By WAYNE THOMPSON
Titirangi has decided against a future look as an "alpine village." Instead, draft design guidelines will require any new buildings and additions to reflect a "hilltop village" theme.
The change comes after residents agreed that the village was not, strictly speaking, alpine.
It is on the eastern side of the Waitakere Ranges, where snow has not fallen for more than 40 years, and the village is overlooked by Mt Atkinson - a modest 199m above sea level.
"A genuine alpine village would look strange in a subtropical forest setting," said community board member Elizabeth Francke.
Said fellow member Sandy Taylor: "People saw alpine as a Swiss village - and we were not that way inclined. We want a smart-looking village and to make it attractive for people to come here."
Future visions for the village were sought from residents six years ago, and in 1996 the Waitakere City Council spent $1 million on main street improvements.
The board adopted the draft design guidelines last week and referred them to the council to be made part of the district plan.
"It's a thriving little place since it was upgraded,"said board chairwoman Annette Goulding. "People want to know where it is going ... to keep the village atmosphere."
The guideline says "building should occur at a scale and form in harmony with Lopdell House and the bush-clad setting."
Lopdell House is the seven-storey community arts and crafts centre, which was built in 1930 as a luxury tourist hotel.
It has been likened to a Spanish convent, or a Yorkshire cotton mill.
But Mrs Goulding said the building was a Mediterranean style, so a hilltop theme was appropriate.
"We don't want everyone to reproduce a Lopdell House but we don't want any glass towers that won't be in keeping with the village's character."
The guidelines say new buildings should be no higher than 7m, should have a pitched roof and should encourage people to pass through shops to balconies at the back - for views of bush and the sea.
Titirangi opts for hilltop theme
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