Should Parliament Building be finished properly?

Compared to other country's parliamentary buildings, does our's look ugly and unfinished?

Should we finish what was intended to be built? Is it worth it?

Is it embarrassing in it's current state?

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/images/stories/parlt/parlt-060.jpg

^ John Campbell's original design, as it was intended.

If I could agree a 100000000 times I would.

The current Parliament buildings are ugly and weird by western standards.

The design by Campbell should be finished and looks exceptional. Don't think that will ever be a reality though. :(

I was just looking at Canada's Parliament and marvelling at the big grand buildings. :drool:
and then you think of the Beehive :|

Wasn't there a plan a few years ago to complete Parliament Buildings and move the Beehive to a site behind where it currently sits.

Funny this thread....I was just reading all about this yesterday.

Yes, it was suggested that the Beehive was moved behind parliament buildings and then the south wing could be build. The height of the Beehive would have looked and acted as a dome.

I would love to see Parliament built to it's original design and also have a Senate or fully operational upper house working in it!!!

it's unfinished, but i love it as it is.

it's much more interesting than having a uniform parliament like every other nation on the planet.

it seems, much like the debate over eden park and the chch stadium... symmetry is in fashion.

Any current pics?

Any current pics?

http://images.travelpod.com/users/rodandshannon/randsnewzealand.1164670980.nz_parliament_buildings.jpg

So only the right hand side has been built.

Wouldn't the big problem with making Parliament bigger be with what you would do with all the extra space? Formal ball/dining room? Move all the offices for MPs from Bowen House to new wing?

Wouldn't the big problem with making Parliament bigger be with what you would do with all the extra space? Formal ball/dining room? Move all the offices for MPs from Bowen House to new wing?

^^yes, all in one big building. Sir Basil Spence.... the architect who designed the beehive - most of his buildings have been pulled down (mostly in UK) due extreme uglyness, check out the hash job he made of a cathedral

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/HomeOffice_QueenAnnesGate.jpg/396px-HomeOffice_QueenAnnesGate.jpg

http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/cathedrals/newcath1951.jpghttp://hearteng.**********/towns/coventry-cathedral1.jpg


He has no consideration towards history or the integrity of historical buildings. Has no romorse for hacking up the intentional designs of stunningly beautiful gothic and baroque buildings..... PULL DOWN THE BEEHIVE!!! like every other building he designed........:ohno:

this one is due to be pulled down soon....everyones been evicted...

I think its due to its uglyness, and its proximity to hyde park in london, there are no other tall buildings in the area, and sticks out like a sore thumb


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1010/1255479937_306246a8ba.jpg

a backlash against brutalist architecture?

heaven forbid!

you can make a play for the beehive... just keep your hands of the national library is all i say.

I think the Beehive is way cool. But so strange sitting next to the proper parliment building.

Just move the capital to Nelson as was originally planned anyway and start afresh.

yea possibly move it, or lose it........ library all good, beehive is spences best design,( not hard amongst his shockers) and slightly iconic in nz.....i say move it behind the old building.

Not everyone hates brutalist architecture. Don't forget we're looking at these buildings with hindsight - fashions change as has been evidenced throughout history. I bet the glass monoliths that are currently marching across the globe will seem very dated in the future.

^^yes, all in one big building. Sir Basil Spence.... the architect who designed the beehive - most of his buildings have been pulled down (mostly in UK) due extreme uglyness, check out the hash job he made of a cathedral

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/HomeOffice_QueenAnnesGate.jpg/396px-HomeOffice_QueenAnnesGate.jpg

http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/cathedrals/newcath1951.jpghttp://hearteng.**********/towns/coventry-cathedral1.jpg


He has no consideration towards history or the integrity of historical buildings. Has no romorse for hacking up the intentional designs of stunningly beautiful gothic and baroque buildings..... PULL DOWN THE BEEHIVE!!! like every other building he designed........:ohno:

I think you are being a little harsh about Coventry Cathedral. The space and design inside is quite stunning. The fact that the old cathedral, though bombed out, is still consecrated and incorporated into the design, fabric and liturgy of the present building which brings continuity to the Faith it professes. I think it is a success story really - judging by the numbers of visitor it gets on top of the work it was built to do :)

While I would like to see the parliament building completed to the original plan, I'm not keen on moving the Beehive behind it. It's an icon in its own right. Would be a shame to shove it back out of sight.

Would be good if they treated the copper on the top of the Beehive to make it turn green as it was supposed to be, though.

Kill the Beehive! Kill it with fire!

Just move the capital to Nelson as was originally planned anyway and start afresh.

And where do you propose to stick the parliament buildings?

Yes it looks stupid only two-thirds finished

The original design looked very grandiose...always a pity when the original design is not always maintained, similar to Melbourne's parliament building, not completed to it's original plans.

And thus it began! NZ's tradition of only ever doing a half finished "on the cheap" construction job.

And thus it began! NZ's tradition of only ever doing a half finished "on the cheap" construction job.

or conversely... ambitious beyond our means, but giving it a go anyway.

you can make a play for the beehive... just keep your hands of the national library is all i say.

Love the National Library building. Bold, brutal, has presence, would have been quite a statement when built. Dare I say...iconic?

Used to walk/drive past it all the time when I lived in Wellington. Brilliant.

Love the National Library building. Bold, brutal, has presence, would have been quite a statement when built. Dare I say...iconic?



agreed... it owes a touch to this beauty though...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Boston_City_Hall.JPG

It was obviously the inspiration:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/03-30-07-BostonCityHall.jpg/800px-03-30-07-BostonCityHall.jpg


But I think I actually like ours better - its a bit more simplistic (in a good way) and the base really sets the top part off:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/National_library_wellington.jpg/764px-National_library_wellington.jpg

If only it was about 2 levels higher.....

Probably one of the better pictures I've taken,

http://lepracorn.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d1yrbsf

agreed... it owes a touch to this beauty though...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Boston_City_Hall.JPG

Also reminds me of the J Edgar Hoover Building in Washington DC:

http://images.travelpod.com/users/robliz/west_indies_etc.1178251020.img_1446.jpg

It was obviously the inspiration:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/03-30-07-BostonCityHall.jpg/800px-03-30-07-BostonCityHall.jpg


But I think I actually like ours better - its a bit more simplistic (in a good way) and the base really sets the top part off:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/National_library_wellington.jpg/764px-National_library_wellington.jpg

If only it was about 2 levels higher.....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

There is another similar building in the city of Messina, in the South Italy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samueltuzza/4567230895/