This Week - more Salty Thoughts from ARC

I asked the speakers this week to describe themselves. They are working on an alternative design for the new multi-use arena. Here is the best they could do in describing themselves:

“We are ARC. An inner-city think tank created to help put Christchurch on the world stage. We partner with people who want to create and execute world-class projects with impact. Otautahi has the opportunity to gain worldwide attention with its creativity & unity, driven always by great strategic thinking. ARC want to champion the artisans, the artists, the story tellers and the entrepreneurs who live within the Canterbury Region. We also want to help create many channels for the rest of the world to come and participate in what we are doing.

We are impatient, don’t really like rules, hate mediocrity and get bored by small thinking. We didn’t really want to form another committee, so think of us as a bunch of misfits catching up for beer & wine, talking a big game, but backing it up with action.”

All that seemed to make sort-of-sense. Then came the important point which was these guys have been scheming about a couple of really, really, interesting projects. One I will leave as a surprise for the evening. The other is that:

We have been working on an alternative design for the new multi-use arena and we think our design could save tens of millions of dollars but at the same time help make it the coolest stadium in the world and one that the whole world will talk about and want to come and see.

Now we’re cooking with the good oil. I have been seriously turned off by all the architectural monstrosities which have been floating around for years. When we consider the awful Convention Centre which has been blown out in size, both physical and cost wise, surely, we can get a multi-use arena which is more appropriate for a City of this size. Also, something which doesn’t remove the wonderful Ng building.

So, when I asked who will be talking on Tuesday they responded: