Comments on: Newmarket’s New Station Square – Another Cold Soulless Concrete Jungle

By: Unity Finesmith

Unity Finesmith — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:40:52 +0000

It definitely needs some trees and plants – you only need to see the difference this has made at Britomart to understand this. Behind the station they have invested in some planters and some foliage and it makes a world of difference – even if you do still look at the car park when you sit down!

By: Johans

Johans — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:18:26 +0000

I’ll be happy to donate a tree seed.

Now would someone donate a jackhammer please?

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:43:11 +0000

I agree with Jarbury. The shops in Britomart seem better patronised and the whole feel of the place has improved since more services were added (remember how few train services there were 5yrs ago compared with now) and more people are actually commuting to and from Britomart by rail. I remember how dead it was when it first opened. The stupidist thing is there isn`t an I-site in there when there damn well should be! Add to that the cafe up top closes far too early. Saddest thing about Britomart shops, the closure of the crepe place – it was fantastic.

Anyway, back OT. I think the square will improve once the station is opened, and unlike Britomart, there will be lots of trains from day one.

If there was one shop in Britomart that I`d like to see, it would be a rail souvenir shop with all sorts of rail-themed stationary, t-shirts and caps, and DVDs etc.
It could sell Auckland rail themed merchandise as is done overseas.

By: Jeremy Harris

Jeremy Harris — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:40:28 +0000

Maybe they could put in a sculpture of a tree with a plaque reading:

“In memory of a tree”

By: jarbury

jarbury — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:45:45 +0000

I think the square will be much better once all the shops have been leased. Also, the access from Broadway needs to be improved by widening the entrance (need to demolish a shop I think).

Once a lot of people are using the station I think that it will hopefully be more vibrant too.

By: Jon C

Jon C — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:34:53 +0000

AR, yes I imagine no one will spell it correctly. There has to be something better out there!

By: AR

AR — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:32:27 +0000

I agree with everything, but TEREINA? Could that name be any less cringeworthy?

By: Brent C

Brent C — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:00:20 +0000

The guy that named the square must have come from Palmerston North

By: Joshua

Joshua — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:45:53 +0000

One other problem is the shops have small shop fronts, obviously to try and fit as many in as possible, not the best for a cafe setting. But it would be beneficial to for a cafe to set-up and use those long rectangular pot things to plant some low lying plants/hedge to spice the place up a bit, however it looks like yet another oportunity gone missing. We have to wait until the station opens and commuters start walking out to see how successful it really will be.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:43:32 +0000

Jon you have stolen my words here! I went to have a look at Newmarket Station yesterday and took photos almost identical to yours.

Station: .. Well done, appears very functional and time will tell

“Square”.. Pathetically bland and uninviting screaming to be softened up and made welcoming. WHY DONT THEY GET PROPER ARCHITECTS AND LANDSCAPERS TO DESIGN THESE PLACES?????

The adjacent apartments look similar to the disasters in downtown Auckland that only lack poles sticking out with washing to look like the back end of Hong Kong. Something needs to be added to the facade to break it up. Perhaps planter boxes on the balconies allowing pot plants to dangle
down would soften up this cold face a bit.

As you state Jon TREES. To me it called out for two or three trees, perhaps with seats around them?

It’s not that hard is it????

Richard

By: Brent C

Brent C — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:15:30 +0000

I think that the people that will fill the square will bring most of the flavour. I hope it attracts buskers and cafes. They are the best way of filling a street. It doesn’t need to be a damp dark place.

Maybe once more of the waterfront is developed, more people will get off the train and head to the right? But it has a total lack of seating and doesn’t look too warm. Maybe if designs uterlized the natural sunlight, they would be better used