An ode to a summer’s day… As the sun sets on February, and March begins, we look back in wonder at e month of perfect weather. Of nights so warm and still, that we wonder what has struck us. Our weather, sometimes harsh, and often windy, has for the last few weeks caressed our bodies with warm breath and we have basked in its embrace. By…
Fish
1,109 Articles
Maximus
3 Min Read
For those that are interested, the following is the text of the final paragraphs of the decision on the Harcourts building: (302) In the end, for the reasons we have outlined, we have concluded that the demolition of the Harcourts building would not constitute sustainable management of an important physical resource, namely a heritage building of considerable significance. DECISION (303) Consequently, having regard to the evidence…
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Maximus
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So: the results are out from the Commissioners: Mark Dunajtschik may not demolish the “Harcourts” building. That’s an interesting result – and opposite to that recommended by the Council’s own planning officers – and Mr Dunajtschik is furious. We wrote about it here, and also here, and this decision sets out quite clearly that demolition is not going to be granted wholesale for the heritage buildings…
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Maximus
4 Min Read
What a week it has been. On one hand you could argue that nothing much is happening to the Urban scene in Wellington, although there are a few stirrings that we really must attend to one day as they grow. But on the other hand, in other cities, there is drama and plenty of it. Headlines never stop. Instead of just having one pope, we’re just…
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Maximus
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Well blow me down – the Council has a new website. Well done! I was just looking at the old one yesterday, thinking how tawdry it was looking – and today a brand spanking new website has popped up – colourful and more interactive. Haven’t had a chance to really look at it yet, but so far, so good.
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Maximus
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The big story of the day – the week – hell, even the year, is of course the sudden and catastrophic collapse of Mainzeal. From what we have heard so far, this is going to echo around the country and cause much misery for quite some time yet. Described as the third biggest construction company after Fletcher and Hawkins, Mainzeal has been around and survived the…
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Maximus
3 Min Read
It seems like I heard this a long time ago, but I’m sure you all have too. A boy cries out “Wolf” as a joke, and everyone runs for cover. He does this again, a few too many times, and the townspeople get weary of his false alarms. When the wolf really does come, and the boy shouts once more, the people just assume he is…
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Guest
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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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Maximus
5 Min Read
Over on the venerable, hard-working Scoop site, Councilor Ritchie has posted a comment lamenting the possibility of the Athfield-designed “portico” (extension to the Wellington City Council buildings) being demolished: “The Portico provides an important “grand†“archwayâ€entrance to Civic Square, Civic Centre, City Gallery,Town Hall City to Sea Bridge and Waterfront. It is the entrance for many processions and marches, provides a welcome to our civic public…
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Maximus
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A sperm whale washes onto a beach, in Paraparaumu, the place of many, many ovens. It is an extraordinary sight. Very few of the population have ever seen a whale before in real life – even fewer have seen a sperm whale. Almost no one has touched one. A jogger runs past early morning, snaps a photo, posts it onto Flickr. He is lucky: he is…