Dear NZ Herald Editor,
ARC’s Chairman Mike Lee has every right to express his opinion that the Queens Wharf design competition is a flop and that the hundred year old sheds should be demolished.
I don’t agree with him and nor does ARC policy.
And, so far, the ARC hasn’t agreed to become an advocate for the Society of Iconic Building Architects, nor for the P&O Cruise Ship Company.
What Auckland needs on its CBD waterfront is a popular people place. Aucklanders need a well designed and active public experience on Queens Wharf, far more than they need iconic buildings and cruise ships.
To be successful, Queens Wharf will need structures, but these should primarily serve the public need ahead of shipping profits and design egos.
Many of the design competition entries illustrate how the hundred year old bones of Queens Wharf’s sheds can be respected and utilised to spectacular effect.
Attractive waterfronts around the world have brilliantly renovated sheds, and we should do a Pacific job on ours.
It is time to embrace the ideas of our best designers and get on with the job. This should not be a political football.
Yours sincerely, Joel Cayford
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Queens Wharf Designs - Not a flop
Dear NZ Herald Editor,
ARC’s Chairman Mike Lee has every right to express his opinion that the Queens Wharf design competition is a flop and that the hundred year old sheds should be demolished.
I don’t agree with him and nor does ARC policy.
And, so far, the ARC hasn’t agreed to become an advocate for the Society of Iconic Building Architects, nor for the P&O Cruise Ship Company.
What Auckland needs on its CBD waterfront is a popular people place. Aucklanders need a well designed and active public experience on Queens Wharf, far more than they need iconic buildings and cruise ships.
To be successful, Queens Wharf will need structures, but these should primarily serve the public need ahead of shipping profits and design egos.
Many of the design competition entries illustrate how the hundred year old bones of Queens Wharf’s sheds can be respected and utilised to spectacular effect.
Attractive waterfronts around the world have brilliantly renovated sheds, and we should do a Pacific job on ours.
It is time to embrace the ideas of our best designers and get on with the job. This should not be a political football.
Yours sincerely, Joel Cayford
ARC’s Chairman Mike Lee has every right to express his opinion that the Queens Wharf design competition is a flop and that the hundred year old sheds should be demolished.
I don’t agree with him and nor does ARC policy.
And, so far, the ARC hasn’t agreed to become an advocate for the Society of Iconic Building Architects, nor for the P&O Cruise Ship Company.
What Auckland needs on its CBD waterfront is a popular people place. Aucklanders need a well designed and active public experience on Queens Wharf, far more than they need iconic buildings and cruise ships.
To be successful, Queens Wharf will need structures, but these should primarily serve the public need ahead of shipping profits and design egos.
Many of the design competition entries illustrate how the hundred year old bones of Queens Wharf’s sheds can be respected and utilised to spectacular effect.
Attractive waterfronts around the world have brilliantly renovated sheds, and we should do a Pacific job on ours.
It is time to embrace the ideas of our best designers and get on with the job. This should not be a political football.
Yours sincerely, Joel Cayford
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment