Grand designs on the waterfront

Photo / Brett Phibbs

Geoff Cumming sifts through 237 ideas to transform the heart of Auckland's waterfront

In the middle of Auckland harbour, people sit on terraced steps as water laps at their feet. Some swim in a pool enclosed by a breakwater.

Beyond are views to Devonport's twin cones, Rangitoto in the background. Look east and yachts dance across the bigger pool that extends past Brown's Island and Motuihe. Look west and the harbour bridge stands firm against passing clouds.

This is Queens Wharf as a people's place, the year is 2013.

A cruise ship is berthed. It blocks views and casts a cold shadow, but the wharf is big enough for the public to avoid the clutter of tour buses and taxis and service vehicles coming and going.

In another building, what was a coolstore, then a striking glass party zone for the 2011 Rugby World Cup (can't believe we lost it again), is now a venue for exhibitions, performing arts, rock bands. Upstairs you can grab a drink and gaze at the amazing views and activity on the harbour.

Elsewhere on the huge wharf are markets and a whare-style cultural centre, which reinforces the theme of the wharf as a welcoming place and gateway between sea and land. Kids dive from a platform into a pool built within the wharf structure.

Such are the visions of Auckland's design community. More than 230 have put forward proposals for Queens Wharf ranging from abstract to organic; from fantastical to practical, from overblown to minimalist.

The wharf is not due to be released by the port company until April next year and construction is not scheduled to begin until July, just 14 months before rugby fans descend for the opening party.

Some argue the needs of the fanbase are rudimentary: primarily bars, toilets and big screens and shelter from the elements.

But organisers want a venue which helps to showcase the waterfront for international television coverage of the opening night and closing events.

The worry is that in the panic to have things in place for the Rugby World Cup great long term ideas will be trampled over and forgotten.

It's a worry because of the rushed process, the deadline, the budget and the three-headed beast in charge (the Government, the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council).

Decisions on what should become the focal point of downtown Auckland are happening in a period of weeks, with a complex vision of what's wanted and without an international design competition.

A fan base, a cruise ship terminal, a people place, a signature statement to the world - all in one. And for a construction budget of about $47 million (once the wharf is purchased from Ports of Auckland Ltd).

It all suggests the potential for a textbook Auckland urban design flop; a mediocre connection between the CBD and the harbour.

It becomes less of a worry when you inspect the 237 concept plans on display in the Union Fish Building on Quay St. The local design community had just three weeks to work up plans to a brief which was highly specific but light on vision.

While few, if any, solve all the problems, many have elements worth grabbing.

A panel of design experts, helped by technical advisers, is tasked with whittling the entries down to five finalists by next weekend.

The public has a very limited opportunity to influence the selection of finalists by filling in forms saying what they like about individual designs and how they could be improved.

Less well known is the parallel expressions-of-interest process which will shortlist three "team" proposals. These are from teams capable of taking the design to completion (with engineering and landscape design expertise, for instance) and who may or may not have entered the competition: 25 teams are in the running.

Some fear the rugby deadline increases the likelihood that decisionmakers will fall back on known quantities who have worked on past civic projects. "They will want to be satisfied that whoever it is can deliver what they say they can deliver on time," says one entrant.

Early concept drawings produced by the Auckland City Council and the ARC have been jettisoned. Auckland City's was a refurbishment of the two remaining cargo sheds on the wharf with extensive landscaping. The ARC's was dominated by cruise ship facilities with air bridges running both sides of the wharf.

By next Friday eight proposals - five from the design competition and three from expressions of interest - will be shortlisted for detailed development. The public will be able to comment on shortlisted designs during October.

Each will receive $10,000 in development funding and the winning plan will be announced in early November. The Auckland City Council has earmarked about $47 million for construction work.

Given the timeframe and budget, it seems inevitable the more visionary schemes will give way to those that solve the short-term practical objectives. Some experts argue this is no bad thing - more imaginative developments can come later as long as what's done for the World Cup doesn't scupper later additions. The medical adage springs to mind: "first, do no harm".

The question is: do those holding the purse strings - cabinet ministers Gerry Brownlee and Murray McCully, Auckland City Mayor John Banks and regional council chairman Mike Lee - see things that way?

Some designs are obviously too grandiose to be achieved in the timeframe, even if making such a statement was favoured. But development could be phased.

Outdoor amphitheatres with tiers of seating may be splendid for the rugby but will they get much use in 2013?

A brave few designers tackle the conflict between public access and cruise ship activities by shifting the terminal from the wharf - in one plan it goes to nearby Captain Cook Wharf and another to the western reclamation. Others use elevated walkways (with bus and vehicle access underneath) to get around the problem. But some veer towards over-intensive development of the wharf footprint.

Good ideas abound: floating sculptures, glass cladding and roofs, gardens and indoor ferneries, attractions off the end of the wharf; cutting into the wharf to create small-boat landings.

The design community can clearly see the potential despite the complex brief. But for their ideas to survive, Aucklanders probably need to show similar enthusiasm and have their say.

QUEENS WHARF PROJECT BRIEF

* Project deliverables include:

- A cruise ship terminal (to become multi-purpose outside the cruise season) with supporting facilities.

- Public open spaces and pedestrian connections.

- A live site for RWC 2011.

* Residential, office, hotel and large-scale retail development is inappropriate.

* Showcase Auckland to the world during RWC 2011.

* Showcase harbour environment, history, diversity and Pacific culture.

* Where possible, incorporate the remaining sheds in the design.

* Cruise ship terminal on the southeastern building platform, with a 7m-wide customs bonded area along both wharf edges and vehicle access. Floor area of 6000 sq m extending to 8000 sq m in future.

* Open spaces to cater for passive and active recreation, with sheltered routes.

* Allowance for ferry terminal expansion and third cruise ship berth on western wharf.

* Temporary elements such as canvas structures are encouraged.

* New build or alternative ideas will be assessed on merit.

Have your say

* Design competition entries are on display at the Union Fish Building, 116 Quay St.

* Entries can also be viewed online: queenswharf.org.nz

* Shortlisted designs will be named next Friday, September 25.

* Detailed development of shortlisted designs closes on October 16.

JUDGING THEIR PIERS: WHO WILL CALL THE SHOTS

Key decisions on the development of Queens Wharf rest with the chief executives of three agencies - the Auckland City Council, the Auckland Regional Council and the Ministry of Economic Development. A panel of architectural, urban design and event marketing experts is advise them on the process of shortlisting the designs. But their final recommendation will be subject to approval by four politicians representing the Government, the city countil and ARC.

The Design Panel

John Hunt (chair), Professor of Architecture, Auckland University

Ian Athfield, architect, Wellington.

Graeme McIndoe, architect/urban designer, Wellington.

Rebecca Skidmore, urban designer/landscape architect, Auckland.

Jillian de Beere, marketing strategist, Auckland.

The panel can also call on expert technical advice.

The CEOs

David Smol, Ministry of Economic Development

David Rankin, Auckland City Council

Peter Winder, Auckland Regional Council

The Queenmakers: four with the final say

Gerry Brownlee, Economic Development Minister

Murray McCully, Rugby World Cup Minister

Mike Lee, Auckland Regional Council chairman

John Banks, Auckland City Mayor