What do you think of the designs for Queens Wharf?

Updated: 9:52AM Monday November 16, 2009

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Plans for a development at Queen's Wharf before the 2011 Rugby World Cup have been put on hold.

The winner of a design competition for the project was supposed to decided today, but Auckland Mayor John Banks and the Auckland Regional Council chairman were not impressed with the entries.

They have decided instead to "go away and have a cup of tea" to consider what might be done to the area.

What do you think of the designs for Queens Wharf? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:

Kiwi Expat (France)
Friday November 13, 2009 Banks and his moronic loser mates McCully and Lee deserve all the disrespect they are getting in this blog but I will not accept any disrespect for the 237 entries.

The 237 entrants were quite simple lied to. This alone is a massive lack of respect already.

Banks and co set the parameters of the competition, the entrants did their best to play fair, then Banks spits in their faces by claiming the public voted they were all no good. Where are these votes? What a loser. To those who criticise the entries you have simply missed the point.

If you look back at the 237 entries there are indeed some world class 'iconic' concepts (not selected as not within budget) and I would not be surprised if whatever is eventually built will resemble some of these entries. Some hard hours and great talent went into some of these concepts. These designers deserve much much more respect. Sadly it is clearly obvious they will not find it on NZ's shores. Shame on you Banks and Lee.

Truth Seeker (Royal Oak)
Thursday November 12, 2009 Let us get a few overseas architects and designers run for a tender and show their presentations. We may end up with something better than second and third rate which has for most been dominant in this depressing Super City to come, called Auckland, so far!

We have a harbour bridge trying to look like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, we have horrible boxes of concrete, monoclad plaster, glass and plastic distort the image of this city, let us get something right once and for all and build something sensible and of quality! John Banks himself was in charge in this city when so many horrific crimes of architecture and building were committed.

He never really addressed the problem then. Now he wants to do a better job. I do not see it. I still see him sit in front of his large lit fireplace when he tried to already portray himself as the best future mayor of Greater Auckland. We do not need people like him. Is there any mayor though who actually cares about Auckland AND its people?

ENGINMAYOR (Murrays Bay)
Wednesday November 11, 2009 I wonder if Banksie reads these. He certainly does not respond to Council email.
I ask again what does a strategist do in Council.

Someone should be accountable for this ballsup.

The architects seeking the commission can't express their dissatisfaction as Council holds the power and future contracts.

Is this how Banksie and co would run a super city with unbridled power?

Chris (Whangaparoa)
Tuesday November 10, 2009 Queens Wharf Aucklands party central for 2011 RWC=
Army tents and a sausage sizzle with circus clowns from the ACC & the ARC to provide the entertainment, I'm sure Banksey the Clown and Leemy the Clown will be a real hit, there you go Aucklanders Auckland showing the world what a dynamic world class city it is, or should that be what it isn't.

Pedantic (Forrest Hill)
Tuesday November 10, 2009 If I hear some idiot refer to this project as "iconic" one more time.

What national icon is this structure supposed to represent? I fear that many Kiwis confuse a recognisable building with an iconic one. Surely this new development must represent something of iconic status in NZ to be called an icon? Strange how we are calling it iconic before we even know what it is, or looks like?

A bit premature wouldn't you say? Too many things are simply labelled as "iconic" nowadays, because it seems to lend the piece some sort of credance, but in doing so, actually detracts from real iconic buildings or structures. For instance, I would not call the Sydney opera house iconic, simply recognisable, whereas a Greek temple would be iconic of Greek architecture.