Walden’s Triumph
During the hustle and bustle of the pre-Christmas social season, one of the stand-out social occasions for me was to celebrate the work of one of our country’s outstanding educators. Dr Russell Walden, a long-time staffer at Victoria University’s School of Architecture, has clearly been making the most of retirement. In December he launched his most important (but hopefully not his last) book. ‘Triumphs of Change: Architecture Reconsidered’... Read More
Maori Architecture
I confess to being a late starter in learning about our indigenous architecture. Growing up in suburban Hamilton was an impediment. Two years ago I had my first real functioning marae experience. It was an occasion of great sadness – a tangi for a fine young man, at Tu Teao Marae in Te Teko. But through the sadness, I couldn’t help but note the wonder of how the special sequencing, the disposition of the buildings around the central open... Read More
Airport terminal on the rocks?
Love it or loath it, ‘The Rock’ at Wellington Airport, welcomes visitors to a unique place, with a unique building. It doesn’t directly add any more visitors to the airport, but it does make their arrivals and departures more memorable and this is clearly its purpose. 30 years ago we did the same thing for Whakatane Airport. Our clients, the District Council, wanted a ‘gateway’ building that would welcome visitors to the Bay of Plenty. They... Read More
Urban Designspeak
Since its publication in 1971, Danish Urban Designer Jan Gehl’s “Life between Buildings” has become the bible of Urban Design. Like Gideon’s bibles finding their way into hotel rooms , Gehl’s book is at every town planning department in the western world. It’s been reported that as a young architect working in the suburbs he and his wife, a psychologist, had many discussions about why the human side of architecture was not more carefully... Read More
Design by Delight
Who knew that there was a Daffodil Capital of New Zealand, let alone that it is Carterton? Fresh from visiting UK friends staying among the grapes in Martinborough, Miss M and I stumbled across the annual Daffodil Festival. How joyful it was. Here was small town New Zealand still full of optimism. The best book shop in the region, Almo’s Books, was busy as. As well as having a great range of children’s books (my grandaughter Isla is about... Read More
Verandah speak
Springtime came to Wellington in all its glory last weekend and after a quick trip to the City Market, Miss M and I celebrated with a picnic at Battle Hill, near Pauatahanui. I thought this may be is where architects meet with the Porirua District Council, but no way: it was far too idyllic. New little lambs were gambolling around eagerly enjoying their first (and probably only) year of life and the rural buildings at Battle Hill are all painted barn... Read More
Rog on Beauty
After 40 years in business, I’ve decided it’s time to leave the communication stone-age so have set up a website. Not content with doing things by halves, I’ve decided to also enter the mysterious (to me that is) world of blogging. I’ve been told it’s a cheaper alternative to holding court at various Wellington drinking establishments to share my passion for telling stories and expressing opinions on architecture, planning, design,... Read More
