Random Play by Graham Reid

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Random Play: Stop! In the Name of Love!!

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  • Steve Curtis,

    There is no great mass of people thronging to get to the end of Queens Wharf.
    It was an ill conceived idea to use the area for a party central in the first place , lets not turn a bad idea into a massive mistake by throwing more money at it.
    A wharf is a wharf.
    Name one other city that lets a finger wharf define who they are!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    For many of us, we'd like local body politicians to deliver basic, decent services at reasonable cost and not fuck things up with noise limits on city bars and the like.

    However, that isn't good enough for the people that run for office. They want to build *iconic* structures so they can walk by with their grandchildren and say "I built that". Hence we get schemes like "party central".

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Martin Scorsese's doco on Bob Dylan (which screens on Sky this week)

    It's on ONe! (Sat., 10:35pm)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Graham Reid,

    UMMMMMMMM . . . . Sydney?
    You have never heard about the "Opera House"?
    The last great 20th century work of genuinely iconic [ and i don't mean in that mundane NZ use of the word "iconic": aka Dave Dobbyn, Marc Ellis] national symboliism.
    I'm thinking public architecture which might just be a rather more amorphous and longterm-thinking concept/conceit.
    New York??
    (Hmm "The Statue of Liberty said 'come' " -- John Lennon)
    Liverpools's revelopmment.
    Leith ??????

    Sorry pal and with all due respect, but you you might need to get into a bigger world than the one you live in.
    A wharf is only a wharf .. . if that all you think it is.
    By the way. I welcome the input here of "the Lesser Spotted Architect Bird".
    But is that too rare and precious a breed to feed at this pecking ground?
    G

    auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis,

    The Sydney Opera House is not a wharf. It was a headland, which previously contained a tram barn.
    But this makes my point, they started from a cultural centre, which they needed and found a suitable site.
    Here we have a wharf , one of many, and the reason there is no earth shattering design is ... because well it has no real use.
    We played this game about iconic architecture over the Wynyard point, actually another wharf, which the public has access to, but the ideas seem to date from the Il Duce period of Italy.
    And that seems to be the 'world' some say we should belong to. No thanks

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I think making some space for the hordes is a good idea -- and face it, we've bought the bloody thing from Ports of Auckland anyway -- but I think now I'd actually prefer it to be simply cleared and filled with temporary structures for the RWC. That would be fine. We can develop it at leisure.

    And you're right about the St James. It's rotting in the hands of a failed developer, but $47m would be more than enough to refurbish it -- less if you're not fussy about ballet.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    "Party Central" is going to be the Kingsland strip, which is why the brewerys are opening as many bars there as fast as they can. The council should be working out how to close New North road from Bond Street to Kingsland Ave without causing traffic chaos before the huge crowds do it anyway.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I love Auckland. It breaks my heart to see what a shallow political/sporting/populist agenda is doing to my city.

    Hear hear! I will plug again these people who I have much respec' for. Yes please, anything they do would be just fine. How's this for
    outside the square

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    which is why the brewerys are opening as many bars there as fast as they can.

    Well, the Kingslander, been there for quite some time but The Macs Neighbourhood Bar is actually owned by the 3(?) guys who own Wagamama. So they are not silly eh? I think that is correct that Kingsland will be a thriving strip for all kind throughout this RWC business and t'other side of Bond street along New Nth Rd would be a good spot as well. I wouldn't go down to the waterfront for Rugby. What, do they think these folk are thick? I imagine they will hang around Dominion Rd, Mt Eden as well.I think the party central crap is for the eliterati that is John Key's buddies, oh I've said this before. Moving along....

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I wouldn't go down to the waterfront for Rugby. What, do they think these folk are thick?

    I think that they're marshalling the campervan crowds downtown, which makes sense -- you'd rather have them there because they'll want to party every night, and there's neither the capacity or the tolerance in Kingsland for that.

    And the Kingsland strip will still do magnificently.

    I do have to disagree with Graham on open space on the wharf, at least in the short term. Let's just keep it open for a while. Lay grass, even.

    I think we lose sight of the fact that a large wharf on Auckland city's doorstep that has been closed to the public for nearly a century was suddenly opened this year, and will be developed for recreation. That's really cool.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Chasing you around the threads here, Russell but I was just wondering what Media 7 is doing this week (I know you are at SPADA next week--will see you there)

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I think we lose sight

    True, but may as well be a caravan park then.Hell, we know it can be driven on. It can handle the weight. Don't see much point in a journey all the way back to a a water front, when festivities start round the corner. Plus we who live here, know it will be open finally and yes it is very cool, so why do we need to do all anything for drunk visitors? I know this is 'Te Roogbee' and it's a thing but our waterfront should be for everyone, not just "party central". That name stinks first off.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Looks like we are, troublingly, on a wavelength with John Banks ...

    Auckland City Mayor John Banks is considering canning the Queens Wharf upgrade amid growing concerns the city will inherit another mediocre development.

    "One of the options could be to do next to nothing," he said yesterday.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    True, but may as well be a caravan park then.Hell, we know it can be driven on. It can handle the weight. Don't see much point in a journey all the way back to a a water front, when festivities start round the corner.

    But that's only on Eden Park game days. The draw has 11 matches in the week between the first and second matches at Eden Park alone. There'll be a big screen downtown for fans to watch those.

