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A copy of a document from Empowered Christchurch which was sent to Queen Elizabeth. The document consists of a letter from Empowered Christchurch to Douglas Martin, Crown Manager from the Christchurch City Council, and Official Information Act requests sent to Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee. It also includes an appeal to the Queen on behalf of Christchurch residents with badly-damaged houses. Please note that a letter from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which was originally included in the document, has been removed due to copyright issues.
During the 21st century, New Zealand has experienced increasing public concern over the quality of the design and appearance of new developments, and their effects on the urban environment. In response to this, a number of local authorities developed a range of tools to address this issue, including urban design panels to review proposals and provide independent advice. Following the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence, the commitment to achieve high quality urban design within Christchurch was given further importance, with the city facing the unprecedented challenge of rebuilding a ‘vibrant and successful city’. The rebuild and regeneration reinforced the need for independent design review, putting more focus and emphasis on the role and use of the urban design panel; first through collaboratively assisting applicants in achieving a better design outcome for their development by providing an independent set of eyes on their design; and secondly in assisting Council officers in forming their recommendations on resource consent decisions. However, there is a perception that urban design and the role of the urban design panel is not fully understood, with some stakeholders arguing that Council’s urban design requirements are adding cost and complexity to their developments. The purpose of this research was to develop a better understanding on the role of the Christchurch urban design panel post-earthquake in the central city; its direct and indirect influence on the built environment; and the deficiencies in the broader planning framework and institutional settings that it might be addressing. Ultimately, the perceived role of the Panel is understood, and there is agreement that urban design is having a positive influence on the built environment, albeit viewed differently amongst the varying groups involved. What has become clear throughout this research is that the perceived tension between the development community and urban design well and truly exists, with the urban design panel contributing towards this. This tension is exacerbated further through the cost of urban design to developers, and the drive for financial return from their investments. The panel, albeit promoting a positive experience, is simply a ‘tick box’ exercise for some, and as the research suggests, groups or professional are determining themselves what constitutes good urban design, based on their attitude, the context in which they sit and the financial constraints to incorporate good design elements. It is perhaps a bleak time for urban design, and more about building homes.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Octagon Live Restaurant (formerly Trinity Congregational Church) on the corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Poplar Lane, looking rather the worse for the wear. It's not clear whether this is from demolition activity or earthquake damage".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A demolition site on Lichfield Street, where further damage occurred as a result of the 23 December 2011 earthquakes".
A blog post from US Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, David Huebner, titled, "Independence Day in Christchurch".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Cashel Mall looking towards the Whitcoulls site and the BNZ in the distance behind the centre tree".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Demolition site of the Allan McLean building, on the corner of Colombo Street and Oxford Terrace".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "This building was built to keep the band equipment safe and secure. This area of the Avon was known as Poplar Crescent".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "This stack of containers protect the facade of New Excelsior Backpackers. Corner of Manchester and Lichfield Streets".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "View from the corner of Manchester and Worcester Streets showing the final piece of demolition of 143-151 Worcester Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Looking across the demolition site of the Press Building towards Warners and Novatel Hotels. New Press Building on the right rear".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "On the footpath in Worcester Street near Radio Network House. Pacific Tower (Marque Hotel) is at centre rear".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The remains of SBS House, on the south-east corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Some CBD worker with a great sense of humour has put this together outside the Work and Income office in High Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Demolition site between the former Government Life building (on the right) and Grant Thornton House with Chancery Lane in the background".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Rear of the Department of Conservation building in Hereford Street seen from the intersection of Manchester and Worcester Streets".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Looking from 205 Manchester Street to Radio Newtwork House across concrete rubble from the demolition of SBS House, 180 Manchester Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The flags flying are in contrast to the demolition site of the Allan McLean building beyond".
A photograph of a sign describing St Luke's Labyrinth.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The demolition site of the Copthorne Durham Street with the Casino behind".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The demolition site of the Louis Vuitton Building on the corner of Cathedral Square and Colombo Street".
A photograph of street art on the Work and Income New Zealand building in New Brighton. The artwork depicts a musician.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Gloucester - Madras Street intersection (south-west view). The large AMI building in the centre is to be demolished".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The intersection of Colombo and Gloucester Streets, looking north west".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Demolition site of CDC building with Twinkletoes (digger with over 60m boom) and two other diggers working on it, Cashel Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "New reconstruction where it is planned to add a new ground floor to this basement in Lichfield Street and then build the building".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The IRD building on Cashel Street seen from across the demolition site of the Occidental Hotel on Hereford Street".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Fissure on the banks of the River Avon near the site of the demolished Plunket House".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Colombo Street - centre rear is the Pacific Tower (Marque Hotel) in Gloucester Street. PricewaterhouseCoopers (left) and Forsyth Barr (right)".