The WCC is asking for your input into the waterfront, again. It seems like we’ve hardly stopped commenting on it, and yet, so important is this part of the city to our overall ethos, that we’re keen to look again. Incidentally – the time for submissions on the Manners Mall proposal – has passed, and I see that the Arch Centre has given it a firm…
Fish
1,107 Articles
Maximus
2 Min Read
So: the government has upped its derisory previous 10% offer, to 25%. This is much the same as what one of one avid readers, m-d, was saying some time ago, when we last blogged on the subject. Its good to see that the Fish is so influential as to be having an effect on Government policy. ;-) Sadly of course, they missed out the best bit…
19
2
Maximus
2 Min Read
Top prize in the NZIA New Zealand Architecture Awards last night in Auckland went to Ironbank, by RTA Studio. Fantastic building, stunningly iconographic, and well-deserved. It’s a tour-de-force of the art of the architect – yes, agreed that perhaps the structural logic could be argued to be, shall we say, “overly complex” – but its a building that you just can’t help but like. The dark,…
Maximus
2 Min Read
This title caught my eye, as well it might yours. It is the subject of a posting on the Design Intelligence website, and well worth a read in total on the original site. While written by “Victoria Beach, an independent architect and former lecturer in architecture at the Harvard School of Design”, what is interesting as well is the (in most cases) well reasoned arguments from…
8
1
Maximus
1 Min Read
I went past the old Thorndon Tavern last week, which is starting to be transformed into the new Thai embassy. To my delight, the old accretions of the former pub had been stripped away, and the bare concrete skeleton exposed. While the concrete frame of the building is amazing – only 4 massive columns, with 4 massive beams, brilliantly designed by Colin Gunter at NZ Breweries,…
11
2
Maximus
2 Min Read
Slightly off topic to discussion of Wellington buildings, but just a quick note to say that the wonderful Film Archive in Wellington is showing the film Brazil for the next few days – until Saturday. Thanks be to Frank Stark and Steve Russell. Note to the curious: does not contain anything about Brazil or Brazilians. Quite possibly the best film ever for architects, and definitely one…
11
3
Maximus
3 Min Read
There’s an old saying that you should never work with animals or children, and it’s been proved many times: witness countless Hollywood films like Kindergarten Cop and Daddy Daycare. Cujo. Critters. Lassie. Woof, woof: barking mad. I rest my case. There’s another saying too, that goes something like – you should never publicly declare your love for something or else someone will promptly take it away…
18
2
Maximus
2 Min Read
Having attended the ANZAC service this morning, like so many New Zealanders across our country, I came to realise how inadequate our present War Memorial is. For a start, there is hardly any room for visitors, who have to cling to the hill side and peer through the trees. On it’s inauguration many years ago, the Carillon stood alone, proud and prominent on the base of…
10
4
Maximus
4 Min Read
This week has been a notably anti-developer week, a nasty bump in the world of property development. Not for quite some time have property developers and property financiers been held up for so much scorn, hatred, and public derision. Is it all deserved? You be the judge. Firstly, local property developer Lance James has been sent to jail for 8 2 years – yes, EIGHT TWO…
Philip
1 Min Read
Unfortunately, yesterday’s lecture by Charles Renfro sold out relatively fast, so for those who were unable to make it, here is a link to a presentation given by him in support of a recent competition entry. Renfro was much more engaging and entertaining last night, but his presentation to the University of Melbourne covers most of what came up in yesterdays lecture, as well as a few extra projects. .