Communique 2012: Chris Barton - Secrets, lies and compromise at the Auckland Art Gallery an investigation into where design intentions succeed and fail 
(Conferences / Symposia, Lectures)
13 March 2012
12 - 1 pm
Venue: Conference Centre Lecture Theatre, Building 423, 22 Symonds Street
Host: School of Architecture and Planning
Cost: Free
Contact info: Natalie Guy
Contact email: n.guy@auckland.ac.nz
Website: Communique 2012
Sponsor: New Zealand Wood
Auckland’s new art gallery was designed to be gazed at, through and from—a building where the inside came out, and the outside came in; a building that deliberately spilled its beans to passersby.
The result was a series of terrace floors and canopy roofs with very little in-between—an art gallery without walls. But while much of this design is indeed transparent, there is much that lies beneath—deceptive structure, a bitter court battle, funding shortfalls and heritage concerns.
Chris Barton is a feature writer for the New Zealand Herald, a journalist of 25 years experience in newspapers and magazines. He also trained at The University of Auckland School of Architecture gaining a Bachelor of Architecture in 1977 and a Master of Architecture in 1985. A press fellowship in 2010 to Wolfson College, Cambridge enabled him to research the relationship between architecture and mainstream media—in particular architectural writing and its history. He remains interested in how architects communicate what they do and how architectural issues surface in the media.
Follow Communiqué on Twitter: twitter.com/nicainz +tag: #communique2012
