Friday, July 07, 2006
Heritage Helensville
I spoke recently with local physio Kath Long. Apparently some people have criticised the lovely new physical therapy clinic she is building in Commercial Road (read article) because it isn't "heritage" in design.
No, it isn't - instead it's a very modern, and great-looking, building.
What's with the "heritage" deal anyway? Helensville does have some wonderful old commercial buildings, the Old Post Office being the prime example, while others like the Allsorts building are very nice too - and the old Screatons building is currently having a facelift which will give it a nice heritage appeal.
But take a look at the rest of the Commercial Road buildings. Many so-called "heritage" ones are simply plain, ugly old buildings with no real architectural merit. The rest - and probably the bulk - are much more modern: the Helensville Pharmacy, Kaipara Tavern, Library and Hall, Vets, Kaipara Court ... the list goes on.
The Kaipara Medical Centre is a rather neat-looking art deco style building - "heritage" surely, but not really Helensville's heritage. When it was built, was there an outcry that it didn't match the rest of the town's architectual style? And the new clinic, being built right alongside, is modern (and attractive) in design.
Now don't get me wrong - I'm not knocking Helensville's heritage appeal. History is very important, and it is something that most towns in New Zealand have lost. And unfortunately it's happening in Helensville too.
However, building new buildings to look like old ones isn't the answer - a fake heritage building is just that.
Preserving the remaining worthy heritage buildings (not just anything that's "old") is important, and fortunately, if we step away from commercial buildings for a moment, Helensville is blessed with many beautiful old (read heritage) residential homes - and the town does have a good record of these being preserved.
Rather than bemoaning the arrival of attractive new buildings, perhaps we should be more worried about the town's loss of character through the arrival of large national chains - but that's a subject for another posting.
No, it isn't - instead it's a very modern, and great-looking, building.
What's with the "heritage" deal anyway? Helensville does have some wonderful old commercial buildings, the Old Post Office being the prime example, while others like the Allsorts building are very nice too - and the old Screatons building is currently having a facelift which will give it a nice heritage appeal.
But take a look at the rest of the Commercial Road buildings. Many so-called "heritage" ones are simply plain, ugly old buildings with no real architectural merit. The rest - and probably the bulk - are much more modern: the Helensville Pharmacy, Kaipara Tavern, Library and Hall, Vets, Kaipara Court ... the list goes on.
The Kaipara Medical Centre is a rather neat-looking art deco style building - "heritage" surely, but not really Helensville's heritage. When it was built, was there an outcry that it didn't match the rest of the town's architectual style? And the new clinic, being built right alongside, is modern (and attractive) in design.
Now don't get me wrong - I'm not knocking Helensville's heritage appeal. History is very important, and it is something that most towns in New Zealand have lost. And unfortunately it's happening in Helensville too.
However, building new buildings to look like old ones isn't the answer - a fake heritage building is just that.
Preserving the remaining worthy heritage buildings (not just anything that's "old") is important, and fortunately, if we step away from commercial buildings for a moment, Helensville is blessed with many beautiful old (read heritage) residential homes - and the town does have a good record of these being preserved.
Rather than bemoaning the arrival of attractive new buildings, perhaps we should be more worried about the town's loss of character through the arrival of large national chains - but that's a subject for another posting.
# posted by Dave @ 6:06 AM 
