Auckland Council 2010 to present
After amalgamation my job title became that of conservation architect. My role continued to include design review for resource consents and special character buildings. I was fortunate to be involved in some high profile projects including the Parnell rail bridge replacement project,and giving conservation advice as part of the resource consent process for projects at the Orange Hall and Whitecliffes Art School.
Taurarua Point Resolution Rail Overbridge
For the rail bridge I was approached by a council parks officer seeking guidance on how to proceed. The existing heritage bridge was at the end of life, being built of rivetted steel. The issue was whether to rebuild a mockup of the heritage bridge, and leave the low quality road bridge in place,or to develop a fresh approach. The hot rivet technology originally used was no longer an option. There was an option to use standard steel sections and weld mock rivet heads on.
My advice was that a fresh approach, a well designed gateway structure that reflected the cultures of Auckland now was a better option then a nostalgic inauthentic structure that might appeal to a small number of people who dislike change.
I then presented this view to local board politicians and obtained their agreement to the approach, a decision that did carry political risk. I was involved in design review as the new design was developed by Warren and Mahoney architects. Their design had a long cantilever out over the harbour. This was deleted because of safety concerns with people bombing off it into the harbour. These concerns were legitimate, but the design experience for bridge users was weakened. The finished bridge won several local awards and an international design award.
The Orange
The Orange Hall in Newton Road was a project proposed by a design focussed property developer, who employed two high profile architects for the project. These were Ken Crossan of Crossan Clarke, and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects of Sydney. The project involved the demolition of a high percentage of the original structure, which I supported, as it was necessary for the viability of the project, and was not a great loss in heritage terms. It also involved a proposal for a modern "intervention" structure on top of the remaining hall. This was eventually rejected, both for heritage reasons, and for financial reasons. The new architecture here is confident and expressive. Again, it is a structure that some involved in lobbying for heritage might find fault with.
Whitecliffes
The Whitecliffes Art School was formerly a theological college for the Methodist Church. It was brought by the Church of Scientology and redeveloped for their use from a dilapidated state. My role was again one of design review. I asked that an external lift that would have reduced the quality of the building facades be relocated to be within the building. This relocation also had accessibility benefits. I worked with the skilled masons who restored the facade, and agreed to a methodolgy that involved occasional replacement of very decayed stone, and patching of the remainder with a lime plaster based material. Time will reveal how well these patches perform, but so far so good.
Other
Another significant project was a report for the designation hearings to establish the route of the Central Rail link. As this is on the public record the report is reproduced here.
My design review role at Auckland Council does involve working constantly with senior architects and planners acting for clients proposing change to heritage buildings. Many of the senior leaders in Auckland architecture practices are known to me, through this work, through training with them at Auckland University, and through my time in architectural practice. I am part of a practice training group; a group of architects that meets regularly to study and achieve the ongoing registration requirements of the New Zealand Architects Registration Board.
I have also worked to develop designs and set budgets for refurbishment of heritage buildings owned by council. This included drawing and 3d modelling work. These designs had input throughout the development stages from Dean Murray Partners, consultant quantity surveyors, who I have worked with throughout my career. Projects included a 160 year old stone cottage in Airedale St and works related to the camouflaged Second World War defences at John F. Kennedy park in Milford.