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Published: March 6th 2010
We have an excellent driving atlas which we purchased before our last trip to New Zealand. It is invaluable - kind of at the level of "if you could only bring one survival item on your trip to New Zealand, what would it be?".
Not only does this magic book tell us about preferred driving routes (there's a key to road quality based on color and thickness of the lines), AND list Lord of the Rings film sites for Hobbitphiles out there, but it also lists important attractions in a special pinky-red color right on the map. We are always on the lookout for these.
So when we saw that we'd be driving right by "Hundertwasser's Loo", we felt compelled to stop and investigate.
Austrian-born artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser was both an artist and an architect. He led a fascinating life, with his boldly-colored, imaginative paintings bringing early success in his 20s. However, he is better known for his incredibly cool modern/post-modern architecture. His structures are fun - crazy shapes and bright colors and relate a strong understanding of the structure's environment. One of his buildings, an apartment block in Vienna, features uneven floors, a roof covered with grass
and another
Check out the roof garden.and large trees growing inside the rooms. Hundertwasser was also a passionate speaker, producing manifestos and essays including one entitled: "Mouldiness Manifesto against Rationalism in Architecture". How can you not love him?
Hundertwasser retired to the tiny town of Kawakawa, New Zealand in 1973 and generously designed the public toilets for the townspeople (and tourists like us). It is a beautiful and eco-friendly structure with a "living roof" and pretty colored glass. It made for an educational and entertaining rest stop.
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John and Sadie
non-member comment
Loos and other matters
Angelique and Adrian: It may be the fanciest loo but have you come across the super-loos ? They completely self clean after every client. We did the 90 mile bus ride, except it is not 90 miles. Don't remember it being too bad and quite wonderful when you get there. The Bay of Islands was very memorable. You are bringing back all sorts of memories from our Sabbatical in NZ. When you get to the South Island we would recommend going on the Doubtful Sound expedition rather than the more populous Milford Sound one. Dn't miss the albatross near Dunedin. enjoy John