More NZ-Made Design, please
We buy NZ-made cheese...
And NZ-grown apples
And NZ-styled hair…
But WHY NOT NZ-DESIGNED ARCHITECTURE?!?!
Recently, I went down to check out the new developments at the Wynyard Quarter. It is wonderful that we have finally decided to establish walkable connections through our city & lining them with the right type of perimeter activity.
As I walked around, a sobering thought crossed my mind. In this most visually interesting architectural / urban environment, I wondered how many of these things were drawn on the back of napkins by locals?
New Zealand has two philosophies when it comes to the design of architecture. We either:
Design things on our own & build them on our own without the use of a professional designer - employing the Number 8 wire mentality.
Or we go hunting for the finest architects from around the world & leave the rather un-sexy documentation side to locals.
But why? We live in a country where we actively promote buying NZ made goods. Why does this not apply to building? Why do we not entrust the documentation, administration and DESIGN of large-scale architectural projects to locals?
As the light materialises at the other end of the tunnel, we have a decision to make:
Do we keep walking between the tracks, waiting to be hit by that diesel train?
Or do we decide to veer course to a path less travelled but full of possibilities?
- Posted Sept. 5, 2011
Voices & Opinions
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CommentNatasha
Perhaps, a little research before such an article should be considered. The master plan for the Wynyard Quarters HAS been done by a very Auckland based firm. The actual buildings and public realms too have been designed by large by several high profile local Auckland based firms. I don’t really understand why this article is accusing NZ for employing international firms, when, infact, New Zealand prides on all its most valueable assets (buildings and otherwise) being homegrown. Are you just upset becuase your firm were not able to contribute to the Auckland city’s latest urban invigoration?
Rajan
You raise a very good point Natasha, and I think the key aspect to look at the perception of NZ’s Urban Design / Planning / Architecture industries.
It was on my first walk along Jellicoe Street, as I passed by the large orange hoardings around the new ASB development, that the question formed in my mind.
The hoardings read:
Architects: <insert Australian architectural firm here> with <insert NZ architectural firm here>
Our most valuable assets or buildings, such as the recent Auckland War Memorial Museum upgrade & the Supreme Court in Wellington, are typically funded as part of government or community projects, which will favour the use of local professionals – for both political and economic reasons – with specialised input from the best consultants around the world. And I recognise that this is a very positive step, as we in NZ simply cannot call on the experience & knowledge that others can.
However, when this starts to penetrate into the less specialised type of architecture such low rise commercial projects – office and retail in particular – I become concerned. There are many projects, including work around the Wynyard Quarter, that show that we as an industry are more than capable of producing quality architecture and environments. So why is the perception of those with the purse strings different?