A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Iconic bar on the corner of Manchester and Gloucester Streets. Large sections of the outer walls have collapsed, the bricks and masonry spilling onto the footpath below, crushing several cars. USAR codes have been spray-painted near the door and a red sticker has been taped above. The red sticker indicates that the building is unsafe to enter.
A section of masonry from the apex of the gable of St Luke the Evangelist Church on Manchester Street resting at the base of the church.
Bricks littering the street below the former Sumner Borough Council building. The building is cordoned off, and shipping containers protect the street from further falling masonry.
Bricks littering the street below the former Sumner Borough Council building. The building is cordoned off, and shipping containers protect the street from further falling masonry.
A wooden brace holding up a window of the Cramner Centre, formerly Christchurch Girls' High School. The masonry above the window has fallen away during the earthquake.
Damage to the A and T Burt building on Ferry Road in Woolston. Masonry has collapsed from the top section of the building's front wall, exposing its ceiling.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch building on Barbadoes Street. Tarpaulins have been used to weather proof gaps in the building's gables from where masonry has fallen.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch building on Barbadoes Street. Tarpaulins have been used to weather proof gaps in the building's gables from where masonry has fallen.
St John's Presbyterian Church on Winchester Street in Lyttelton. The ground around the church is strewn with masonry that has fallen from the church's walls and collapsed tower.
A photograph of a block of earthquake-damaged buildings on Manchester Street. The outer wall of the second storey has collapsed, the bricks and other rubble spilling onto the footpath. Several cars have been crushed by the falling rubble.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team standing in front of the earthquake-damaged Avonmore House on Hereford Street. Sections of the walls have crumbled, spilling bricks and masonry onto the footpath and street below. Many of the windows have warped, breaking the glass. USAR codes have been spray-painted on one of the columns. A red sticker taped to the door indicates that the building is unsafe to enter.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team standing in front of the earthquake-damaged Avonmore House on Hereford Street. Sections of the walls have crumbled, spilling bricks and masonry onto the footpath and street below. Many of the windows have also warped, breaking the glass. USAR codes have been spray-painted on one of the columns. A red sticker taped to the door indicates that the building is unsafe to enter.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Avonmore House on the corner of Hereford Street and Latimer Square. Large cracks have formed in the building, causing sections of the masonry to crumble. The windows on the Hereford Street side of the building have bent out of shape and many of the glass panes have shattered. USAR codes have been spray painted on the column next to the door. In the distance wire fencing has been placed across the street as a cordon.
Unreinforced masonry churches in New Zealand, similarly to everywhere else in the word have proven to be highly vulnerable to earthquakes, because of their particular construction features. The Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquake sequence, 2010-2011 caused an invaluable loss of local architectural heritage and of churches, as regrettably, some of them were demolished instead of being repaired. It is critical for New Zealand to advance the data collection, research and understanding pertaining to the seismic performance and protection of church buildings, with the aim to:
Cracks in the masonry of the Arts Centre's Worcester Street face. Some stones have fallen away around the roof's apex, and plywood has been used to weather proof the gap.
The roof of St John the Baptist Church on Latimer Square. Masonry has tumbled into the building, tearing a hole in the roof and exposing the inside of the church.
Cracks in the masonry of the Arts Centre's Worcester Street face. Some stones have fallen away around the roof's apex, and plywood has been used to weather proof the gap.
Masonry that has fallen from St John the Baptist Church in Latimer Square piled on a pallet in front of the church. Cracks can be seen in the building's foundations.
The September Canterbury earthquake. These buildings have since been demolished. Note: these photos were taken on a cellphone; mind the quality.
The September Canterbury earthquake. These buildings have since been demolished. Note: these photos were taken on a cellphone; mind the quality.
The September Canterbury earthquake. These buildings have since been demolished. Note: these photos were taken on a cellphone; mind the quality.
A damaged house on Manchester Street. A section of wall where masonry has collapsed has been weather proofed with a black tarpaulin. The building's chimney has fallen on to its roof.
Damage to a section of the A and T Burt building on Ferry Road in Woolston. Masonry has collapsed from the top section of the building's front wall, exposing its ceiling.
Damage to a gable of the Music Centre of Christchurch building on Barbadoes Street. The gaps left by the collapse of the building's masonry have been weather proofed with a tarpaulin.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch building on Barbadoes Street. Tarpaulins have been used to weather proof a gap in one of the building's gables from where masonry has fallen.
The former Canterbury Public Library building on the corner of Hereford Street and Cambridge Terrace. The building has been encircled by a safety fence to protect pedestrians and motorists from falling masonry.
Damage to one of the front towers of the Durham Street Methodist Church. Some masonry from the corner of the tower has collapsed, and the structure has been secured by blue straps.
A photograph of cracks around a window of the Observatory tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. The cracks formed as a result of the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
A photograph of cracks around a window of the Observatory tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. The cracks formed as a result of the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
A photograph of cracks around a window of the Observatory tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. The cracks formed as a result of the 4 September 2010 earthquake.