Is this one of the most disappointing squares in Auckland?
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The cars on either side are disappointing. If they went, then I am guessing the car thru-way would as well? I don’t mind the square itself so much – at least it has seats, and the fountain is nice. A bit more shade/shelter would help as it gets very hot in summer. I’m glad a square of some sort is there, as at least we have something that can be used and improved upon (rather than just, say, a parking lot).
Disappointing?! I think it is the best square we have. Sure the traffic lane up one side isn’t awesome, but the size, form and position works well. It fills up with people during the day, proof of the pudding…
Glad to know I’m not the only one who likes it, haha. Didn’t feel like being too argumentative today, but I probably should have stuck up for it a bit more. 🙂 I do find that it gets too hot in the middle of the day, but agree the size and position is great (unlike Aotea Square, which can feel too big and empty when there are no stalls, etc, up).
Side note: did/will the markets ever come back to Aotea Square?
I actually hunt out that part of town when I’m around in the CBD for a few hours. I’ve spent many an hour lounging in Chancery with a coffee or beer in hand.
I like how it had an intimate feel about it. Great to catch the sun in with such a central location.I do find it odd how it has just been refurbished but looks a bit dated.
Wow, Freyberg has a lot going for it. Comparable to or better than St Patrick’s in some ways.
It has less car storage fronting it than any of the shared spaces. It’s more open and permeable than the pedestrian malls. Cosier and less windswept than Aotea or the waterfront plots. The geometry itself is mercifully regular, square and flat, with not too much meandering curvilinear shaping. Nice grade diversity with the Metropolis building. Just enough landscaping —- the fountain especially could be worse (such as Wellington’s Bucket). It is not isolated, as it has slow, calm through traffic access, which also isn’t that useful as a rat run. Plenty of useful, human-scale frontage attached to it and the neighbouring street wall, that even allows a good deal of sunlight.
The wear and tear feels lived-in, but could always use some polish. Furniture is a bit kitsch, but I’m in no hurry to complain about it. The surrounding streets and parking buildings need to be urgently revamped for their own very, very good reasons — but looking just from the perspective of the square, they create a dense mesh of narrow, calm and well-populated places, so basically a decent network that will get even better with work.
The best evidence to support all this is how well it gets used through the day and night, virtually any dry day of the year, and sometimes in the wet too. And it’s all the more impressive given how essentially urban the whole thing is, a departure from the usual arboreal chicanery so typical in Auckland.
The biggest problem with Freyburg is that curve of white tiles in the foreground of the first image. They become like ice in the wet. I’ve slipped on them on a number of occasions.
Removing that road through the middle is another low hanging fruit that AT could have done over a weekend if they really wanted, move 2 bollards and it’s done. Yet, we’re still waiting why?
Well we haven’t had a commission of enquiry, a consultation, audit, environmental report, impact report, committee hearing, media briefing or god knows what else yet, so it’ll still be many years away. I’m being sarcastic, but that’s what it feels like just to get the smallest things done in NZ nowadays. Bureaucracy gone mad.
I stumbled across this for the first time recently and was quite pleasantly surprised.
Insane that there is a road right through the middle of it, but when i was there no one drove across it so it didn’t seem to matter much.
A cafe/bar where that childrens clothes store is would really complete it, spilling out onto the square on a hot summer evening with after work drinkers.
Until a few years back the D72 bar and diner was located there which made things well lively with outside tables and the like, although they were hampered by a traffic one across their front window.
I kinda like aspects of Freyberg Square… the waterfall is fun, and the escalator just beyond it. You don’t see many of those outside. I suggested, in a kind of offhand way, that perhaps it might be a good spot for a playground. What do you guys think? Freyberg Square is targeted for upgrades in the Long Term Plan but I’m not sure when this would happen, certainly not until after the O’Connell St upgrade is done (and that’ll start early next year, according to the council website).
I don’t think they’d be enough room for a decent playground. Besides being in the middle of a shopping/hospitality precinct there aren’t that many families around the area of town. I think Aotea Square would be better as you’d have families going to the cinema or to the shows. Then again if they can get Myer’s Park sorted it’s only a two minute walk from Aotea. The eastern waterfront area could do with a playground. As it’s a bit more residential I think you’d get some good use out of it. Also take advantage of the proximity to Vector.
