for a title right there – I believe Trump also calls himself a Western Leader as well, or was that Great Leader? Hmmmm….. Whatever…