Auckland architectural landmarks on public show

Venerable Miao Yu, Buddhist nun at the Fo Guang Shan temple in Flat Bush. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

The public will get a chance to wander through some of Auckland's most architecturally distinctive landmarks on Sunday.

Open House Auckland, organised by the Ministry for the Environment, will showcase 12 of the region's best-known public and private buildings, ranging from the Britomart transport centre in the Auckland CBD to Waitakere City's eco-commune, Earthsong.

Free guided tours will take groups through each building's special features.

Among Manukau City's four sites is the commanding Fo Guang Shan Temple in East Tamaki.

The temple and community centre complex, on a 9ha site, is the only one of its kind in New Zealand to depict the architecture of ancient China's Tang period.

The temple's tour organiser, Jane Lee, said people would get a sneak preview of the yet-to-be-completed building.

But missing from the tour will be the Great Shrine, which will house an 8-tonne clay statue of Buddha flanked by thousands of statuettes.

The punters will, however, still have plenty to see, from distinctive architecture and grey roof tiles which turn silver in the sunlight, to the 3-tonne iron bell.

Mrs Lee said people could turn up from 10am, but guided tours would start from 1.30pm. Those on the tours will have the chance to meet the temple's monks and nuns.

The dharma service at the temple on Sundays draws up to 300 devotees of the Mahayana Buddhist faith. A smaller English service is conducted on a Saturday for non-Chinese speakers and those new to Buddhism. The complex also hosts community classes.

Public buildings in Wellington and Christchurch will be open on the next two Sundays.

Auckland City

Britomart Transport Centre and Downtown Waterfront
The Civic Theatre, Queen St
The University of Auckland, 3A Symonds St entrance
Old Government House
Centre for Pacific Studies Fale
Landcare Building, University of Auckland Tamaki Campus

North Shore

Spencer on Byron Hotel, Takapuna
Anzac Parc Apartments, Takapuna
Smales Farm, Takapuna
Westlake Girls High School new classroom block

West Auckland

Waitakere City Council Exhibition, Henderson
Waitakere Hospital, Lincoln Rd, Henderson
Harbourview, Te Atatu Peninsula
Earthsong

South Auckland

te tuhi - the mark, Pakuranga
Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mangere
Streetsmart, Otahuhu
Fo Guang Shan Temple (Buddhist temple and community centre), East Tamaki

* Admission to all Open House buildings is free. Some sites, however, require special bookings.
* An information counter will be set up at the Britomart foyer from noon today.