NZ visual diary - entry 21

Wind Tree - Jellicoe Plaza

The close observer of urban spaces knows the drill. An urban renewal project demolishes a neighbourhood with feral ferocity and, with a petulant nod to civic duty, incorporates public spaces, but those of startling architectural sterility.

Set against that frame, my Wynyard Quarter neighbourhood is a very satisfying tonic. The intent is unrelenting, to be sure: transform an erstwhile petrochemical and industrial wasteland into a vibrant mix of residential, entertainment and low-impact commercial spaces.

What sets this redevelopment apart, and serves as an exemplar of inspired urban revitalisation, is the master plan's very deliberate and ongoing intention to recast the Quarter's industrial remnants as objects worthy of historical preservation, artistic expression and celebration.

The image featured in this entry highlights two elements of the district's visual architecture: the cement silos of Silo Park and in the foreground Wind Tree, the centrepiece of Jellicoe Plaza.