Leviathan

Following on from the diagram that Eye of the Fish published a short while ago, it has come out that this is, indeed, more or less exactly the route that LGWM have proposed as well. The binding issue is, of course, that they have still not done three things: A) Agreed on what type of high quality PT we are going to have; and B) Agreed…

Leviathan

What? The Wellington Branch of NZIA is to stage a public meeting on the fate of Wellington Central Library, the Ian Athfield-designed building that has been closed for seismic reasons by Wellington City Council. Why? There has been speculation in the media that the Council may be leaning towards the demolition of the building, although no decision has been announced. At the meeting, perspectives on the…

Leviathan

A fairly stunning result for Wellington yesterday with the derailment at the throat of the main Railway Station. It makes it harder for pro-rail enthusiasts to get the message across that Rail is better, when an event like this takes out all of the Metlink lines that pass through there. You know the story by now: that a freight train derailed right at the key points…

2
3
Leviathan

The infamous “Morandi” bridge in Genoa, that collapsed so catastrophically in Genoa a year ago, has now been permanently removed from existence. It has been an interesting process – some parts have been deconstructed carefully, piece by piece, lowering vast concrete bridge sections down via tall mobile cranes… the remaining pieces, like a giant V, are presumably stable enough to remain there on their own. Other…

6
6
Leviathan

This week saw the start of several licensed e-scooter services, and the footpaths of Wellington have been full of Pink Flamingos zipping back and forth. This week also saw the first death on a scooter in NZ, with an Auckland man dying while scooting his Lime along Fanshawe St. You’d have to be mad or have a death wish to cycle or scoot along there –…

Leviathan

There has been a lot of discussion on the subject of “ugly” buildings recently – it is a subject that seems to excite a lot of people. Over on the DomPost there is an article featuring Councillor Nicola Young talking about how there is the opportunity of getting rid of some “eye-wateringly ugly, and cheap building(s)“. She claims that her opposition to some of those buildings…

3
2
Leviathan

Never an easy choice. One or the other? Why can’t we have both? An ugly secret for the last few years since the Canterbury Quakes, Rob Mitchell of the Dom Post has at last broken open on a story that we’ve all known for some time but that may still be news to the general public: that things need to change: How our buildings save lives…

3
2
Leviathan

Sad news this weekend that the Tapu te Ranga marae has burned to the ground. Sounds like the blaze burned so strongly that everyone on the south coast would have seen and smelled the conflagration. Just about every fire appliance and fire fighter was there, trying to save the structure, but to no avail. The good news from this tragic event is of course that no…

0
1
Leviathan

If this sounds like you, then go along to the School of Architecture tonight, for a meeting organised by Inner City Wellington. The collaborative lobby group for owners of residential units in EQPBs, (Inner City Wellington, Body Corporate Chairs’ Group and individual owners), invites owners to this important and urgent meeting. Tonight, 6 June, 6-8pm. Dunlop Ave / 139 Vivian St. They are going to be…

Leviathan

Of late, you may have heard murmerings about whether Wellington should have “Trackless Trams” or “Light Rail”. This is a complex subject and certainly one in which none of us – none at all – are qualified to talk about, let alone make a decision on. Luckily, this is not a decision which needs to be made just yet, although soon would be a good idea….