
In 2010 Neil Challenger, Head of the School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University, stated that the malls surrounding Christchurch drove the life out of the inner city of Christchurch. His economic and sociological concerns were expressed even before the earthquake occurred, and this forms the current hesitation on the rebuilding of Christchurch’s inner city. The position of this research proposal is to establish whether an urban architectural intervention can address these economic and sociological concerns and the potentially devastating effects the suburban mall has had on urban life within Christchurch. The thesis specifically asks whether establishing a mall typology as a landmark building within the inner city can strategically engage the damaged historic buildings of post-earthquake Christchurch in ways that actively preserve these historic remnants. The main intention of this research is to engage the damaged historic buildings of post-earthquake Christchurch in ways that actively preserve these remnants and are also economically viable. By preserving the remnants as active, working elements of the urban fabric, they act as historic reminders or memorials of the event and associated loss, while also actively participating in the regrowth of the city. The thesis argues that contemporary architecture can play a strategic role in these imperatives. Overall this research argues that there exists a distinct requirement for large-scale retail in the inner city urban environment that recognises and responds to the damaged cultural and historic architecture of inner city Christchurch. The objective of the thesis is to propose means to rejuvenate not only the economic vitality of central Christchurch,but also its historic character.
A view after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch. Victoria Street. So sad to see history die - both buildings and business. Sign on the back wall says, "You gotta be there Christchurch" - sadly ironic! Given a bit of a HDR process to add some of what I was "feeling" at the time.
A man sits at his desk with an enormous sheet of blank paper headed 'New Christchurch' before him; peering over his shoulder is a huge figure who appears to be a man from an earlier era of the history of Christchurch. Context - Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 and the start of debate about how city should be rebuilt. The historic man suggests a strong pull to preserve historic Christchurch. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The three versions of this cartoon show words reading 'rumble' and 'crack' and refer to problems in relationships between the Christchurch City Council and the government about how to manage the rebuilding of Christchurch after the second most damaging earthquake that occured one year ago today (22 February 2011) Quantity: 3 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a helicopter spray painting Christchurch with the Canterbury colours of black and red. Someone in the helicopter yells that 'it's gotta be better than tint of TC3'. Context: Probably refers to the apology by Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee for offending Christchurch's TC3 residents after saying he was 'sick and tired' of their moaning. TC3 means 'technical category 3'. Land classified TC3 is the mostly badly quake-damaged considered economically repairable. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A truck carries a house to a new position and the family in the house wonder if they 'can stay on the truck permanently'. Context - Continuing housing problems in Christchurch following the earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and February 22 and June 13 2011. Many aftershocks are still happening and the ground is unstable in many places. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A video of a presentation by Leanne Curtis, Spokesperson for Breakthrough Services, at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The presentation is titled, "Articulating the Issues of Earthquake-affected Citizens".The abstract for the presentation reads, "How CanCERN actively participated in the recovery by finding and implementing solutions through cross-sector relationship building."
A video of a press conference with Mayor Bob Parker, Roger Sutton (CEO of Orion), Superintendent Dave Cliff (Christchurch Police), and Chief Fire Officer Dan Coward. The speakers talk about the work that is being done to bring power back to Christchurch residents, and to assess the safety of buildings in the Christchurch central city.
Pike River Mine will be put up for sale soon, People allowed into another area of Christchurch cordon, Relative, friends of quake lost describe pain of waiting, Doubts swirl around Rugby World Cup in Christchurch and the ongoing questions surrounding the death of a New Zealander and other tourists in Thailand, Earthquake puts unprecedented pressure on Reserve Bank, Sovereign may not be last failure in struggling building sector, Space shuttle Discovery lands safely in Florida.
The Aromaunga Baxters Flowers nursery in Heathcote, Christchurch sits right above the point where the earthquake struck on 22 February 2011. The greenhouses on the steep slopes of the Port Hills, as well as a big old villa and other brick buildings were badly damaged. Ten years on co-owner John Baxter says the earthquake damage is still being repaired, but sales have been boosted by a lack of imported flowers due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Christchurch is still struggling 10 years on from the earthquake with vacant spaces and little development. In the surrounding areas of Christchurch in Selwyn, inland and in the Waimakariri District to the north it's boom times, with the councils unable to keep up with building consents. The regions have continued to grow over the last 10 years after people initially moved there after the earthquake to escape the bumpy roads, red zones and EQC battles. RNZ's Sally Murphy reports.
A proposed design by John Raven for a new cathedral, tied to a cordon fence. Clarendon Tower can be seen in the background. The photographer comments, "Someone is asking for designs for a new Christchurch Cathedral after it was announced that the old historical building will not be repaired, to be put on the fences through which people can see the de-construction of the old one. This design looks a great one to me".
An access point into the CBD cordon at the corner of Gloucester and Oxford Terrace. Road cones and fencing can be seen in the background with a sign saying 'Access point. Hours of operation 6am-7pm daily. Outside this house use Manchester St/Cambridge Terrace access point'. Inside the cordon, a station can be seen on the left, as well as some workers and cars. The demolition site at the back is where the Brannigans Building used to be.
A video about the earthquake damage to the Christchurch Town Hall. The video shows footage of a tour through the inside of the Town Hall, recorded on a GoPro camera. It also includes interviews with Councillor Glenn Livingstone and Councillor Tim Carter about their impressions of the damage and the work that will be needed to fix the building.
