Subscribe to RSSMurals Make Grafton A Stunning New Train Station - Photos
It was disappointing that none of the speakers at this afternoon’s opening of the Grafton train station at Park Road made any acknowledgement of the stunning landscaping around the station.
For months, the corner Khyber Pass Rd-Park Rd site has been a sea of cranes and constructiion material.
Today, stripped of that, the new $3m station looks magnificent and part of the reason is the effort made to cloak both the various entrances to the station and the walls facing commuters waiting on the platform level with murals depicting local historic and familiar scenes, such as Grafton Bridge, the nearby Auckland Grammar (corrected), and the Sky Tower.
Murals greet those entering any of Grafton station's entrances
Murals on Grafton station platform level
Down on the platform level at Grafton
Grafton train station lift at Park Rd entrance
GRAFTON STATION OPENING
Auckland’s big rail day in photos
Videos and photos: First commuter train arrives at Grafton train station
Goodbye Boston Rd train station , Hello World class Newmarket -are railway stations
Videos- Steven Joyce opening Grafton says good transport boosts Auckland’s economy
23 Comments
Meh, to be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed by them. If they keep the grafitti off, they are better than blank walls, true. But they look a bit tacked-on (literally, as they are not painted on).
I really like them and what them through as much of the rail corridor as possible..!
It would be nice to include somewhere in the emerging system some reference and remembrance of the late Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson. This man was a true visionary and stood head and shoulders above the mostly gray talentless local body politicians who walked the earth back in the 60′s and 70′s.
Murals are a lot better than grafitti. And to show some history of Auckland in pictures is superb. I would like to see Aucklands stations have more indepth version of this, kind of like educational boards at each station with the area’s history. When waiting for trains you can learn about the area.
To be honest those murals are exactly what you would expect: Badly executed and totally devoid of soul. It makes me feel sad to see bureaucrats dictating the shape of public art with such trepidation and fear of creating anything other than bland depictions of local buildings. Every commission I’ve ever taken on for a council body, this has been the extent of vision these people have regarding art. I also have to say that as someone with an extensive graphic design background, this graphic treatment is absolutely amateur.
Personally, I’d much rather see the graffiti like you do in every major city in the world. It’s a far more honest depiction of who lives in the city than some dull conservative psuedo-art.
I like the pictures as stated they are much better than plain concrete walls.
At Henderson there is some local history on the back of some billboards next to the station. They look pretty good and give good stories (although I never have a chance to read two of them due to the train moving.
The picture you first show has a mural of Auckland Grammar’s main assembly hall, not St Peters - or are both depicted?
Jon, you go to a lot of trouble to keep us informed so thank you for the photos and stories so we know what happened today and what the station looks like. It does look much better than my station!
It’s important we know what the leaders are saying so thanks.
I can’t believe how quickly you get all this good stuff up.
We mustn’t take it for granted or you might close the site down so let it be known its appreciated!
@rtc You are right. Thanks
While I haven’t actually seen them yet except in photos, I really love the Grey Lynn wavy precast panels on the tunnel walls. Now that is looking really good - but was presumably not in the budget for a similar treatment here.
Whoops. New Lynn, obviously.
Max - Its nice to have a bit of variety across the stations
The project also involved a lot of landscaping and remodeling of nearby private properties, including paving previously gravel car parks and driveways, creating gardens with ornamental fountains, new fencing and construction of a swimming pool. Upgrading the neighbourhood was far beyond the normal scope of a rail project, so I agree it is a shame nobody mentioned it, as it shows excellent public relations.
@Geoff There were some neighbours present at the ceremony and they have put up with so many months of a train /bridge development literally in their backyard.
They certainly deserve thanks.
I wish certain other residents living near proposed stations were as willing.
@Ian, don’t forget that Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson was the junior councillor that moved the 1955 Master Transportation plan… I think he realised his mistake and spent most of 1959 - 1980 trying to make up for it..!
It’s an excellent idea to recognise Sir Dove-Myer Robinson’s contributions - and can we start by spelling his name correctly? It’s Myer, not Meyer.
All very nice but how long will it last.
In the past few days the new glass shelter at Greenlane Station was etched with graffiti, this must have taken at least half an hour. The shelter is 5 metres from the security camera in direct view !!! Is anyone awake at the security centre at Britomart ?
If not then why bother spending the money,its only going to be destroyed by vandals.
Better then plain concrete or graffiti or tagging!
“Max – Its nice to have a bit of variety across the stations”
I agree, but something like New Lynn (with a different theme, rather than just copying the patterns or motifs there) would have been nicer, more permanent, more classy. Then again, with money being tight, we should be proud of what they did and not whinge about such details (I’m as guilty of that as anyone).
Ooooh, edit functions on the posts now. Good stuff, Jon. Thanks.
@Max My pleasure. Thanks for the suggestion.
It should be noted to all the contributors the murals were actually gifted to the city / ontrack. and it was a very generous gift.
The best materials avaiable were used to deter vandalism and like any artform it will have those that love it and hate it.
It is abstract and historic renderings.
We should all say a quiet thanks the private interests who stumped up the cash.
@Marlin That’s a wonderful gesture on their part. Thanks for letting us know.