The suburb of Mt Victoria was developed in Victorian times, when it was accepted practice to build your house so that it added visual value to the neighbourhood.
This is why we have the pleasing array of Victorian and Edwardian houses dotting the hillsides of Wellington, with similar outlines and materials, each distinctive but creating a cohesive overall effect.
I used to live in a house in Aro Valley that looked very unimpressive as you approached it down off the street, but looked splendid if you stood on a hill about 200 metres away.
I suppose there was a collective understanding at the time that the piece of the puzzle you contributed with your house was important to the overall city scape.
These days that has changed. Home owners, developers and architects tend to be more inward focused, creating houses and buildings that please their owners but don’t really give a damn for the neighbours (unless forced to).
In this environment we consider the development of the Westbourne site off Austin Street. As the aerial photos in this month’s edition demonstrate, this is a very prominent site in Mt Victoria –much more prominent than most of us probably realised.
We are still waiting to see plans for the 30-unit apartment block that is in the process of being designed.
It could be the chance for an award-winning piece of architecture to enhance our neighbourhood. But it could also be a dismal block of mediocre apartments that does nothing to lift the spirit.
Right now we are trusting that the developers will also have the mindset of the Victorians – that what they build is part of the community and they have a duty to contribute to what we all see, not detract.
On another note, this month sees the country celebrate te wiki o te reo Māori.
There are a lot of resources available online to help you try out some phrases and show your support for Māori to be a ‘forever language’. Ake ake ake!
Jane O’Loughlin
Editor, The Local – Mt Victoria