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Work under way to demolish divisive Athfield housing complex
DOMINION-POST
George Porter Tower of the old Arlington apartments. Work has begun to demolish the property and create a new social housing complex.
Wellington's George Porter Tower is on its last legs as work begins to demolish architect Ian Athfield's polarising building.
Completed in 1978, the 10-storey building was a social housing complex operated by Wellington City Council (WCC).
The tower is overrun with maintenance issues, most significantly the need for earthquake strengthening. The council confirmed in late 2019 that it was to be demolished as part of a major upgrade of sites one and three of the Arlington social housing complex, including the tower and the neighbouring low-rise units.
Work began mid-May to strip out the building's chattels, and asbestos will be removed after that. The demolition will take place in the coming months.
The building's planned demolition has attracted ongoing controversy, with prominent names in local architecture protesting for it to be preserved as a building of historical significance.
Named after a key figure in social housing, The George Porter tower was designed by Athfield, in collaboration with King and Dawson, during the distinguished architect's Brutalist period.
It is known for its sculptural style, whilst achieving the groundbreaking combination of low-rise and high-rise housing within an integrated site. This project was key in Athfield's overall drive to change residential and social landscapes in this country.
Ken Davis, an architect who has completed several projects in the Wellington CBD, has been working to save the tower and integrate its preservation into the larger site upgrade.
He is appalled by the decision to remove it.
Architect Ian Athfield designed the George Porter Tower, which has polarised opinion.
"The proposed demolition of the George Porter Tower and the lower units would be not only be a gross act of cultural vandalism, but would destroy an important link between his earlier and later residential work," he said.
Kate Linzey, president of the Architecture Centre, believes this form of social housing is being intentionally removed throughout the country.
"The free-standing state house is favoured, because it supports contemporary economics and politics that likes to individualise debt and burdens of maintenance," she said.
Councillor Nicola Young is in favour of the demolition, both for economical efficiency, and personal preference.
"Lots of people want to save buildings, but they've got no idea how to fund it. Saving buildings costs money. But also, I've always thought that tower was really ugly and I can't wait for it to come down," she said.
Kainga Ora, the agency carrying out the demolition and site upgrade on a long-term lease from the council, states that the new plan will be beneficial for the community.
Using a 'spine method', the new design features a shared space in the middle of the buildings, to be used for social gatherings and playing for children. The plan, which includes a combination of low and medium-rise buildings, aims to veer away from the isolation caused by high-rise apartments.
Arlington sites one and three will include a mix of public and affordable housing, with 105 units providing space for 324 residents, and up to 40 units being dedicated to supported living.
Arlington site two, bound by Taranaki and Hopper streets, was upgraded in 2018 with the same social concept, and now houses tenants under the new label of Te Māra. The three sites combined form Wellington's largest social housing area.
The project is being completed as part of the council's 20-year $400 million project to upgrade Wellington's 2000 social housing units, to be finished in 2043.
30 January 2025 - 31 January 20259:00 am - 4:00 pm
This course will give participants the ability to navigate the legislation applicable to building and construction requirements, including NZ Building Code, compliance documents, standards, technical literature, approvals, terminations and other documentation required to carry out the building control function.
4 February 2025 - 5 February 20259:00 am - 5:00 pm
This 2 day course is designed as refresher/supplementary course to the existing 3-day Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) and Specified System course. Click here for course content.
This course provided participants with the information to understand and be able to explain the legislative and regulatory requirement of BCA accreditation, the role of IANZ, the auditing process and identifying corrective actions, and granting or revoking accreditation.
This course will give participants the knowledge and understanding of good practice in plan processing, processing considerations for minor works and small residential buildings.
18 February 2025 - 19 February 20259:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Building Code stipulates requirements around the durability of various building components, ensuring the continued safety and health of building users. This course provides clear guidance for Steel fixings, timber, concrete, structural steel, claddings, membranes and sealants.
19 February 2025 - 21 February 20259:00 am - 5:00 pm
This course gives participants knowledge and understanding of the role of building controls and standards in the design and construction of timber-framed buildings, with a focus on B1/AS1 and NZS 3604.
BOINZ and the New Zealand Home Heating Association have partnered to bring a training course which will ensure attendees are aware of the latest product and technical developments, the all important installation requirements and common areas of installation non compliance.