Detail of a light fitting outside the former Ozone Hotel in North New Brighton. The photographer comments, "The broken light fitting is on the Ozone Hotel, which is red stickered after the 22 February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch. They will need to fix the building before this light gets a new bulb. The distinct blue colour seen is what made the Ozone stand out on Marine Parade".
A digitally manipulated image of a high-reach excavator demolishing a building. The photographer comments, "After the earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand the demolition of most of the City Centre began. After two years the government thought that the progress was far too slow, so began the start of the automatic demolition. Luckily when the solar powered demolition machines started to cause indiscriminate death and destruction they were isolated to the South Island and unable to cross the seas".
A digitally manipulated image of light sculptures on Gloucester Street during the LuxCity event. The photographer comments, "This was part of the LuxCity event in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was a way of creating a city of lights on the sites of demolished buildings in the earthquake devastated red zone. 350 architecture and design students from all around New Zealand created and constructed 16 pop up spaces".
A video about the 5.1 magnitude aftershock which hit Diamond Harbour on Wednesday 8 September 2010. The aftershock caused damage to Godley House, the Governors Bay Hotel, and St Cuthbert's Church. The video includes footage of each of the buildings, as well as interviews with the owner of Godley House, the owner of the Governors Bay Hotel, and Bruce Adamson, a Lyttelton local.
A video about the 4 September 2010 earthquake, produced for the anniversary of the earthquake. The video includes footage of the earthquake damage to the Christchurch city centre, Darfield, Rolleston, and Hororata. It also includes footage of diggers clearing stock in the Canterbury Brewery on St Asaph Street, engineers checking buildings in town, and a fire on Worcester Street.
A video of a media tour inside the earthquake-damaged Hotel Grand Chancellor. The video includes footage of the eastern side of the ground floor of the hotel, the stairwells, some of the rooms, and the view through an opening in the side of the building. It also includes an interview with Jack Harris from Fletchers Construction about the work that is being done to support the structure.
A photograph of the house number spray-painted on the front of Robin Duff's house at 386 Oxford Terrace. To the right, two stickers have also been stuck to the door. The top sticker reads, "Attention, power has been removed". The bottom sticker is the Christchurch City Council's 'yellow sticker', which indicates that access to the building is restricted.
The temporary (10 years?) and cheap ($4-6 million) Anglican Cathedral being built a few hundred meters away from the old stone structure that was the centre of Christchurch. Both buildings (the original and this) have caused a lot of controversy, many wanting the old stone one to be repaired (the church want to demolish it), and this as a waste ...
A new gateway into Christchurch is named 'Highway to hell'. Context: describes the way many Christchurch people feel about their city after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. There is a high level of frustration and feelings of helplessness brought about by uncertainty about the future because of building and insurance problems. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Nearly 80 40 foot containers (most two high) protect Wakefield Avenue in Sumner from further rock falls. Behind these (to the left) are houses, church, bowling club, RSA (Returned Servicemens Association) and other community buildings that have been isolated now for nearly two years now. On the right upper third boundary (just behind two stand a...
Sadly the Chapel has been badly damaged in the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that hit Christchurch 22 February 2011. See below. The Rose Historic Chapel formerly St Mary’s Convent Chapel is the sole survivor of a group of heritage buildings in Christchurch that once comprised the St Mary’s Convent complex for the Sisters of Mercy in North Colombo St...
Sadly the Chapel has been badly damaged in the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that hit Christchurch 22 February 2011. See below. The Rose Historic Chapel formerly St Mary’s Convent Chapel is the sole survivor of a group of heritage buildings in Christchurch that once comprised the St Mary’s Convent complex for the Sisters of Mercy in North Colombo St...
For Best View Press"L" All 23 Arts Centre heritage buildings received significant damage in the earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks, and all have been issued with a red “Unsafe” placard. As a result of the magnitude of this damage, the Arts Centre Trust Board— the body charged with ensuring this iconic precinct is preserved and pr...
Manchester Courts, a seven-storey building on the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets, is a category one historic place built in 1905-1906 that up until the 7.1 earthquake, housed offices. News of the scheduled demolition provoked an emotional response from the people of Christchurch. UPDATE 14 October 2010: A group of residents is campaig...
Manchester Courts, a seven-storey building on the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets, is a category one historic place built in 1905-1906 that up until the 7.1 earthquake, housed offices. News of the scheduled demolition provoked an emotional response from the people of Christchurch. UPDATE 14 October 2010: A group of residents is campaig...
It was so nearly lost. As the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral is being rebuilt, historian Edmund Bohan is releasing a history of the distinctive Gothic building. It shows it was controversial even before work started on designing it, let alone building in. From the laying of the foundations to the official opening, it took 40 years, after squabbles over pretty much every aspect of its construction - not to mention the huge problems raising the money to build it in the City Centre. In Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, Edmund is critical of the former Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews' determination to demolish the badly-damaged cathedral after the Canterbury earthquakes, to replace it with a modern church. And he tells Lynn Freeman he's very much looking forward to seeing the Cathedral restored to its former glory after a lengthy and pricey rebuild. But first he sets the scene. Back in the 1860s, there was controversy over where the cathedral should go, its design, whether it should be in stone or timber - even if there should be a cathedral built at all! Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, by Edmund Bohan is published by Quentin Wilson Publishing.