    Plus we who live here, know it will be open finally and yes it is very cool, so why do we need to do all anything for drunk visitors? I know this is 'Te Roogbee' and it's a thing but our waterfront should be for everyone, not just "party central". That name stinks first off.

    Don't you think you're being just a tiny bit negative there, Sofie? These people will be our guests -- moreover, guests with money to spend. Tens of thousands of them. The Irish fans will travel up from their team's first match in New Plymouth during the first week for their game against Australia -- they won't want to go to Kingsland to get a drink. And you won't want them in Kingsland.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Chasing you around the threads here, Russell but I was just wondering what Media 7 is doing this week (I know you are at SPADA next week--will see you there)

    We're doing body image and Bill Francis.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Don't you think you're being just a tiny bit negative there, Sofie?

    No ;)

    The Irish fans will travel up from their team's first match in New Plymouth during the first week

    See! there's the first problem!

    And you won't want them in Kingsland.

    Yes ,there we agree, let them have our waterfront. Although I would put them on the Tank farm near The Swashbucklers.
    As you may notice, I know very little about Rugby, but do understand the passion.Hey, I'm cynical :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    As an aside, checked out one of those big screens at the NZ conference and events expo t'other day and the really big screen still looks grainy/ pixelated.Not being negative or anything :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Graham,

    I would like to make a suggestion. A concept that I hope will spark the public consciousness and engender excitement and passion.

    I propose a Centre for Maori and Polynesian Culture - Te Atea.

    It is a scandal that the largest Polynesian city in the world (ignoring the possibility of LA fitting this description) has virtually no Maori or Polynesian presence downtown.

    This would be a place where Maori and PIs can interact with Aucklanders and tourists alike.

    It can incorporate elements of Maori and Polynesian culture such as dance, carving, food; it can provide a central meeting point for cultures to interact and provide a focal point for the city, too.

    I already have the support of Ngati Whatua and the concept was part of the design submitted (and bounced) together with Ngati Whatua and Rewi Thompson.

    Taking away the restrictions of the sheds and revisiting the budget will allow something really special to be built - and I can think of no other location that would work as well as this - the absolute centre of Auckland City.

    The design can be worked on but imagine a building/focal point incorporating an objective of bringing peoples together, with Richard Simpson's new bridge as its counterpoint just down the harbour.

    Now THAT's an Auckland that would portray itself proudly to the world.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Call me paranoid but...
    Britomart = railhead
    Wharf = well... wharf
    Cruise ships = Prison Hulks
    Can anyone else see a pattern here?
    And then there's the Container Terminal
    Containers = Cells
    Scary
    I said you should be wary of the National Government.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Fraser Gardyne,

    Hi Graham,

    I agree broadly with your points however I totally disagree regarding opening the competition up to international architects.

    The problem is not that we don't have great architects, WE DO HAVE GREAT ARCHITECTS. It's that the whole basis for the competition is flawed.

    The problem with competitions like this is that to the public they appear to give everyone an equal chance. Anyone certainly could enter this competition but they certainly didn't have an equal chance of winning, no matter how good their ideas were.

    The committee identified the teams they thought were capable of completing the work plus a few ideas they thought had merit.

    They could have done this with a credentials pitch. They didn't need to mislead over two hundred entrants into spending tens of thousands of creative hours in putting their creative entries together. I'd guess that entrants would have conservatively spent between $10k and $30's time to put a well thought through scheme together.

    How much value does the potential client put on their work or is it just for the glory? If you potentially give away your good ideas one day, how much does the client value it in the future?

    The most valuable asset that architects have, as with graphic designers like me, are their creative problem solving abilities. It is impossible for any architect to work in a vacuum which is what the competition situation forces. To get great creative solutions you have to work closely with your client.

    New Zealand has many extremely talented and experienced architects and architectural practices. Many of them, because we are travelers, have worked with and in the practices of the leading architects of our time. We should be treating them like the professionals they are, not writing them off because of a hopeless competition format.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 22 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis,

    Took up the Challenge from Graham after his comment .."Sorry pal and with all due respect, but you you might need to get into a bigger world than the one you live in."
    Why not have a look at one of the places of the 'world' I have not seen like
    Ocktoberfest.
    They seem to to do a mega party , and every year , not a one off.
    And their iconic buildings.... tents.
    But good to see mayor Banks has been giving signals that this multi million party central cum Taj Mahal will be strangled at birth

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Speaking of the Sydney Opera House, Murphy's Law made its presence felt all the way. Its chief architect quit in disgust, and the entire project ended up 14 years behind schedule and 10 times over budget. Yet it still got built in the end.

    I suspect even in Australia they could never get away with that sort of thing now. Even then, it underlines a perpetual problem in NZ that won't seem to go away - we have the know-how, but we're too cheap & nasty to utilise it. Blame Think Big on the government level, and the BRT on the private-sector level.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    Off-topic....

    Graham, are you worried that people might think your book is a detailed account of the Balloon Boy saga?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Queens Wharf redesign halted

    Plans for a development at Queen's Wharf before the 2011 Rugby World Cup have been put on hold.

    The winner of a design competition for the project was supposed to decided today, but Auckland Mayor John Banks and the Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee were not impressed with the entries.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Queens Wharf redesign halted

    Our children will thank us for it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

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