“The Leaning Tower of .... RONGOTAI”

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

from The Dominion Post....

Proposed Wellington air control tower to lean into wind

By TIM DONOGHUE | 8:47AM - Tuesday, 31 March 2015


THE LEANING TOWER OF RONGOTAI: An architect’s view of how Wellington Airport’s new 32-metre-high
control tower would stand among its neighbours in Tirangi Road, Rongotai. It would be designed to lean
into the prevailing northerly at an angle of 12.5 degrees. — Artwork: STUDIO PACIFIC ARCHITECTURE.

WELLINGTON is poised to become home to the leaning tower of Rongotai.

Airways New Zealand has lodged a resource consent application with Wellington City Council for a 32-metre-high airport control tower, designed to lean into the prevailing northerly wind at an angle of 12.5 degrees.

That would be considerably more than Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa, which leans by about 4 degrees. Even before 1990, when remedial work was done to correct its lean, it was at an angle of only 10 degrees.

The nine-storey Rongotai tower is proposed for an industrial area at the southern end of Tirangi Road, on airport land near Lyall Bay. It would give Wellington Airport's 20 air traffic controllers 360-degree views from the lookout area on the top floor.

Airways chief operating officer Pauline Lamb described the tower, which would cost $18 million, as being in keeping with the local environment.

“This tower combines a super-strong and safe structure with excellent functionality and stunning urban design,” she said. “We wanted something which is a little bit quirky, which reflects Wellington's progressive image.”

“Our controllers will have an excellent view of the airfield from this new site, which is positioned to maximise efficient operations now and into the future. We're looking forward to getting it built, and up and running.”

Architect Evzen Novak, of Studio Pacific Architecture, said plans involved solid base isolation foundation features, which would ensure the building was secure in an earthquake and a southerly.

If the resource consent process went smoothly, Lamb expected construction to begin in November, and it could be operational by December next year.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said council planners had advised her the application would probably be publicly notified, particularly given its size and design.

The new building, to replace the 58-year-old control tower in a housing area at the northern end of Tirangi Rd, was essential infrastructure, she said, but “it's good that the community will have its say”.

Airways expects to award construction of the building to Hawkins Construction.

The plans call for a secure fence to be built around its base.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/67556860/Proposed-Wellington-air-control-tower-to-lean-into-wind


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[Kiwithrottlejockey]

from The Dominion Post....

Mixed response to Wellington Airport's leaning tower

By NEIL RATLEY | 6:04PM - Tuesday, 31 March 2015


The tower is designed to sit at a 12.5 degree angle.

IT'S NOT an April Fool's Day joke.

Wellington Airport's proposed leaning control tower has drawn mixed reaction from the public.

Some thought they had been played for a fool a day early, some loved the idea of the leaning tower of Rongotai, while others thought the wonky design was shonky.

Airways New Zealand has lodged a resource consent application with Wellington City Council for a 32-metre-high airport control tower, designed to lean into the prevailing northerly wind at an angle of 12.5 degrees.

Upper Hutt IT project manager Guy Alexander said it was too early for an April Fool's joke and the building looked great.

JohnGAnderson commented “I hope this is an April Fool's Day joke that got released a little early but worry that it could be in keeping with all the other gimmicky ‘pieces of art’ that have sprung up around the airport of recent years and been watered with ratepayers hard earned dollars.”

Mark Reynolds tweeted “It's an $18 million joke”.

Jessica Smee, 19, thought the design looked “really cool” and fitted in with Wellington's “quirky culture”.

Sue62 praised the idea. “Good on you Airways for doing something different,” she commented.

Otter8 said “Yes. Finally a building of interest. Bout time someone decided to put fun back into buildings!”

However, many people thought the design was unoriginal and would open up Wellington to ridicule.

Kempo056 observed “Wellywood...Leaning tower...here we go again another copycat! Lets try being original Wellington!”

nzneville5 thought it was “A ridiculous idea. It might be fun for a year or two but after that, the whole world will laugh at our stupidity”.

Auskiwi1016 didn't believe the lean would would enhance the look of the building. “So they design a boring, ugly building then lean it over. Doesn't help, it's still a boring, ugly building.”

Jerry7 labelled the design “an eyesore”. “This isn't quirky, neither is it clever architecture. Its simply a rectangle nudged to one side. If this is so-called inspiring, God help us.”

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/67568855/Mixed-response-to-Wellington-Airports-leaning-tower