25 February 2025 - 27 February 20259:00 am - 5:00 pm
This course will give a participant an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the compliance schedule regime, including how a compliance schedule should be prepared. The requirements around Warrants of Fitness and other documentation is provided, and an explanation of each specified system, and the inspection and maintenance regimes which ensure the safe operation of these systems.
26 February 2025 - 28 February 20259:00 am - 5:00 pm
This course will give participants an understanding of the ‘Big Picture’ in terms of the building environment, local government and private sector building controls, agencies, the people and the language and how as a Building Official they fit into the picture.
This course will provide an understanding of the mechanics of water and the application of these principles to ensure buildings are weather tight and comply with Building Code Clause E2 External Moisture.
This course sets out performance requirements for these Building Code clauses and how to meet these to provide safe and accessible access routes and safeguard people in the construction and use of buildings from injury or illness.
This entry level course will provide an understanding of the mechanics of heat transfer and how to provide insulation of various types to ensure a building provides a safe and warm environment that is energy efficient and meets the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC). It includes the amendments bought in by MBIE in November 2021.
This workshop uses case studies and applies examples as it introduces the concept of satisfied on reasonable grounds, sets out the legal framework and standards, and addresses: reasonableness and objective evaluation, evaluating evidence, credibility, challenges and limitations, best practices and documentation, and the importance of transparency. This workshop was first run in the 2024 Advanced Learning - Workshop Series.
This workshop delves into advanced concepts and practices that extend beyond the scope of E2/AS1, empowering participants to address evolving challenges in the field of building envelope performance. Topics include: Industry amnesia/What is in a facade; Environmental factors - your district; Important statistics; Is interstitial moisture an E2 or E3 problem?
This workshop was first run in the 2024 Advanced Learning - Workshop Series.
This course provides the ability to identify different systems and approaches, consent and inspect these installations, and recognise unsafe installations to ensure compliance with the Building Code.
This course provides participants, knowledge and understanding of good practice in site inspections with practical exercises, simulation and case studies and the undertaking of a real inspection.
This comprehensive two-day course begins with online learning and a pre-course knowledge assessment. This is followed by the two-day workshop that provides participants with a thorough understand of Fire Documents C/AS1 and C/AS2. The course also includes Warning Systems (Clause F7). Day two brings the learnings to life with a practical component and case study.
This course has been updated to reflect MBIE's 2 November 2023 changes.
This course provides a more advanced view of the NZ Building Code clauses for Protection from Fire and C/VM2. This advanced course is suitable for anyone dealing with designs beyond the Acceptable Solutions or with alterations to existing buildings.
A must do and must understand two part course for all BCOs. This two subject one day course defines the specific technical requirements of the NZBC Clause D1 Access Routes and NZBC Clauses F1 - 4 Safety of Users. The course sets out the performance requirements and how to meet these to provide safe and accessible access routes and most importantly safeguard people from injury or illness.
This course explains durability requirements of various building materials, ensuring the continued safety and health of building users. Materials covered include timber, concrete, steel connections, steel structures, claddings, membranes, sealants and tanking.
This course will provide an understanding of the mechanics of heat transfer and how to provide insulation of various types to ensure a building provides a safe and warm environment. It makes sense of the various paths to compliance including schedule, calculation and modelling methods.
This course provides an understanding of the Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, the mechanics of water and the application of these principles to ensure compliance with E2 External Moisture and make buildings weathertight.
This is a 3-day condensed version of the 5-day course. It covers plumbing and drainage for multi-storey buildings. The course incorporates the November 2023 MBIE changes.
This entry level course focuses on C/AS1 in relation to R1-R3 Residential Buildings. The course includes Fire Separations and Means of Escape and involves working through a case study.
This course is being updated with MBIE's 2 November 2023 changes.
This course provides participants with the information to understand and be able to explain the requirements in Building Code clauses G1 Personal Hygiene, G2 Laundering, G3 Food Preparation, G4 Ventilation, G7 Natural Light, G8 Artificial Light, G9 Electricity and E3 Internal Moisture.
This coursecan be used to demonstrate competency in Regulation 10(3)(c), 10(3)(d)(i) and 10(3)(d)(ii).
