Bill Alington, Jim Beard, Bill Toomath and Derek Wilson (ABT&W) have undoubtedly been outstandingly influential on Architecture in Wellington and in New Zealand.  Their body of work, extending from the late 1940’s to the 1990’s typically exhibits a modernist style, largely inspired from their education and work in the UK and the US.

The book “4 Architects” attempts to catalogue the key work of each architect and provide some insight into the inspiration and creative thinking behind each of the Architects and their works . 

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For years, when asked to name the greatest building in the world, most people would have said the Empire State Building.  But has that mantle now passed to the Bhurj Khalifa (formerly the Bhurj Dubai)?

For 40 years, the Empire State Building stood as the tallest building in the world and a symbol of New York and the capability of humans.  It stood as a “monument to the excesses of the 1920’s”, during the great depression of the 1930’s.  It is not the most elegant building ever conceived, but then that depends on your definition of elegance.  This symmetrical phallus or “lone dinosaur”, has an emotional place in many people’s hearts. 

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At the Architecture Centre we feel it is time to ask some questions. The rumblings from our city have been going on for some time – the big question is : what IS going on at the Wellington City Council with regards to the Urban Design and Planning of the capital city?

Arch Centre has a long history in this respect. In fact, Arch Centre has been commenting on Wellington’s Urban Design even before Wellington had a Town Planning department. We still have active members who remember what used to happen, or not happen, and the Town Planning and Urban Design of Wellington was one of the prime reasons that Arch Centre even came into existence on. Sixty to seventy years ago, Wellington had a slum problem. Te Aro flat in particular was a suburb of drink, drugs, destitution, and prostitution, in a mix of bad buildings. Nowadays, of course, nothing much has changed…. except new buildings for old. But our concern for Urban Design continues. We campaigned on it back then, we have even run Council candidates in the past, so we feel that we have an absolute right to ask as highly concerned Wellingtonians, about just what is happening to the Urban Design Team at Wellington City Council.

We’ve been watching and waiting in the sidelines for some explanations of what the ‘Team’ is doing. Wellington used to have a very strong Urban Design Team, up until about 10 years ago. Rumour has it, our Urban unit was even the envy of Auckland. We had strong urban reviewing capabilities, with architects and urban designers working in the team and all extremely knowledgeable about the history of Wellington. But things have been changing a lot since then, and there has been a gradual and steady loss of institutional and intellectual knowledge. There are still some fantastic dedicated souls there. But many others have left, or been forced to leave.

Although we don’t have figures to hand, there have been a number of restructurings at WCC’s Urban Group over the last few years, reaching way back before the current lot of managers. Is it five restructurings Read the rest of this entry »

This would be the case if the latest Lonely Planet writer had their way.

After calling Wellington “the coolest little capital in the world”, travel guide Lonely Planet is now suggesting that Auckland should be New Zealand’s capital city.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/4332153/Lonely-Planet-reignites-debate

But would it be logical or practical or is there even any point?

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DOCOMOMO – School of Architecture, Wellington 10am

“Elegance and excesses: War, Gold and Borrowings: architecture in the 1860s”

A one day symposium convened by the Centre for Building Performance Research, Victoria University

Date: Friday 3rd December 2010
Venue: School of Architecture, Victoria University, Wellington
Convener: Christine McCarthy

Symposium fee: The cost of the symposium (including proceedings) will be $60, to be collected on the day of the symposium. Additional copies of proceedings will be available on the day for a cost of $20.

One of the more eagerly awaited book launches of the year – on four very distinguished Wellington Architects: Bill Toomath, James Beard, Derek Wilson, and Bill Alington. Organised by the NZIA, this book launch ties in with the culmination of the Graphisoft Student Architecture awards being held on 2nd December at the School of Architecture, and should run from 5.30 till 7.00

Arch Centre will publish a review of the book shortly