Situate a playground somewhere like the strip of Albert Park severed off by Bowen Street, Freyberg Place isn’t really appropriate for a playground in my opinion. And it’s also important to have little pocket square likes this (as selfish as this sounds) that don’t have children playing in them.
Freyberg square is a good place which does look a little tired because the materials used were not durable enough. It could become a great space if it open itself up to High St.
The square has been designed in a way that closes itself off from High St. As you walk up High St from Vulcan Lane, Feryberg Square should seek to draw you in as place to linger. Unfortunately the road through the square, the high walls, the kiosk and tree at the entrance all hide the space from High St. The square would be far better if it open itself up to High St.
I disagree actually, I think the square works because of it’s enclosure. It is surrounded by activity and easily accessible, but itself a ‘stopping place’. A bit like an outdoor room. If you open it up to much it could become more of a corridor, a place to move through rather than inhabit. I think the same for Khartoum Place too, it works because it is enclosed as a pair of rooms. Was never happy with the proposals to open it up and turn it into a big long staircase.
Nick, I really think you’re wrong about this; the sense of enclosure is formed by the surrounding buildings not by the curb and channelling. Same with your view on Khartoum Pl; the enclosure is provided by the cliff faces of the surrounding buildings…it was in no risk of disappearing by the addition of connecting steps, than it is at Freyberg. In fact the removal of the crossing traffic will cement the northern wall of the Memorial building, and the same can be argued west and east too; take the edge right up to the buildings, like in O’Connell. Has that lost it’s ‘enclosure’ suddenly?
Would be interesting to see what happened if the bollards were removed. People are used to shared spaces so if pedestrians are encouraged to treat it as one then it just might work a treat.
Sure;y just moving the kiosk from blocking the High Street footpath and putting it in the square with some tables and chairs would change how this whole area is used.
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The cars on either side are disappointing. If they went, then I am guessing the car thru-way would as well?
I don’t mind the square itself so much – at least it has seats, and the fountain is nice. A bit more shade/shelter would help as it gets very hot in summer. I’m glad a square of some sort is there, as at least we have something that can be used and improved upon (rather than just, say, a parking lot).
Disappointing?! I think it is the best square we have. Sure the traffic lane up one side isn’t awesome, but the size, form and position works well. It fills up with people during the day, proof of the pudding…
The streets around the square are the biggest let down.
The O’Connell upgrade will be quite welcome.
Glad to know I’m not the only one who likes it, haha. Didn’t feel like being too argumentative today, but I probably should have stuck up for it a bit more. 🙂 I do find that it gets too hot in the middle of the day, but agree the size and position is great (unlike Aotea Square, which can feel too big and empty when there are no stalls, etc, up).
Side note: did/will the markets ever come back to Aotea Square?
I actually hunt out that part of town when I’m around in the CBD for a few hours. I’ve spent many an hour lounging in Chancery with a coffee or beer in hand.
The location is awesome but what is disappointing is the implementation which I think holds it back
I like how it had an intimate feel about it. Great to catch the sun in with such a central location.I do find it odd how it has just been refurbished but looks a bit dated.
Wasn’t it last refurbished about ten years ago?
I agree, and it has the potential to be Auckland’s best square if the right upgrade is done.
Wow, Freyberg has a lot going for it. Comparable to or better than St Patrick’s in some ways.
It has less car storage fronting it than any of the shared spaces. It’s more open and permeable than the pedestrian malls. Cosier and less windswept than Aotea or the waterfront plots. The geometry itself is mercifully regular, square and flat, with not too much meandering curvilinear shaping. Nice grade diversity with the Metropolis building. Just enough landscaping —- the fountain especially could be worse (such as Wellington’s Bucket). It is not isolated, as it has slow, calm through traffic access, which also isn’t that useful as a rat run. Plenty of useful, human-scale frontage attached to it and the neighbouring street wall, that even allows a good deal of sunlight.
The wear and tear feels lived-in, but could always use some polish. Furniture is a bit kitsch, but I’m in no hurry to complain about it. The surrounding streets and parking buildings need to be urgently revamped for their own very, very good reasons — but looking just from the perspective of the square, they create a dense mesh of narrow, calm and well-populated places, so basically a decent network that will get even better with work.