This course will provide participants with a working knowledge of those clauses of the NZBC that provide for the quality, amenity and user safety within the internal spaces of our built environment. The correct application of these Code Clauses is essential to achieve an acceptably safe and healthy internal environment. All building surveyors require an understanding of the principals behind these clauses and the minimum requirements of the NZBC.
This course will provide an understanding of NZS 3604 an Acceptable Solution in B1 and the ability to apply this knowledge to ensure compliance of a completed construction.An absolute must for anyone starting out in Building Controls.
This 2 day course is designed as refresher/supplementary course to the existing 3-day Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) and Specified System course. Click here for course content.
This 1 day course is designed as refresher/supplementary course to the existing 3-day Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) and Specified System course. Click here for course content.
This course will give participants an understanding of the ‘Big Picture’ in terms of the building environment, local government and private sector building controls, agencies, the people and the language and how as a Building Official they fit into the picture.
The Building Code stipulates requirements around the durability of various building components, ensuring the continued safety and health of building users. This course provides clear guidance for Steel fixings, timber, concrete, structural steel, claddings, membranes and sealants.
This course will provide an understanding of the mechanics of water and the application of these principles to ensure buildings are weather tight and comply with Building Code Clause E2 External Moisture.
Work under way to demolish divisive Athfield housing complex
DOMINION-POST
George Porter Tower of the old Arlington apartments. Work has begun to demolish the property and create a new social housing complex.
Wellington's George Porter Tower is on its last legs as work begins to demolish architect Ian Athfield's polarising building.
Completed in 1978, the 10-storey building was a social housing complex operated by Wellington City Council (WCC).
The tower is overrun with maintenance issues, most significantly the need for earthquake strengthening. The council confirmed in late 2019 that it was to be demolished as part of a major upgrade of sites one and three of the Arlington social housing complex, including the tower and the neighbouring low-rise units.
Work began mid-May to strip out the building's chattels, and asbestos will be removed after that. The demolition will take place in the coming months.
The building's planned demolition has attracted ongoing controversy, with prominent names in local architecture protesting for it to be preserved as a building of historical significance.
Named after a key figure in social housing, The George Porter tower was designed by Athfield, in collaboration with King and Dawson, during the distinguished architect's Brutalist period.
It is known for its sculptural style, whilst achieving the groundbreaking combination of low-rise and high-rise housing within an integrated site. This project was key in Athfield's overall drive to change residential and social landscapes in this country.
Ken Davis, an architect who has completed several projects in the Wellington CBD, has been working to save the tower and integrate its preservation into the larger site upgrade.
He is appalled by the decision to remove it.
Architect Ian Athfield designed the George Porter Tower, which has polarised opinion.
"The proposed demolition of the George Porter Tower and the lower units would be not only be a gross act of cultural vandalism, but would destroy an important link between his earlier and later residential work," he said.
Kate Linzey, president of the Architecture Centre, believes this form of social housing is being intentionally removed throughout the country.
"The free-standing state house is favoured, because it supports contemporary economics and politics that likes to individualise debt and burdens of maintenance," she said.
Councillor Nicola Young is in favour of the demolition, both for economical efficiency, and personal preference.
"Lots of people want to save buildings, but they've got no idea how to fund it. Saving buildings costs money. But also, I've always thought that tower was really ugly and I can't wait for it to come down," she said.
Kainga Ora, the agency carrying out the demolition and site upgrade on a long-term lease from the council, states that the new plan will be beneficial for the community.
Using a 'spine method', the new design features a shared space in the middle of the buildings, to be used for social gatherings and playing for children. The plan, which includes a combination of low and medium-rise buildings, aims to veer away from the isolation caused by high-rise apartments.
Arlington sites one and three will include a mix of public and affordable housing, with 105 units providing space for 324 residents, and up to 40 units being dedicated to supported living.
Arlington site two, bound by Taranaki and Hopper streets, was upgraded in 2018 with the same social concept, and now houses tenants under the new label of Te Māra. The three sites combined form Wellington's largest social housing area.
The project is being completed as part of the council's 20-year $400 million project to upgrade Wellington's 2000 social housing units, to be finished in 2043.