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Blogs / November 2007

December 2007 | October 2007
    • Cinephilia: Opening This Week
      • If you are at all interested in the future of cinema technology, the energetic retelling of dark age Norse legends or theme park rides then Beowulf 3D is the thing for you this weekend. The 3D version only screens at Readings and I understand from Roadshow, the distributor, that only two cinemas in New Zealand are equipped to screen it: Readings at Courtenay Central and Hoyts Sylvia Park in Auckland.
      • Tagged as:
      • cinema

    • Density done right: The Altair
      • It's been a while since I've written a post in this occasional series, but that's partly because there are depressingly few good recent examples to choose from. I've been looking for exemplary inner-suburban infill developments, and while this one is stretching the definition a bit, other infill developers could learn a lot from it.The Altair townhouse development in Newtown's Rintoul St is, at three storeys, what I would call a low-rise medium-density development.
      • Tagged as:
      • architecture
      • newtown

        • Newtown, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Basin Goings On
      • The “Finance Company Implosion” has seen several name changes for our beloved Basin Reserve over the past few months. It is now known officially as the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve and the ground improvements continue at good pace.
      • Tagged as:
      • cricket

    • Back to the Promenade
      • After being closed for reconstruction for most of the year, the Tug Wharf Promenade at Kumutoto reopened this morning. Apart from new lighting and seats, the main feature is a new bridge, supported by a "Cradle" at one end and a "Crane Tower" at the other.
      • Tagged as:
      • waterfront

    • Nicked!
      • The above piece of artwork is part of a series entitled Eye Candy and was skilfully hand painted by resident Wellington artist, Brad Williams aka Slope, and until sometime during the 31st of October, was on display at (best late nite venue nominee) Sandwiches. On which date it was nicked - during daylight hours - and both the Sandwiches lads and Slope are understandably upset.
      • Tagged as:
      • art

    • Visible and risible
      • There was a shock horror scoop in the Dominion Post today, with the headline Wind farm 'visible from Island Bay to Waikanae'. A leaked report purports to show that the proposed Puketiro wind farm would be visible from all across the Wellington region, and a spokesperson for a group called "Preserve Pauatahanui" said that "the leaked information shows that all Wellingtonians should be concerned".Does this mean that the wind farm will be a dominating presence across the region? Hardly.
      • Tagged as:
      • windfarm

    • On the Wireless
      • Continuing the fine tradition of mixing up venues for different purposes comes On the Wireless. It's radio in the theatre! Yay! The show is three original and hilarious radio plays performed on-stage with live sound effects and live music.
      • Tagged as:
      • theatre

    • Growing a spine
      • I've mentioned the "urban spine" concept many times before, and the expectation that much of Wellington's population growth will occur along a relatively compact corridor extending from Johnsonville via the CBD and hospital to the airport. The consultation and planning process has already started for Johnsonville, and now attention is moving to the southern parts of the city with the "Adelaide Rd - Planning for the Future" process.
      • Tagged as:
      • architecture
      • consultation
      • newtown

        • Newtown, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Awarding
      • File under: events, awards, Wellingtonista, architecture, WellingtonIt's that time of year again: time for the Wellingtonista awards. The very organised and energetic Wellingtonista people (and me) have put out the call for your votes on the best (and occasionally worst) in Wellington in many vital categories, such as Best Coffee Beans, Hottest Hospo and Supervillain of the Year. WellUrban readers may be most interested in categories such as Best Building, Best Public Space and Best Public Art, but I'm sure that awards such as Best Apparel Store and (of course) Best Drink will also grab your attention.Voting will run from Monday the 19th until December the 4th, followed by a stupendous awards party on December the 6th.
      • Automatically tagged as:
      • blogs

    • Building rumours 20: The Victoria Quarter
      • There hasn't been much publicity about this, but it could be one of the biggest developments, residential or otherwise, to hit Wellington in a long time.It's called the "Victoria Quarter", and it's planned to take up all of the large vacant site that currently hosts the Sunday market, bordered by Victoria, Vivian and Willis streets.
      • Tagged as:
      • architecture

    • Waterfront fatigue
      • No doubt many of you have had your fill of waterfront posts, but there was a slew of ill-informed letters to the editor in today's Dominion Post that I felt compelled to reply to. There are too many specific errors and misinterpretations to fit into in a 200-word rant, and I thought I'd try to tone down some of my usual vitriol, so I tried to offer a constructive discussion of why good public space design is more subtle and complex than just leaving as much empty space as possible.
      • Tagged as:
      • waterfront

    • To stand or not to stand, that is the question
      • t's not easy to keep your balance on a trolley bus if you are wearing vertiginous high heels or are weighed down with shopping. It can feel like surfing rather than just riding the bus. But spare a thought for those whose seatlessness is more than just an inconvenience. In recent months, this Wellingtonista has noticed her protruding baby bump doesn't get her a coveted seat on a packed peak hour bus.
      • Tagged as:
      • transport

    • Last chance feedback
      • Feedback on the Frank Kitts Park and Kumutoto schemes closes today, so if you haven't done so, today's your last chance to pop down to the Waterfront Project Information Centre and give your feedback.
      • Tagged as:
      • waterfront

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