Work under way to demolish divisive Athfield 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.
"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.
Article Supplied by By Tessa Guest at Stuff