Britomart: Our readers views

The Auckland City Council has chosen a winning design for the $194 million Britomart transport centre - and by and large, Aucklanders like it.

The idea of turning the old Chief Post Office into a vestibule for the new transport hub has been warmly welcomed.

But when it comes to landscaping the 3.5ha Britomart site and Queen Elizabeth Square, Herald readers have some firm ideas about what trees to plant.

Mario Madayag, the Californian architect in charge of the most exciting redevelopment project in the city since the Viaduct Basin, might want to rethink his ideas for a pine forest in the square and phoenix palms along Quay St.

Readers, who have expressed a strong view for a pohutukawa or totara to replace the pine on One Tree Hill, have equally strong feelings for native trees when it comes to Britomart.

The letters on this page are a sample of the dozens we received, written and by e-mail, as feedback on the design.

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Caroline Gibson:

Looks good. Nice to see some quality development with a bit of thought being put into it. Good to give the downtown area a lift and the city a bit of a focus.

Excellent to make a proper public transport hub (including rail). Having lived in Britain, I know what happens when cars are left to rule a city centre - it dies.

Like the trees: novel and green.

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Valorie Johnstone:

Yes, I like it. I think it will give a great lift to the whole area and will do justice to a city like Auckland.

I like the idea of the Museum and Art Gallery areas being so accessible.

It may not be perfect, but no scheme is going to satisfy everyone and every need.

This should make using the ferry an even better way of getting to other parts of Auckland from the North Shore.

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Gerry Copas:

At last something to international standards; something with a bit of heart and soul.

Good design and creative input by Mario Madayag, and I have a lot of confidence in the work and reputation of the Jasmax team.

I recently heard a Larry Williams interview with Bob Harvey on ZB, Bob relating his trip to Europe to suss out light-rail networks. His research feedback and his enthusiasm hooked me.

We may not get everything right but we have to do something, so let's get on with it.

* * *

Roz:

You asked for feedback on "What do you think of the design for the Britomart/Queen Elizabeth Square redevelopment?"

I can pretty well sum up using one brief expression - yuk.

The "forest" looks totally out of place. Birds might enjoy pooping on passersby, or someone might see an opportunity for giving the trees the chop, for whatever reason.

As for underground volcanic cones, I think not - unless it's meant to be a reminder that one day one or more might erupt.

The overall design is very American and not very Kiwi.

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Kate:

Finally, someone with vision in this city (and we had to import him).

The plan is magical. Pray that the petty councillors don't alter it beyond comprehension. It is stunning.

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Beryl Jack:

Fabulous. What I particularly like about the plan is that it favours a smallness of scale, especially where a couple of street areas will be developed in the High St/Lorne St/Vulcan Lane style.

This is definitely what Auckland needs - not more huge, bleak, insurancey, banky-type buildings in wide streets.

* * *

Samantha Bulkely:

I'm impressed. Love the inclusion of a "park" area with trees, but would rather see natives used - something that is special to our landscape.

The light and mist "sound forest" sounds great.

The underground area looks great - it's what we need - and I love the sound of the volcanic cones and waterfall.

I think this area has so much potential. It would be great to see it utilised.

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Esme Peters:

Overall I think the design is excellent, especially with the use of the old CPO.

However, I would suggest that on Quay St instead of two rows of phoenix palms, nikau palms should be planted, where they would show up to advantage, or perhaps the lovely queen palm.

But not the ubiquitous phoenix palms, which are being overdone these days. We see them everywhere, in new developments, subdivisions and even golf courses, and, of course, they are not indigenous to New Zealand.

* * *

Derek Wilby:

The emphasis of this successful plan does not address a major part of the downtown area, that is, access by sea.

The facilities we have for the ferries are totally inadequate. As well as buses and trains, we should be encouraging the use of our waterways and ferries.

Our current ferry terminal is a disgrace. Fullers has made minimal efforts to improve its facilities, but it has a long way to go.

More importantly, incoming ferries should not have to queue up for berths at peak time.

Other entrants in the development project had ideas for improving the ferry terminal.

Can we build something into this new plan to expand the existing facilities?

Why not take over the western side of Queens Wharf and make diagonal berthing facilities for the ferries. At the same time, Fullers and the city council could design and build a ferry terminal we can all be proud of, and which will serve Auckland for many years to come.

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Daphne Blackshaw:

The city council (or similar), much against the wishes of some intelligent architects of the time and many ratepayers, allowed high-rise buildings such as the Air New Zealand tower. As expected, Queen Elizabeth Square turned into an unpleasant windy spot unsuited to the use it was designed for.

Unfortunately, growing a grove of lovely trees in this windy spot would be very difficult. I can't imagine kauri trees relishing the situation and would think that very careful research into the variety of pine tree would be needed.

The illustration looks great. I hope I can be proven wrong, but does your Californian expert have personal experience of this micro-climate? Conditions can vary so much from street to street.

As for the underground station, forget the volcanic cones and concentrate on the ferns. Don't overdo it.

Nikau palms are very attractive in the right conditions. They usually grow in damp valleys. Where they are in exposed, windy areas their leaves become ragged and untidy, so they would need to have protection.

Full marks for retaining the old buildings.

Open cones at ground level for light! Surely not open?

No phoenix palms, please. This is Auckland, not Arizona. There are varieties of pohutukawa which are very suitable, less dangerous (no spines) and can be pruned to shape without danger to arborists.

The prime concern, as I see it, is to discuss weather and wind problems with born-and-bred Aucklanders who have had a lot to do with downtown. Then design the landscaping.

If you can't fell the tall buildings - and it appears that more are going up - perhaps a roofed-in square is the only answer, unfortunately.

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Scott Wilkinson:

I would like to express my disappointment in the lack of vision chosen by our city leaders in the choice of the Britomart design finalist.

Rather than choosing a public facility we can all be proud of, they have chosen a design based purely on cost. Any of the other six finalists on display at the old Post Office building would be better than this cheap design that merely adds to the ugly architectural heritage of our city.

The rubbish piles-cum-volcanoes in the underground station are fitting for this design.

First we lose our lone pine landmark. Are we now about to lose our main public square to a pine plantation and an extended roadway for young hoons to enjoy driving down on weekend evenings?

One shudders what is next - perhaps the subdivision of the Domain for a huge terraced housing development?

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