Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Wellington Waterfront - permeable places and spaces

Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 1. This series of posts about Wellington's waterfront visually analyse what I see as a very successful and popular people's waterfront. There are several themes in these posts. This first one is permeability portrayed in these 7 pictures. Urban transparency.

This first one shows the closeness of the city, and its connection with the waterfront...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 2.

This is another point of linkage and connection between waterfront edge and city behind. Close, direct, desire line evident. Showing the way...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 3.

And here's a wet day, cold and grey, access easy to the waterfront. Shelter above. Buildings ahead. But gaps in between. Not walls between you and the view....


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 4.

...stepping forward a bit, turning left, a variety of buildings, some old some new. Gaps in between revealing new surprises. New views. And always the water the sea. Distant views. Not walled away...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 5.

This view is tighter. Interesting sights to look at, some near, and some far. Ways to continue - various. But not walls. Not closed off. Pathways to the distance, to the next place, the next interest, near. No need to walk backwards...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 6.

Substantial waterfront building to the right. But more than compensated for, by the space ahead, by the open view to the heads ahead. No sense of enclosure. Places to walk. Public places to go. No sense of invading the private...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 7.

And inside the private for a coffee. The building itself is permeable, see through. When a wall is not a wall. Maintaining that sense of distance protecting and preserving distant views, even for those not inside, and access to distant treats and pleasures.

1 comment:

Brent C said...

Your photos don't tell the reader the true story of what Wellington Waterfront is really about. On a nice day, the waterfront is one of the best places to be. People will hire different types of bikes, rollerblade around, walk, play and enjoy the waterfront setting. Its also the most popular place to go for lunch time exercise. The city was close to the waterfront, however as the waterfront has been developed, the city has drawn closer. Now companies locate themselves near the waterfront. This could happen with Auckland as well, making the waterfront a key asset to the city.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Wellington Waterfront - permeable places and spaces

Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 1. This series of posts about Wellington's waterfront visually analyse what I see as a very successful and popular people's waterfront. There are several themes in these posts. This first one is permeability portrayed in these 7 pictures. Urban transparency.

This first one shows the closeness of the city, and its connection with the waterfront...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 2.

This is another point of linkage and connection between waterfront edge and city behind. Close, direct, desire line evident. Showing the way...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 3.

And here's a wet day, cold and grey, access easy to the waterfront. Shelter above. Buildings ahead. But gaps in between. Not walls between you and the view....


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 4.

...stepping forward a bit, turning left, a variety of buildings, some old some new. Gaps in between revealing new surprises. New views. And always the water the sea. Distant views. Not walled away...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 5.

This view is tighter. Interesting sights to look at, some near, and some far. Ways to continue - various. But not walls. Not closed off. Pathways to the distance, to the next place, the next interest, near. No need to walk backwards...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 6.

Substantial waterfront building to the right. But more than compensated for, by the space ahead, by the open view to the heads ahead. No sense of enclosure. Places to walk. Public places to go. No sense of invading the private...


Wellington Waterfront. Midwinter pictures. Permeability 7.

And inside the private for a coffee. The building itself is permeable, see through. When a wall is not a wall. Maintaining that sense of distance protecting and preserving distant views, even for those not inside, and access to distant treats and pleasures.

1 comment:

Brent C said...

Your photos don't tell the reader the true story of what Wellington Waterfront is really about. On a nice day, the waterfront is one of the best places to be. People will hire different types of bikes, rollerblade around, walk, play and enjoy the waterfront setting. Its also the most popular place to go for lunch time exercise. The city was close to the waterfront, however as the waterfront has been developed, the city has drawn closer. Now companies locate themselves near the waterfront. This could happen with Auckland as well, making the waterfront a key asset to the city.