re:speak

Congratulations to Collective Verb, the talented team that scooped the major prizes at the 2011 20 Under 40 design competition held at Productspec HQ last week.

This team of three 4th year architecture students responded to the design brief with a highly creative proposal involving a mockumentary, Rugby World Cup carnage and the Wainuiomata tunnel re-visited:

Their proposal was a highly entertaining short film, created over a 24 hour period, which commenced with a satirical dubbing of One News.  They insinuated that an international Rugby match last minute refereeing decision sparked outrage culminating in the wilful destruction via rioting of the Wellington Cake Tin.  With Auckland’s traffic congestion ruling it out of any hosting rights, the NZ RWC matches were therefore destined for Wainuiomata..!

They proposed the completion of the tunnel (from Seaview to Wainuiomate that was started then shortly stopped due to the great depression) which would serve as a triple-height connection permitting pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and trains to flow in and out of Wainuiomata to the temporary stadium.  This stadium is the final part of Collective Verb’s proposal, erected by dozens of hi-ab trucks lifting the seating and stadium walls when required.

16 other highly creative design teams entered the competition run by the Wellington Architecture Centre each year.  NZIA, Gordon Harris, BECA, McCashins and Productspec were the main sponsors with the exhibition, party, and judging held at the Productspec studio.