Posts by Peter Cox

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  • Hard News: Aiming for mediocrity. Again.,

    err... I mean 'too' many, not 'two many'... funny typo though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Aiming for mediocrity. Again.,

    The most obvious architectural precedent of the proposed waterfront stadium is Te Papa, which in spite of any of its other merits is truly uninspired in its external design. Invariably, a rushed time frame and the historical cultual cringe of NZ architecture will combine to mean that whatever is proposed will be a banal copy of somewhere else - a form of 'glocalisation' to use social theory jargon.

    Wrong. Te Papa was exactly the oppossite - there was a massive amount of time put into the propsal and decision process. In fact, it's the classic example of ballsing up a project by putting it through so many committees it ends up as a big, well... nothing. During the very long proposal process, there were also a number of really interesting options from some great designers (such Frank Gehry, designer of the risky and amazingly successful Balboa Guggenheim... I'd hate to see what Don Brash would have compared the designs for THAT to) which were turned down because apparently the safe option was more appealing.

    I'm quite familiar with the design of Te Papa and the processes that led to its construction and once you know, some of the concepts behind it are quite interesting, but there's just simply two many ideas, and it's all a little bit of the sum adding up to a lot less than its parts... no risks, trying to please everyone.

    But anyway, like Te Papa... doing this kind of thing by committee is going to end up with a boring, safe and yup - mediocre option... Eden Park. What a f*cking pathetic tragedy..

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Because I am weak,

    Spending a lot of time designing a building doesn't neccessarily mean it's necessarily going to be any better. Take a look at Te Papa. Classic example of trying to please everyone, no risks being taken and the whole thing turning out to be completely without personality or vision.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • What Happens: The Sequel!,

    Depends on the state, apaprently. In Virginia, they'll have to request it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • What Happens: The Sequel!,

    Virginia:

    99.71% counted...
    Democrats 1 169 809
    Grand Old Party 1 162 089

    Montana still holding stead with ~2%lead for the Dems, so I think it's time for a beer...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Announcing: Public Address System!,

    Sweet, thanks Matt. I have been ticking 'remember me'... it seems to work sometimes but not others. I'm fairly computer ignorant, so I wouldn't have a clue what's causing it exactly. I'll post again if I can suss out what the variable is.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • Shortland Street,

    If it's going to be done, it needs to be done right. I think that's just a matter of wanting to be certain that the work you're doing has meaning and depth.

    I don't think that drive comes from a desire to uphold the principles of the treaty, or please a funding or commissioning body that is looking for specific boxes to be ticked.

    So basically: if thinking about biculturalism adds to the creative process, and is something that inspires us to deal with stories that are meaningful then great, but if it becomes just another hoop that we have to jump through, that's not so good, so we have to be careful about it...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Announcing: Public Address System!,

    Hi. Dunno if anyone else has pointed this out but my computer is failing to automatically log in when I come to the site. I'm using IE7. Cheers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Announcing: Public Address System!,

    GoodWork Guys. :-)

    Encouraging real names is great idea. Hopefully will cut down on the mad rant and lazy txt-speak post factor a bit...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report

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