NZ Visual Diary - entry 143

Auckland Town Hall

There are a numerous reasons that could explain how my wife finished her PhD dissertation in record time: a year of full-time effort while on sabbatical leave against the backdrop of an academic discipline in which PhD candidates on average take 4-5 years.

Taped to her computer monitor was a simple note but a profound mantra: ‘Your dissertation is not your book.”

My blog mantra: Your blog is intended to be (mostly) a visual and not expository diary.

I love monumental architecture. With each entry of my blog that focuses on public architecture of grand and stately measure, I could devote lots of words. But my blog is titled ‘NZ Visual Diary’ - the emphasis is on the visual.

I will constrain myself because the visual impact of the building in this entry is sufficient.

I also love to highlight public architecture that has been re-purposed or adapted to a time and context beyond its origins story. As the name implies, the Auckland Town Hall was once home to the administrative offices of city government.

The Auckland Town Hall, now the Carnegie Center of Auckland’s performance venues, is an exemplar of both monumental and re-purposed architecture, much like its sibling at the north end of Queen Street the Old Central Post Office Building, now the Britomart Transportation Centre.

Town Hall is one of my favourite buildings within Auckland city centre; and when Randolph and I go there for a classical music event I feel like I have returned to visit an old friend.