The best evidence to support all this is how well it gets used through the day and night, virtually any dry day of the year, and sometimes in the wet too. And it’s all the more impressive given how essentially urban the whole thing is, a departure from the usual arboreal chicanery so typical in Auckland.
The biggest problem with Freyburg is that curve of white tiles in the foreground of the first image. They become like ice in the wet. I’ve slipped on them on a number of occasions.
Removing that road through the middle is another low hanging fruit that AT could have done over a weekend if they really wanted, move 2 bollards and it’s done. Yet, we’re still waiting why?
Well we haven’t had a commission of enquiry, a consultation, audit, environmental report, impact report, committee hearing, media briefing or god knows what else yet, so it’ll still be many years away. I’m being sarcastic, but that’s what it feels like just to get the smallest things done in NZ nowadays. Bureaucracy gone mad.
I stumbled across this for the first time recently and was quite pleasantly surprised.
Insane that there is a road right through the middle of it, but when i was there no one drove across it so it didn’t seem to matter much.
A cafe/bar where that childrens clothes store is would really complete it, spilling out onto the square on a hot summer evening with after work drinkers.
Until a few years back the D72 bar and diner was located there which made things well lively with outside tables and the like, although they were hampered by a traffic one across their front window.
I don’t personally think it’s too bad, it could be improved sure, but I’m sure there’s worse out there. I’ve sat that many a time.
I kinda like aspects of Freyberg Square… the waterfall is fun, and the escalator just beyond it. You don’t see many of those outside.
I suggested, in a kind of offhand way, that perhaps it might be a good spot for a playground. What do you guys think?
Freyberg Square is targeted for upgrades in the Long Term Plan but I’m not sure when this would happen, certainly not until after the O’Connell St upgrade is done (and that’ll start early next year, according to the council website).
I don’t think they’d be enough room for a decent playground. Besides being in the middle of a shopping/hospitality precinct there aren’t that many families around the area of town. I think Aotea Square would be better as you’d have families going to the cinema or to the shows. Then again if they can get Myer’s Park sorted it’s only a two minute walk from Aotea. The eastern waterfront area could do with a playground. As it’s a bit more residential I think you’d get some good use out of it. Also take advantage of the proximity to Vector.
Situate a playground somewhere like the strip of Albert Park severed off by Bowen Street, Freyberg Place isn’t really appropriate for a playground in my opinion. And it’s also important to have little pocket square likes this (as selfish as this sounds) that don’t have children playing in them.
Freyberg square is a good place which does look a little tired because the materials used were not durable enough. It could become a great space if it open itself up to High St.
The square has been designed in a way that closes itself off from High St. As you walk up High St from Vulcan Lane, Feryberg Square should seek to draw you in as place to linger. Unfortunately the road through the square, the high walls, the kiosk and tree at the entrance all hide the space from High St. The square would be far better if it open itself up to High St.
I disagree actually, I think the square works because of it’s enclosure. It is surrounded by activity and easily accessible, but itself a ‘stopping place’. A bit like an outdoor room. If you open it up to much it could become more of a corridor, a place to move through rather than inhabit. I think the same for Khartoum Place too, it works because it is enclosed as a pair of rooms. Was never happy with the proposals to open it up and turn it into a big long staircase.
Nick, I really think you’re wrong about this; the sense of enclosure is formed by the surrounding buildings not by the curb and channelling. Same with your view on Khartoum Pl; the enclosure is provided by the cliff faces of the surrounding buildings…it was in no risk of disappearing by the addition of connecting steps, than it is at Freyberg. In fact the removal of the crossing traffic will cement the northern wall of the Memorial building, and the same can be argued west and east too; take the edge right up to the buildings, like in O’Connell. Has that lost it’s ‘enclosure’ suddenly?
Would be interesting to see what happened if the bollards were removed. People are used to shared spaces so if pedestrians are encouraged to treat it as one then it just might work a treat.
Sure;y just moving the kiosk from blocking the High Street footpath and putting it in the square with some tables and chairs would change how this whole area is used.