It may not be for early childhood, but due to my frequent musings every time I drive past it I thought I'd share.
In the words of Linda Tyler from Architecture Now, the "technicolour dreamcoated" structure designed by ArchOffice is a "beacon in the wilderness of the 94-hectare Barry Curtis Park"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRETEWPSeEoVZUpov2OQ5Ll8246mSIYQYizUJ_wEZWTnWzT92S_yCNnNwYAuRDu8rvtD2u3iTof6vJ7-q8dW7N8all-ZvdEjPkgAMXAsvPFP58V7MeKFkJdA6BfkmZRVES_JXu8iRdqm8g/s1600/8144b3a13eda3e2ebaeb6c206508a893.jpg)
Termed the Ormiston Activity Centre, the building sits in the new Auckland development site of Flatbush, which is estimated to house 40,000 people by 2020.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL31C_1qfi6Zn5_0cu9ezYG4-ekq7HYUVALH879b1vP3_L8hcdT0iPy6H2wnXgjdGb7ruhEtx603ncaqfTaPzmm1hO9tbFbGrczJhh1rvs1uRfkAb_5b9Y1jKBylH4WK4fbz6wHB0dcEO/s1600/Large1.jpg)
Unfortunately, the area is already blighted with rows upon rows of "matchbox houses" like the above.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazCq-SaZglbWvQbo4ePE-oeJUSCXtwkHtO_YExpKrKkVpM2YXow90oDK5sbaUlfQ8uGqzflZRQHWXBi-qaBigIgHeD5BmZFdg5iV72h2JnV02gq9fT5NJr0KPGxDCB9lMMB3RChlDLVwc/s1600/1323613178-dsc00774-1000x750.jpg)
Hence my astonishment at witnessing the colourful "activity centre" which sticks out like a sunny sore thumb among the dreary urban monotony.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFTsroah4DwfYVfAA9vTU-nsFN4tT-tfG41VuUPFp1cL3EyCR62YShvoWPKQM4FX13vk5GT1z5poxFXjeyLfOtgnk5I_-rDOcUhIFKKj3RK4-Z1BMPzko4R3bUG3uEvY_6BRL3naD5u6-/s1600/1323613192-ormiston-activity-centre-entry-detail-2-of-6.jpg)
A stair tower, meeting room for up to 80 persons, toilets and a viewing platform (over the toilet block) like building blocks, make up the elements of the building.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuVBfCCZO3cnzwzVHYItEG4_khvZReiCSSDT_MWIXuMuETbAidwki_vVWx5JDZDDtAyqn3MggUDa9Nu1lKN9nAcliIgvNBM3x6WKZk3vMfeiI_DyW0wCs5VeEhXn_Lz-4KLypQ76IroUw/s1600/fbbff6a9208082e1605e62308aee12d7.jpg)
While precast concrete, concrete block and vertical steel flat bars coloured in cyan, magenta, yellow and green (CMYK) clad the exterior and form the balustrade above.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhXIbAqmJL_HT6h4ff6nj1A5dfsX5VX1pUnB1DtRPdYf210ptvOrbzJUJyOmlZRtHX16o95akzYqGnMKCwKeRU7gpUepIPk8n0wPx2397ZKaUY3VFlnYE_xJakfu6K9L5eq_UA1cjOhAt/s1600/ff2a575d18c45aca228172ac6d31bfa2.jpg)
While I am saddened by the site's development so far, this wee youthful structure is a beacon that says there is hope for the area yet.
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