Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: On the waterfront

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  • jeremy gray,

    Isn't the sail pretty similar to what is on Wellingtons waterfront, next to the maritime museum?

    point chev • Since Apr 2008 • 44 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    I like it a lot, but I fear it's way too imaginative and clever to get ticked off by our city council.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I've never seen a model lit so badly.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Like it, but do hope they use another colour sail material.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Easterbrook,

    I don't like how they've taken all the windows off the buildings along Quay St. Is it to prevent office workers viewing entertainment they haven't paid for? ;)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report Reply

  • Jose Barbosa,

    I like the idea of closing down traffic access to the Quay St crossing, I just wish they'd do it to Queen St.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Savidge,

    Like it, but do hope they use another colour sail material.

    If they use white/cream they can project colour/images on to it. Much more versatile and exciting.

    Having fled Akld many moons ago and still not much of a fan of the CBD I see this as a glimmer of hope.

    Build it. If by they you mean me, I will come.

    Somewhere near Wellington… • Since Nov 2006 • 324 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Like it, but it's not at all realistic.
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    I mean, the Kea ferry is clearly shown as being in service as a working passenger vessel, rather than 'out on survey'.

    (Devonport commuter in-jokes - I haz them)

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    I've never seen a model lit so badly.

    Quite.

    Is it trying to create the mood for when Auckland has its next power outage?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Jo S,

    I love the sail veranda.
    Picturing being able to see the light shows projected on it from other parts of the inner city at night.
    very cool.

    is it autumn yet? • Since May 2007 • 80 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Isn't the sail pretty similar to what is on Wellingtons waterfront, next to the maritime museum?

    Not really. Wellington's Queens Wharf has three fairly generic sails covering a plaza (photo).

    The giant verandah planned for Auckland's Queen's Wharf is much bigger, and seems to be shaped in reponse to both the buildings and the wharf.

    I'm happy with this design that acknowledges that Auckland is actually quite a rainy place.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Nat Torkington,

    Love it. Membrane structures FTW! Wifey (aka "The Little Woman" aka "if you call me Wifey or The Little Woman again, I'll kick your fuckin head in") was a grad school designing inflatable (MEMBRANE) habitats for the Moon and Mars before I knocked her up, whacked her on the back of the head, and dragged her back to my cave^W^W New Zealand. She'd get amazing industrial membrane magazines, full of these gorgeous designs from architects around the world.

    +1 for membranes on the waterfront. But don't call it a "verandah". People will think it's a place for grandmas to drink tea and watch the sparrows. Call it an "all-weather entertainment space" or "multifunction all-seasons venue" or some other such piece of wank.

    Ti Point • Since Nov 2006 • 100 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Wifey (aka "The Little Woman" aka "if you call me Wifey or The Little Woman again, I'll kick your fuckin head in") was a grad school designing inflatable (MEMBRANE) habitats for the Moon and Mars before I knocked her up, whacked her on the back of the head, and dragged her back to my cave^W^W New Zealand.

    It's ok, dude. You can just call her "my wife". We won't think you're gay.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Sylvie Zlami,

    It ticks all the right boxes for me. It's fabulous!!

    Mind you, I am astounded, that architects would propose a solution that costs only a fraction of the actual budget.
    How extraordinary!

    Not that I’m complaining … au contraire. I’m just somewhat speechless because I’ve become used to the fiscal version of Parkinson’s Law being the order of the day, i.e. public spending absorbing all available budgets.

    What next? Common sense?

    And apart from the aesthetics of it all, the pedestrian zone in Quay St clinches the deal. It’s a must!

    auckland • Since Dec 2007 • 31 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    WTF? David, are you being serious, the tone seems somewhat ironic but you seemed to have overlooked the punch line...

    "Party Central" looks like the sort of place that will be fill of vomit, shit, glue sniffers and litter for approx. 7 days of the week and drunken louts for 5 hours twice a year.

    Just saying, in case you are being serious, it has all the hallmarks of utter crap.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    come in, come out of the rain...

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Hmmmm d'you think we'll need a catch net around the wharfe in order to arrest tumbling drunks ?

    Still llike the idea tho'

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    WTF? David, are you being serious

    Don, this one's in earnest.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    I like it, but it does kind of remind me of the Simpsons episode where a screwed up letter from Marj inspires Gehry though...

    I'm kind of hopeful that Otago's campus Masterplan is going to cook up interesting rain and weather scheming.

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Undercover wharf air - Roofle...
    ...at the risk of cannibalizing myself cross-mediawise, this design seems to have all
    the right elements...
    ...or as they say in France - Sail Eau Vie!

    Meanwhile back in Abu Dhabi this
    has a certain je ne sais quoi...

    I just hope Auckland gets it right, I'd hate for the spirit (or esprit) of the city to later roofily regret...

    "You don't understand! I coulda had class.
    I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody instead of a bum, which is
    what I am."

    My recommendation for a good night out in Chch tonight (Fri 14) is Family Cactus at Goodbye Blue Monday (sadly though The Undercurrents, ain't playing as advertised) - enjoy:

    yrs
    Eva Marie Saint
    Lloyd Cole Fan Club

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Cresswell,

    "__Click the little picture to get a larger version and__ . . ." realise that this project and "human scale" live in different parts of the city.

    I fear that Don Christie is right.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Knightly,

    I reckon the famous 'Red Fence' should be donated to MOTAT - who need a better fence along Gt North Rd and are the appropriate resting place of many of Auckland's transport-related relics.

    ---

    And why in this day and age are architects playing with wooden blocks? Why can't I download a 3D PDF of their concept to rotate and view from any angle?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    The sails should be beige. This design could hardly be accused of being adventurous. Architects have been doing this sort of thing for the last twenty-five years. And it is no wonder, since the designing requires so little effort: it is not much more than a sketch.

    In this case, the sail concept is ideal for the client and the brief. The client, Rt Hon John Key, has a vague but cheerful feeling about what might happen at Party Central, but no specific requirements. So the brief is more or less open: give my visitors somewhere to Party. For a project as vacuous as this one, designing a real building would be folly. The solution is to design a folly.

    Of course, it is all speculation on the part of Copeland. Nobody asked their opinion and they probably would not be in the running for a project this size, so throwing their hat in the ring can do no harm. The hat is unlikely to be picked up but it will let everybody know they are there.

    Can we now have a proper architectural competition, where architects submit real designs to meet a detailed and coherent brief? I guess not.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    Depresses me how cynical you all are about the ability of NZ to design and build something cool. Our only real barrier is that we're all such a bunch of tightwads. "Think Big" really messed with this nations psyche in the long term didn't it? Maybe that's why I take a different view - I was out of the country at the time :)

    Anyway, David, I just read your post about flogging Philomel. Makes a lot of sense... but keep in mind the sort of things that are out of site at a military base, and the cost of reproducing them!

    I still think we should have flogged Eden Park and built a proper stadium on the water... three sides doubling as passenger terminals. Right next to the strategic transport hub for Auckland.

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I like Rugby and drinking, but not Rugby Heads. Anyone else planning to be a RWC Refugee?

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

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