Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Best and Worst of Auckland

Well almost by default, Auckland Museum has been voted the best building in Auckland and the godawful Newton Comfort Inn has taken out the more competitive category of worst building.

The full list is on the press release on the Best and Worst website.

Auckland has been dogged by what is frankly crap architecture but I would differ slightly on my top 5.

The Museum almost has to be in there - its instantly recognisable as being part of Auckland. In terms of public buildings there are some shockers - but the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre is stunning - not only is it functional combining an indoor stadium and a theatre but it looks fantastic with its design based on a fale. Another old building that I dig for many of the same reasons as the Museum is Auckland Grammar's main building.

Given Auckland is the centre of business it would probably be remiss to not include an office tower - but given they either have daft domes (ANZ and Metropolis) or they have a toilet seat lifting up (Vero Centre) there isn't a lot to choose from - but I still think that symbol of 80s largesse - the Fay Richwhite building is probably one of the most striking, so ill include that.

Two other buildings I also really dig are Britomart (how cool is that?) and also as twee as it may sound - the Sky Tower. When you look back at Auckland from the North Shore, the Tower really completes the picture and actually makes Auckland look like a city (from a distance) its almost like the finishing touch, and for that reason I would include it.

2 comments:

tinks said...

Meh - the comp was rubbish. The worst building was only a paint job away from being an averagely bland white box, of which there are thousands in the Ak.

beetlebum said...

Yeah you could have really picked any apartment building almost. There is just soo much rubbish up there. I guess that one stood out for its colour scheme.

I forgot to say though that I mainly dig the Museum is that wicked new dome.