Infratil is spending NZ $ 39 million on refurbishment of Wellington Airport. The refurbished terminal has been designed to look like rocks, reflecting, it is said, its location on Wellington's south coast. As PIK regulars might guess, the design has been controversial. Website comments include "like a couple of cheese balls" "a mistake of astronomical proportions" "indulgent" and comparisons have been made to a child's papier mache project. Design sketches do appear to suggest a Flintstone style theme.

Infratil have said that it would be fair to say the feedback had been mixed but some architecture writers were coming in behind the design. "The design has created a lot of comment, both supportive and not, and we are pleased that the public has been motivated to form opinions and express their views." Planning permission has been granted and construction will start shortly.

Wonder what design "theme" they will take from Prestwick's location? That's if and when they ever get around to actually spending money on the place, as opposed to just talking endlessly about its long term potential.

See for yourself: www.wellington-airport.co.nz click on "The Rock"

Thats hideous! It looks like two giant pumpkins!

The internal shots look awful too, those ceilings look rather low, giving it a very crampt feel! By the looks of the photo this isnt the main terminal though, rather just two departure piers?

Lets home they dont try anything like that at PIK!

Could we just have the forecourt properly landscaped first? At the minute, PIK is just a mess off CCTV, confusing roads, and MASSIVE concrete bollards. OK so we can't park outside the Terminal at Prestwick, ( but CAN in the USA obviously ) because ONE mad muslim gang tried to blow some people up and we give in and change our way of life again. KNEE JERK. Put some grass down and fix the mess up if it's permanent, or is it the wait and hope we can park as normal by 2014 and leave it be.....

Couldn't agree with you more - it just looks ridiculous - lobbed into the middle of a perfectly ordinary looking terminal. It's apparently meant to be an "iconic" structure which will come to represent the city.

Wellington's "Rocky Horror Show" perhaps ?

I agree, in the US you can still do the "Kerbside Check-In" thing at all the major airports, and the northbound A78 is still down to one lane at the roundabout, how long's that, 8 months?

its certainly distinctive - ill give them that. Sadly not distinctive in a good way! If its a representation of Wellington, then add that to the list of places I dont want to visit!

Agreed.

Wellington is a nice enough wee place. And the airport is quite impressive when you fly into it - just look at the geography and alignment of the runway.

http://www.pbase.com/wangi/nz_wellington