My Favourite Building: Michael Lett

We've been running our 'My Favourite Building' page at the back of the magazine since 2005, and recently decided it'd be quite fun to look back over some of the people and buildings we've featured. Earlier this year, Auckland gallerist Michael Lett chose Queen Street's Metro Centre (the big cinema complex with the IMAX theatre, behind the Civic), a mid-1990s exercise in futurism by Walker Group Architects. The photo is by Alastair Guthrie (Michael's head is just visible peering off the bridge at the top).

Here's what Michael had to say about why he likes the building.

“Before this space became Queen Street’s Metro Centre, it had DKD café and a Hare Krishna vegetarian café and was somewhat bohemian. When the new building went up it was fabulously ugly and I hated it, but over the years it’s become more decrepit and I’ve warmed to it. It’s dawned on me that this could be the Civic Theatre of my generation. 

"In Auckland there is a tendency to continually renovate or try to improve existing architecture, often to the detriment of the building. I was quite sad when they got rid of the Metro Centre’s rocket-shaped pillars and the tube TVs with their fibreglass, bug-like screens above the movie counter – I tried to buy one but they’d been thrown out. 

"If we leave this place alone for 50 years we’ll be revelling in its design. It’s a fine example of the façadism trend, and it’s so 90s with the overtones of sci-fi futurism in its fitout. And who doesn’t love a rocket lift?”

My Favourite Building: Sir Eion Edgar and Dunedin's new stadium

A sneak preview from our October/November: Sir Eion Edgar, chairman of Forsyth Barr, has chosen Dunedin's spectacular new stadium (by Jasmax and Brisbane-based Populous) as his favourite building. The photograph is by Graham Warman. You can read what Sir Eion has to say about the building in our new issue, on newsstands October 3.

My Favourite Building: Futuna's 50th anniversary

Wellington art dealer Peter McLeavey's favourite building is featured in our current issue. Peter chose John Scott's masterpiece, Futuna Chapel, as his favourite - you can read why below. The photograph is by Paul McCredie.

"This enigmatic masterpiece has always held me," Peter writes. "For me it consists of two halves, the exterior and interior. The exterior evokes Maori civilisation and the cultures of the Pacific, while the interior reminds me of the beginnings of Christianity, the communities where the church began, the world of the desert fathers, the architecture of the Benedictine order and the Cistercians. The exterior is relatively unadorned where the form carries the aesthetic, while the beautifully orchestrated interior is embellished with the Stations of the Cross and glass designed by Jim Allen. Its reticence nourishes the spirit."

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS - THE PROGRAMME

Futuna Chapel, Friend Street, Karori, Wellington is the venue for all events. Seating capacity 100 persons. A marquee and extra chairs will be available for overfl ow. A small PA system will broadcast the Mass to the outside area. Public welcome to all events (preferential booking for architects at CPD events). Refreshments available for purchase. No parking on site please

FRIDAY 18TH MARCH

Powhiri and welcome (Th e powhiri will be outdoors weather permitting.)

Unveiling of restored plaques and gold medal

Music performance by Aroha Yates-Smith

Time: 5:00 to 7:30pm

SATURDAY 19TH MARCH

Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Dew

Time: 11:00am 12:30pm

ARCHITECTURE MODELLING SEMINAR / 15 CPD points

Cost: $15.00 NZIA members / $20.00 non NZIA members / Arch Students Free (limited spaces available)

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Participants: Plytech, Ponoko, Tony Richardson – Model Designer, architecture students

To Book: Th e Whiteboard Ltd / mail@thewhiteboard.co.nz / ph 04 4999550

FUTUNA: DESIGN RESEARCH SEMINAR / 20 CPD points

Cost: $20.00 NZIA members / $25.00 non NZIA members / Arch Students Free (limited spaces available)

Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Participants: Amanda Yates Lecturer Massey University

Professor Dorita Hannah Massey University

Professor of Architecture Mike Austin UNITEC

Albert Refiti Senior Lecturer Spatial Design AUT

To Book: The Whiteboard Ltd / mail@thewhiteboard.co.nz / ph 04 4999550

The Dulux Futuna Lecture by Ric Leplastrier Architect (Australia) / 15 CPD points

Recipient of the Dreyer Foundation Prize 2009

http://www.ozetecture.org/oze_NEW_portfolio_richard.html

Cost: $25.00 NZIA members / $30.00 non NZIA members / $10.00 Arch Students (limited spaces available)

Time: 6:00pm to 7:30pm

To Book: The Whiteboard Ltd / mail@thewhiteboard.co.nz / ph 04 4999550

SUNDAY 20TH MARCH

Architects at Futuna / 25 CPD Points

Cost: $25.00 NZIA members / $30.00 non NZIA members / $10.00 Arch Students Free (limited spaces available)

Time: 9:30am registration and introductions, talks 10:00am to 1:00pm

Participants: Peter Beaven, Ian Athfield, Gerald Melling, David Mitchell, John Walsh (Communications Manager, NZIA)

To Book: The Whiteboard Ltd / mail@thewhiteboard.co.nz / ph 04 4999550

Public Open Day and Musical Performance

Cost: Koha

Time: 1:30pm to 4:30pm ( Music 2:00pm to 2:30pm)

Refreshments: Available for purchase Saturday and Sunday

Peter's selection of Futuna is timely, as the Futuna Trust is organising celebrations for the chapel's 50th anniversary in mid-March. Most importantly, the chapel will be open to the public on Sunday March 20, a terrific opportunity to see inside this fantastic structure. Here are the programme details (which are also available at http://www.futunatrust.org.nz/):

My Favourite Building: Matthew Arnold

Christchurch graphic designer Matthew Arnold's favourite building is Peter Beaven's masterpiece, the Lyttelton Road Tunnel Administration Building, which dates from 1964. The photograph is by Stephen Goodenough.

Here's what Matthew had to say about his choice:

Matthew: "Peter Beaven designed this building in 1962 as part-monument, part-utility shed. The tunnel links Lyttelton Port to Christchurch city. It was a major engineering feat at the time and an important transport route. On its own the tunnel looks like a hole in a hill, but this architectural masterpiece at one end gives it much more clout. I like to imagine up top there’s a Starship Enterprise-style control bridge with large levers and dials that control things like the weather, petrol prices and Oprah’s weight. If we ever have to pack up modern New Zealand and leave it as we found it, we should just leave this building (and maybe Ian Athfield’s Wellington house) with a note saying, 'You’re under video surveillance', to ensure nobody tries to renovate."

We contacted Matthew to ask him to do this piece because we like Christchurch Modern, the blog he created after moving to Christchurch. It's a homage to that city's great modernist homes, and well worth a browse.

My Favourite Building: Andrew Drummond

Christchuch sculptor Andrew Drummond's favourite building is a gem by mid-century master Ernst Plischke. The photograph is by Stephen Goodenough.

Andrew: "When I first came to Christchurch I drove past this church and thought, 'Wow, what’s that?' I thought Christchurch was lucky to have a Plischke church. There is some grand and extraordinary church architecture here, but I like St Martin’s, this Presbyterian church which is just around the corner from my home. When you walk in, you know you’re going into a very special space. It’s austere, but it has beautiful proportions and light coming through the coloured glass – a reference, I think, to Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp, which does a similar thing. This church is more formal, but it’s just gorgeous."

The church is at 43 St Martin's Road, Christchurch.