So there we have it. After some 40-50 years of existence in the capital, the WCC accomodation tower at the Arlington site is coming down. We all know the story: designed by Ian Athfield, named after former Wellington councillor / mayor George Porter, the tower was a thoroughly quirky feature of Wellington, looming over the city with its slightly mad external appearance. At one end was…
athfield
19 Articles
Leviathan
1 Min Read
Sad news this morning to hear that Ian Athfield had died. I didn’t know him well – must be one of the few people that had never worked for him – so I suspect that he lives on well in the hearts of many of Wellington’s finest. Ath was, it has to be said, a one-of-a-kind character. I don’t think ive ever met someone quite like…
Leviathan
1 Min Read
Sir Ian, or Sir Ath? Probably, to anyone who knows him, Ath will still just be Ath. It’s a most remarkable transformation really, from a long-haired, large-bearded, rebellious young student of the 60s, building curiously unorthodox structures all over Wellington hillsides; to a well-respected pillar of the architectural community being recognized for a lifetime’s worth of work all over the country. How he got there is…
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Maximus
5 Min Read
The demolition of the Portico in Civic Square is about to start soon, apparently. Is anyone going to miss it? Soon after it was first proposed to be demolished a year or so ago, a friend of mine (a prominent architect in town) received a phone call from someone who felt it was an outrage that it’s demolition be thought possible – but he wisely declined…
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Maximus
2 Min Read
Hello, I’m back. Another year, another scheme for Site 10 on the Wellington Waterfront, with the latest version of the Athfield Architects proposal for North Kumutoto. Will this be the last? Will this scheme finally get through the mill of submitters and complainers, or will it too get tangled up like a Hector’s Dolphin caught in a drift net, and drown in a web of simulated…
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Maximus
4 Min Read
…and so the process starts again. Athfield Architects, and Willis Bond, have put in another proposal for the Site 10 site at Kumutoto, presently the site for around 40 slumbering campervans, bang slap in the middle of the waterfront. It’s not the best use of the site, although understandably quite popular for visiting tourists to have waterfront accommodation without the humungous waterfront hotel bill. WWL have…
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Maximus
2 Min Read
At last: a return to what this blog was set up to do – a review of a local building. This one is really aimed at keeping DavidP happy, who has undoubtedly noted this progressing along. It is not quite finished yet, but is forming a much needed edge to the formerly neglected corner of Tory and College St in downtown Te Aro. We’re talking of…
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Maximus
5 Min Read
I’ve been quiet about this new proposed building because Scoop, Stuff, and the Arch Centre appeared to be taking a lead on discussing it – but discussion seems to have died down already. Public submissions close on March 9 – ie Friday, but this is the submission period before a more formal Resource Consent application. This is the most important new building on the horizon –…
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Maximus
2 Min Read
So: Athfield is taking the issue to the bridge – or, rather, the Ring Road. Issuing a statement like “Either the One Way system goes, or I go” is surely inviting brinksmanship in a battle of nerves down in Christchurch. We’re still not sure if who or what the rumoured super ChCh anti-EQ Authority is yet, but the NZIA’s much-vaunted Architectural Ambassador looks to be laying…
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Maximus
4 Min Read
Slight change from Wellington – how about we look at the Hutt for a change? And yes, the Hutt is due for a change. Tenders are open for Lower Hutt’s new Square, which starts to make sense of the jumbled mess of parking that is currently outside the New Dowse. Design of “The Square” is of course by Athfield Architects, who did such a great job…
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