Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Speaking of Restoration
Futuna Open Day and Dulux Futuna Lecture
FUTUNA CHAPEL OPEN DAY - 15 CPD Points
Viewing of building (one of NZ top 10 buildings and recipient of 25 year Award and NZIA Gold Medal), musical performance, facsimiles of original drawings on display, presentation by Nick Bevin Trust Chair of the planned restoration of the building’s exterior and a talk by a well known NZ Architect, David Mitchell, on his reading of John Scott the architect of Futuna.
David Mitchell is an architect whose work has figured prominently in New Zealand over the last twenty years. He has designed university buildings, teachers’ college buildings, schools and community projects, art galleries, office buildings, public housing, apartments, and numerous private houses. Though he travelled and worked overseas for most of the 1990’s he continued with private commissions in New Zealand. He returned to Auckland with Julie Stout to set up practice again in 2000.
He has taught design at the Auckland schools of architecture, written two books and many articles and presented a 6-part television series, The Elegant Shed, on New Zealand architecture.
In 2005, David was awarded the NZIA Gold Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the New Zealand Institute of Architects Incorporated, for an outstanding contribution to the theory and practice of architecture.
Date: Sunday 18 March
Time: 11.00am - 4.00pm
Music 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Restoration Presentation 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Talk 2:30pm to 3:00pm
Venue: Futuna Chapel, Futuna Close, 67 Friend Street, Karori, Wellington
Cost: Koha
Registration: None required.
DULUX FUTUNA LECTURE - 15 CPD Points
Following the Blue Mountains Master Class Rick Joy will present three lectures in New Zealand starting with the second Dulux Futuna lecture at Futuna Chapel.
Rick will talk about the underpinnings, inspirations and aspirations of his work, how he and his practice produce the work and how it is constructed. This lecture series is generously supported by Dulux in association with Intergrain and Metalcraft Roofing.
Sunday 18 March
6.30pm starts
Futuna Chapel, Futuna Close
67 Friend Street
Wellington
Cost:
$25.00 - Architects
$20.00 - Students
Monday 19 March
6.30pm starts
CPIT Campus
Madras Street
Christchurch
Cost:
$20.00 - Architects
$15.00 - Students
Thursday 22 March
6.30pm starts
Engineering Lecture Theatre 439
University of Auckland
20 Symonds Street
Auckland
Cost:
$25.00 - Architects
$20.00 - Students
To make a booking please click here and you will be directed to a booking form. Fill out your details and submit the form. You will receive an acknowledgement advising that an invoice will be emailed to you shortly. A booking is not confirmed until payment is received. Please note a $5 fee applies to each transaction (you may book several places under one booking) to help cover costs.
If you have any queries please contact the booking managers - The Whiteboard (NZ) Ltd on 04 499 9550 or email futunalectures@gmail.com.
Viewing of building (one of NZ top 10 buildings and recipient of 25 year Award and NZIA Gold Medal), musical performance, facsimiles of original drawings on display, presentation by Nick Bevin Trust Chair of the planned restoration of the building’s exterior and a talk by a well known NZ Architect, David Mitchell, on his reading of John Scott the architect of Futuna.
David Mitchell is an architect whose work has figured prominently in New Zealand over the last twenty years. He has designed university buildings, teachers’ college buildings, schools and community projects, art galleries, office buildings, public housing, apartments, and numerous private houses. Though he travelled and worked overseas for most of the 1990’s he continued with private commissions in New Zealand. He returned to Auckland with Julie Stout to set up practice again in 2000.
He has taught design at the Auckland schools of architecture, written two books and many articles and presented a 6-part television series, The Elegant Shed, on New Zealand architecture.
In 2005, David was awarded the NZIA Gold Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the New Zealand Institute of Architects Incorporated, for an outstanding contribution to the theory and practice of architecture.
Date: Sunday 18 March
Time: 11.00am - 4.00pm
Music 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Restoration Presentation 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Talk 2:30pm to 3:00pm
Venue: Futuna Chapel, Futuna Close, 67 Friend Street, Karori, Wellington
Cost: Koha
Registration: None required.
DULUX FUTUNA LECTURE - 15 CPD Points
Following the Blue Mountains Master Class Rick Joy will present three lectures in New Zealand starting with the second Dulux Futuna lecture at Futuna Chapel.
Rick will talk about the underpinnings, inspirations and aspirations of his work, how he and his practice produce the work and how it is constructed. This lecture series is generously supported by Dulux in association with Intergrain and Metalcraft Roofing.
