Buildings: Space design for the marine
Concept plan for the new Marine building viewed from the harbour looking towards the shore (text under picture)
Minister for Marine, Hon Tupou Faireka wanted a "concept plan" done for a new Marine Resources building a Avatiu harbour and he got one.
After a number of refinements, the latest on 24 April, the concept plan is very near a final version.
The Herald spoke to Marine boss Ian Bertram about the plan last Friday. He stressed that the plan was at the conceptual stage only and there
was no guarantee the building would be build. - Local Architect, Romani Katoa had submitted a plan which after several refinements, should
meet the overall objectives of being cyclone resistant, environmentally friendly, multi-functional, visually appealing and most importantly within
reasonable budget. - The concept calls for a building consisting of two, round, multi-level towers. (See diagrams) The seaward side walkway
is 3.5 metres above sea level to provide some protection agains waves. Perforated extensions jut out from the roof line at each level to provide
shade and prevent the concrete structure from overheating. The two roofs are to be laid with layer of soil and planted in grass also to prevent
overheating. - A feature of the roof levels is that there will be a recreational area and look out. - To reduce costs the structure will consist mainly
of concrete. The multifunctional nature comes in offices that can be sublet to private industry, room in the first tower for accomodating the existing
fish and chip shop on site, a very large conference room that can be hired out for private functions or even house sittings of Parliament should
Parliament House be wrecked in a cyclone. - Initial costing says Bertram place construction at below $2 million. - Included in the plans is a
proposal for an improved slipway for launching boats. The new slipway will feature steps and a handrail on one side to increase safety. - There
is no doubt the building will be a stand out visually. It is unlike anything built in the Cook Islands before. It is important that any mayor building in
the harbour area be visually appealing. No one wants to see "shoe boxes" build ia a prime commercial and retail area. If government is to be the
first to erect a building that grips the imagination and sets a trend for other buildings to come. Bertram did admit to overlooking one important
requirement, access for the disabled ... - Charles Pitt - (Cook Islands Herald, published 07 th April 2005)
Kia Orana - some comments by Archi related to this article published by Cook Island Herald 07 th April 2005 :
- Dear Charles. Thanks for your excellence in making a newspaper, printing it, folding it and selling it on a beautyful remote country island ;-)
- You showed the building on both sites without loosing a word concerning this fact. We can propose those things if there are good reasons.
- The question whether the MMR should stay on the "fisheries" site or will be allowed to take place on both "fisheries and O.M.I.A." site is open.
- Difficult to decide. The MMR should show what use they would make of both sites before O.M.I.A. and government decide to give it to the MMR.
- We have to connect MMR- and Harbour platform, provide parkings, some verandah for the fish and ship shop, a stainless steel exhaust pipe
to get rid of fish/oilfumes, railings for both public roof spaces, a railing for the red diversteps plus some green and trees for the human eye ;-)
- Not to forget stairs to enter the building and a ramp to enable people with wheelchairs to enter the ground floor to deal or to get MMR service.
- What parts of MMR building still have to be visualized? Anything open inside? Is there enough information for a budget decision given now ?
- Coming back I would like to be busy building the MMR, writing CookIslands.com, lecturing webpublishing at the USP and helping Capt. Cook.
- I am looking forward to have lessons in Cook Islands Maori. - Without, I´ll never be able to understand Maori culture to provide good service.
- I like the Maori people. You are so international, with some asian influences. You discovered New Zealand by boat.- A beautyful proud tribe.
- There is not such wonderful beaches in germany. The country is a not such a bioparadise like Rarotonga is. You can´t see many stars there.
- "Archi wants to live and work in the Cook Islands because he feels much closer to god surrounded by nature, listening to the pacific ocean".
- I miss swimming with the fishes in the lagoon. Looking at the big, wide open sky where the cloudships fly by. These warm tropical showers.
- After finishing the drafts (concept plan) we should create information out of the database for the static calculation and the contractors quotes.
- Therefore we need the following plans with measurements : Siteplan today / tomorrow, Floorplans and Roof Layouts, Cuts containing hights.
- Based on the existing database I can also supply "easy to understand" building and construction plans for single tasks and important details.
- Archi is willing and able to supply your building process with any kind of plans and information until the MMR moves in. - As a part time job !
- It might be useful to develop Rarotonga and Avarua further on towards a perfect tourism location. Nice to live in, but not at all like Disneyworld.
- Cook Islands Government hasn´t been starting a bigger building on it´s own after crisis in 1996. Are we healthy enough now to start in 2006 ?
- By enlarging the circumfence the main columns are sited on by half a meter, MMR roomspace can be extended by 10 % to be more efficient.
- These additional squaremeters we won (approx. 130 sqm) could be given to the O.M.I.A to provide them a new homebase at Avatiu Harbour.
- Secretary Nandi Glassie and his team might be happy to be sited in a busy atmosphere with lots of professionals to talk with around them.
- Have a look at "some preview drawings" to decide yourself what impact the extention will have on the buildings apperance and its facade.
- Now you can have a view at the enlarged building, by looking onto 2D floorplans and 3D perspectives that show the inner structure (No.4).
- After more then 80 hours traveling with stopoverdays in Auckland and London I returned healty to north germany. - Waiting for a workpermit.
- Back in Germany I´ve spend 59 hours (unpaid No.3) to give the MMR building proposal a decent environment. - Waiting for your corrections
- Architect Romani Katoa is entited to invoice the following workinghours : No.1=76 hours, No.2=34 hours, No.3=59 hours, No.4=23 hours.
- We all do not get more respect out, then we have put in on our own. Working as your part time employee you´ll have me under your control.
- Soon after parliament sitting on 15 th of June, I´ll have time to publish the filled out immigration forms for selected employers to download.
kia manuia e meitaki maata - sincerely yours - archi ;- ) Germany / Europe 21 st June 2005
grad. eng. volker goebel (engineer who is still willing to live and to work on Rarotonga)
(can´t forget you and miss you so much - hope to see you all back early in October 2005)
