4 October 2005

Wellington Waterfront’s new looks inspire

The designs of five international architects for buildings to complete Waitangi Park are receiving widespread admiration.

At a Queens Wharf function last night, the capital’s architectural, design and business community expressed wonder and excitement as they absorbed the content of the show.

“We are delighted with the response,” Wellington Waterfront Chief Executive Ian Pike says. “It affirms our reason for going international – which was to expand and enhance the architectural experience in this city by opening the opportunity up to a larger range of possible contributors.”

The designs include organic forms from Netherlands architect Oosterhuis Lenard, buildings wrapped in traditional New Zealand motifs such as koru and ferns from Japanese entrant Shin Takamatsu and futuristic looks from another Netherlands architect, UN Studio.

A Wellington architect, Chris Kelly, and John Wardle, from Melbourne, are the other two finalis

“The work is all we hoped for,” Mr Pike says. “Challenging, courageous – a new look at the waterfront from a different perspective.”

A decision on the winning entrant will be announced in mid-November by a jury consisting of WWL Chair Fran Wilde, architects Ian Athfield, Professor John Hunt (Auckland University) Chris McDonald (Victoria University), architectural historian and Te Papa board member Jenny May and broadcaster Maggie Barry.

The exhibition is open to the public at the Exhibition Gallery, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, at Queens Wharf until October 9, and at the Wellington Waterfront Project Offices until October 21.

ENDS

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