Sunday 18 March
6.30pm starts
Futuna Chapel, Futuna Close
67 Friend Street
Wellington
Cost:
$25.00 - Architects
$20.00 - Students
Monday 19 March
6.30pm starts
CPIT Campus
Madras Street
Christchurch
Cost:
$20.00 - Architects
$15.00 - Students
Thursday 22 March
6.30pm starts
Engineering Lecture Theatre 439
University of Auckland
20 Symonds Street
Auckland
Cost:
$25.00 - Architects
$20.00 - Students
To make a booking please click here and you will be directed to a booking form. Fill out your details and submit the form. You will receive an acknowledgement advising that an invoice will be emailed to you shortly. A booking is not confirmed until payment is received. Please note a $5 fee applies to each transaction (you may book several places under one booking) to help cover costs.
If you have any queries please contact the booking managers - The Whiteboard (NZ) Ltd on 04 499 9550 or email futunalectures@gmail.com.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Whare Maori - Episode 9 John Scott
This overview of arguably the most significant trained architect in New Zealand’s history,explores how Scott married modernity with traditional notions of space and design. We visit:-Futuna Chapel, Wellington/ Our Lady of Lourdes, Haumoana House, Hawkes Bay/ Ngamatea, Ngamatea.
Nicely done. View it on the Maori Television website...
Friday, July 8, 2011
Whare Maori pays tribute to John Scott
Reprieve for unwanted lake visitor centre
The iconic visitor centre in Urewera National Park has received a stay of demolition — for now — but Department of Conservation staff have made it clear that they no longer want it...
Gisborne Herald Wednesday, July 06, 2011 • Kristine Walsh
Gisborne Herald Wednesday, July 06, 2011 • Kristine Walsh
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre
Back in January 2004 the John Scott designed visitor centre at Aniwaniwa looked like this:
In May 2011 it looks like this:
In 2004 the Centre was 30 years old. It showed a few signs of its age but no more than you would expect. Seven and a bit years later it is in a tragic state. I'd suggest that this is a maintenance issue rather than a design or build issue.
The Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre is an important Scott building. It is also an important part of New Zealand's architectural heritage. It needs to be saved and preserved, not demolished.
Lend your voice by signing the petition...
Download a copy of the petition here.
In May 2011 it looks like this:
In 2004 the Centre was 30 years old. It showed a few signs of its age but no more than you would expect. Seven and a bit years later it is in a tragic state. I'd suggest that this is a maintenance issue rather than a design or build issue.
The Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre is an important Scott building. It is also an important part of New Zealand's architectural heritage. It needs to be saved and preserved, not demolished.
Lend your voice by signing the petition...
Download a copy of the petition here.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Petition launched to Save Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre
Download a copy of the petition here.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
St Canice's revisited
Yesterday I went to an ADNZ (Nelson Marlborough) meeting held at St Canice's Church in Westport. Russell Walden and Julia Gatley spoke - Russell telling the story of his life from a wheelchair and Julia her DOCOMOMO talk with a some added detail about St Canice's and John Scott.
I don't think that Russell Walden was very impressed with the church, at least he went out of his way to point out what was wrong with it, as is his way, perhaps. (He was also critical of New Zealand architecture, architectural academia, and architects.) I agree with him that the church is cluttered, that the Stations of the Cross are weak, that the incorporation of the gothic stained glass from the previous St Canice's was unnecessary, and that the crucifix should be on the large wall to the left of the altar rather than bolted to the thin pillar behind.
As Russell pointed out there is often a disconnect between the architect and the Church, that neither knows the other well enough for the relationship to produce a wonderful building. I think the size of the cultural/aesthetic gap in Westport was shown most starkly when we went to the church hall for afternoon tea, the hall being the most architecturally barren building you could imagine, a blank box with high windows, cream interior walls and contrasting forest green steel beams.
It surprises me that John Scott managed to design a church of this quality in this environment. It is not a lavish building, it is a plain and simple church that is also architecturally interesting. And I like it's quirks - the almost Spanish bell tower, the door-handle coat hooks, the concrete and wood pews, the stone altar, even the gothic windows. I think it is much better architecture than the Church deserves, and would be much improved with the removal of the plaster-cast saints, odd antique furniture, expansive notice boards, and oversize loud speakers (the two speakers high above the altar are architectural blasphemy). It is sad that the yellow acrylic has turned clear in the sun as the light from the celestials would be warmer.
I like the way Scott has constructed the church; the proportions of the windows and concrete block walls, the geometry and elegance of the floor plan, the use of light and contrast, the choice of materials (especially the matai ceiling and brick floor). I also like the way it is clearly related to Scott's other churches, it is part of a series, the development of ideas, but that it is also unique and can stand on its own.
There is much more to like about this building than dislike and it is a shame that its flaws, rather than its qualities were Russell's focus yesterday. This church needs to be loved as a building, its spirit nurtured, and we all have a role in that.
Whare Maori
Whare Maori architecture series commences transmission on Sunday, 8th of May at 8pm on Maori Television. Programme on John Scott (episode 9) airs on July 9.
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