There’s an extraordinary statement on the NZ Institute of Architects Incorporated website.
The Queens Wharf shed may not be worth saving
It defends the failed Queens Wharf design contest and chides those who think it should be abandoned –which it should.
“No competition is perfect, “says Institute Chief Executive Beverley McRae. And in a rather questionable justification for the dubious “contest” she adds: “This one is at least attempting to take a wide range of views and considerations into account.”
Really? I thought that it has been so selective, some reports have labelled it rigged. Has anyone noticed anything in the final designs that take into the account the wide view of Auckland in 2009 starting with aspects of Maori and Polynesian in the designs? Anything innovative that will make us rush to show the tourists that supposedly pour in for the RWC?
“The brief is broad,” says insists.
Could have fooled me. So remind me why the designs are so bland , boring, predictable etc etc etc.
With all due respect to people who know light years more than me about what constitutes good design -I’m just a train guy- I’m saddened that the country’s leading architects (presuming this is what the body represents) can be so pleased with this disgraceful saga that has dashed our dreams of what could happen in opening up the “red gates” to the public after 100 years.
“It’s a bit premature for people to be criticising the results, which are still preliminary,” says the CEO. Honestly, what planet are these people on? Eight finalists have been “chosen” and the winner is about to be announced.
It must be close to D-day. Time to pull the plug. And if these architects represented by the statement (to be fair there have been some others who have spoken out) really believe this is good for Auckland, it’s no wonder this city looks the obscene landscape it does, ruined by half-baked development projects and mass-produced apartment blocks of the worst kind. Don’t get me started.
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11 Responses to “Architects Defend Queens Wharf Contest -Are They Nuts?”
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
There were so many design preferable to the boring ones chosen…
I’ve said it from day one, stengthen the wharf, reseal it, put up a fence and after the RWC have a proper design competition – worldwide…
I hope John Banks pulls the plug. This is too embarrassing and will not help anyones chances to get elected a supermayor. It is small town mickey mouse stuff.
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I’m appalled the architects are leading us down this dark road.
Auckland needs architects that shine the light on designs that make us a vibrant modern city.
The design contest has been as uninspiring as a dull All Black game itself, not that I am a rugby fan but my husband is.
Good on you Jon for speaking out. You may be just a train guy (that cracks me up everytime) but I would trust you as a judge over whoever got us into this mess.
FAIL! This contest needs ot be dumped quickly before we become a laughing stock. i hope the overseas media havent noticed whats happened. It takes away the good we have done with things like LOTR and the Pure campaign.
Why not get Peter Jackson involved? Theres an idea.
As you said in one of your posts Jon, this is symptomatic of the state of Auckland’s infrastructure, what you keep calling the $2 shop solution.
When i saw your Dubai rail videos, it makes me realise that while we get excited about the newmarket station and the Kingsland platforms, we are not in the league of major cities.
This queens wharf design fiasco confirms it once again.
NZIA are a bunch of F***tards…I came in contact with them through a competition, and was completely disappointed with the way it was run. Seems ironic that they have this to say lol
I don’t think the architects are to blame here, but rather the brief they had to work to. The budget, the timeframe, the constraints, the necessity for a bleeding cruise ship terminal….. they all contributed to it being damn near impossible for any visionary designs emerging.
That said, I think it’s actually reasonably likely we’ll end up with something quite good. Simply because so much of a fuss has been kicked up that the powers to be really have no choice but to go for the most radical design on the short-list.
The herald is reporting John Banks is considering scrapping the project because the designs are so bad.
You were on the button Jon, once again.
The compitition was fine, but the time restraints and budget provided was crap, not to mention some of the judges ideas
Architects will not be unanimous on this issue, nor how the competition was run.
Quoting David Mitchell (Akl architect, of Elegant Shed fame) from the Auckland NZIA branch newsletter:
“This is an $80m building project. The total sum to be paid for all contestants for the key design ideas stage is 1/1000 of the project cost….ask yourself why we – the NZIA – officially supported this.”
He points out that the prize would be less than half of likely costs incurred by an office putting together an entry, and the prize is still only a chance to compete for the second stage.
How Do I Hang Curtain Rods ?