A video clip of Ronnie van Hout's self-portrait sculpture titled Comin' Down, illuminated during CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of pedestrians at the intersection of Manchester, Lichfield and High Streets during CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of Ronnie van Hout's self-portrait sculpture titled Comin' Down, illuminated during CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a man in a yellow jumpsuit standing on Manchester Street with a CityUps sign. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
The increase in urban population has required cities to rethink their strategies for minimising greenhouse gas impacts and adapting to climate change. While urban design and planning policy have been guided by principles such as walkability (to reduce the dependence on cars) and green infrastructure (to enhance the quality of open spaces to support conservation and human values), there have been conflicting views on what spatial strategies will best prepare cities for a challenging future. Researchers supporting compact cities based upon public Transit Oriented Development have claimed that walkability, higher density and mixed-uses make cities more sustainable (Owen, 2009) and that, while green spaces in cities are necessary, they are dull in comparison with shopfronts and street vendors (Speck, 2012, p 250). Other researchers claim that green infrastructure is fundamental to improving urban sustainability and attracting public space users with improved urban comfort, consequently encouraging walkability (Pitman and Ely, 2013). Landscape architects tend to assume that ‘the greener the better’; however, the efficiency of urban greenery in relation to urban comfort and urbanity depends on its density, distribution and the services provided. Green infrastructure can take many forms (from urban forests to street trees) and provide varied services (amended microclimate, aesthetics, ecology and so forth). In this paper, we evaluate the relevance of current policy in Christchurch regarding both best practice in green infrastructure and urban comfort (Tavares, 2015). We focus on the Christchurch Blueprint for rebuilding the central city, and critically examine the post-earthquake paths the city is following regarding its green and grey infrastructures and the resulting urban environment. We discuss the performance and appropriateness of the current Blueprint in post-earthquake Christchurch, particularly as it relates to the challenges that climate change is creating for cities worldwide.
A photograph of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of students wearing high visibility vests and hard hats, taking a break on the CityUps installation site. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of the damaged Excelsior Hotel on Manchester Street, shot from behind a wire fence during CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
Christchurch City Councillor Ali Jones talks about what the cull of EQC staff will mean for life in the post-earthquake city.
Painted lines on the road at the corner of Hereford and Colombo Streets, part of the Christchurch City Council's Transitional City project.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Extensive damage can be seen on the north-west and south-west corners of the building.
Damaged buildings on Manchester Street, the facades of which have fallen into the street. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD".
A video of a presentation by Antony Gough, New Zealand property developer, during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
A video of André Lovatt, Chair of Regenerate Christchurch, Hugh Cowan, General Manager of Reinsurance, Research and Education at EQC, and developer Antony Gough responding to questions from the floor during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
A video of Hon. Nicky Wagner, Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Hon. Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, and Peter Townsend, CEO of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, responding to questions from the floor during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
A video of a presentation by André Lovatt, Chair of Regenerate Christchurch, during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
A video of a presentation by Hugh Cowan, General Manager of Reinsurance, Research and Education at EQC, during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
A video of a presentation by Peter Townsend, CEO of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
A video of a presentation by Hon. Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
A video of a presentation by Tariq Habibyar, PhD student at the University of Canterbury, at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference.
The Christchurch City Council and the Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, have hammered out a compromise deal over setting the council's long term spending priorities.
Two years on from the Christchurch earthquakes, a local author says the insurance industry has failed in its response to the disaster.
The Christchurch Casino reopened its doors last night for the first time since the February 22nd earthquake.
The immediate aftermath of the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake and its ongoing impact on residents' mental health is being described as a recovery of two halves. The latest wellbeing survey from the Canterbury District Health Board shows that one in five people, predominantly those living in the eastern suburbs, say they experience stress most or all of the time.
Christchurch council has asked its residents to tell it if earthquake repairs haven't been done so it can accurately assess their property's value.
A small tower on top of a roof in the Arts Centre. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD. Arts Centre".
Damage to a house in Richmond. The foundation is cracked, and a gap is visible between the foundation and the house. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD. Broken foundations, River Rd".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 26 February 2011 entitled, "Shaken City".
The clock tower at the Arts Centre supported by steel and wooden bracing to prevent further damage. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD. Arts Centre".
People look through the cordon fencing on the Bridge of Remembrance. The Grand Chancellor can be seen through the arch of the bridge. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD. Grand Chancellor Hotel through the Bridge of Remembrance".