Christchurch's Graffiti House... This Cranford Street house was damaged in the earthquakes and is due for demolished this week but has been given a Graffiti Makeover by local Street Artists.
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A photograph of a temporary installation titled Aurora, which was created by students from Unitec, in partnership with Black Betty cafe. Aurora was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's Blog for 06 February 2014 entitled, "Losing Luneys".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's Blog for 25 June 2014 entitled, "Ecclesiastical Enhancement".
In the last century, seismic design has undergone significant advancements. Starting from the initial concept of designing structures to perform elastically during an earthquake, the modern seismic design philosophy allows structures to respond to ground excitations in an inelastic manner, thereby allowing damage in earthquakes that are significantly less intense than the largest possible ground motion at the site of the structure. Current performance-based multi-objective seismic design methods aim to ensure life-safety in large and rare earthquakes, and to limit structural damage in frequent and moderate earthquakes. As a result, not many recently built buildings have collapsed and very few people have been killed in 21st century buildings even in large earthquakes. Nevertheless, the financial losses to the community arising from damage and downtime in these earthquakes have been unacceptably high (for example; reported to be in excess of 40 billion dollars in the recent Canterbury earthquakes). In the aftermath of the huge financial losses incurred in recent earthquakes, public has unabashedly shown their dissatisfaction over the seismic performance of the built infrastructure. As the current capacity design based seismic design approach relies on inelastic response (i.e. ductility) in pre-identified plastic hinges, it encourages structures to damage (and inadvertently to incur loss in the form of repair and downtime). It has now been widely accepted that while designing ductile structural systems according to the modern seismic design concept can largely ensure life-safety during earthquakes, this also causes buildings to undergo substantial damage (and significant financial loss) in moderate earthquakes. In a quest to match the seismic design objectives with public expectations, researchers are exploring how financial loss can be brought into the decision making process of seismic design. This has facilitated conceptual development of loss optimisation seismic design (LOSD), which involves estimating likely financial losses in design level earthquakes and comparing against acceptable levels of loss to make design decisions (Dhakal 2010a). Adoption of loss based approach in seismic design standards will be a big paradigm shift in earthquake engineering, but it is still a long term dream as the quantification of the interrelationships between earthquake intensity, engineering demand parameters, damage measures, and different forms of losses for different types of buildings (and more importantly the simplification of the interrelationship into design friendly forms) will require a long time. Dissecting the cost of modern buildings suggests that the structural components constitute only a minor portion of the total building cost (Taghavi and Miranda 2003). Moreover, recent research on seismic loss assessment has shown that the damage to non-structural elements and building contents contribute dominantly to the total building loss (Bradley et. al. 2009). In an earthquake, buildings can incur losses of three different forms (damage, downtime, and death/injury commonly referred as 3Ds); but all three forms of seismic loss can be expressed in terms of dollars. It is also obvious that the latter two loss forms (i.e. downtime and death/injury) are related to the extent of damage; which, in a building, will not just be constrained to the load bearing (i.e. structural) elements. As observed in recent earthquakes, even the secondary building components (such as ceilings, partitions, facades, windows parapets, chimneys, canopies) and contents can undergo substantial damage, which can lead to all three forms of loss (Dhakal 2010b). Hence, if financial losses are to be minimised during earthquakes, not only the structural systems, but also the non-structural elements (such as partitions, ceilings, glazing, windows etc.) should be designed for earthquake resistance, and valuable contents should be protected against damage during earthquakes. Several innovative building technologies have been (and are being) developed to reduce building damage during earthquakes (Buchanan et. al. 2011). Most of these developments are aimed at reducing damage to the buildings’ structural systems without due attention to their effects on non-structural systems and building contents. For example, the PRESSS system or Damage Avoidance Design concept aims to enable a building’s structural system to meet the required displacement demand by rocking without the structural elements having to deform inelastically; thereby avoiding damage to these elements. However, as this concept does not necessarily reduce the interstory drift or floor acceleration demands, the damage to non-structural elements and contents can still be high. Similarly, the concept of externally bracing/damping building frames reduces the drift demand (and consequently reduces the structural damage and drift sensitive non-structural damage). Nevertheless, the acceleration sensitive non-structural elements and contents will still be very vulnerable to damage as the floor accelerations are not reduced (arguably increased). Therefore, these concepts may not be able to substantially reduce the total financial losses in all types of buildings. Among the emerging building technologies, base isolation looks very promising as it seems to reduce both inter-storey drifts and floor accelerations, thereby reducing the damage to the structural/non-structural components of a building and its contents. Undoubtedly, a base isolated building will incur substantially reduced loss of all three forms (dollars, downtime, death/injury), even during severe earthquakes. However, base isolating a building or applying any other beneficial technology may incur additional initial costs. In order to provide incentives for builders/owners to adopt these loss-minimising technologies, real-estate and insurance industries will have to acknowledge the reduced risk posed by (and enhanced resilience of) such buildings in setting their rental/sale prices and insurance premiums.
A photograph of students from the University of Auckland working on a temporary installation titled CHCH2061. The installation was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary, inflatable structure, titled Upload, being installed for CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014. Upload was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Chirney Coffee.
A photograph of a temporary, inflatable structure titled Upload, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Chirney Coffee. Upload was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary, inflatable structure, titled Upload, being installed for CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014. Upload was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Chirney Coffee.
A photograph of a temporary structure titled GlowCity being installed for CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014. GlowCity was created by students from Unitec, in partnership with Games Hall street games.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled GlowCity, which was created by students from Unitec, in partnership with Games Hall street games. GlowCity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled GlowCity, which was created by students from Unitec, in partnership with Games Hall street games. GlowCity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled GlowCity, which was created by students from Unitec, in partnership with Games Hall street games. GlowCity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of two people wearing neon lights. They are standing under The Arcades Project at The Commons, during Light Up Your Life - a youth-focused procession of glowing activity and wearable art. Light Up Your Life was organised by Gap Filler and was part of the public programme for FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled Orbis, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Twisted Hop. Orbis was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary, inflatable structure, titled Upload, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Chirney Coffee. Upload was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of Graeme Kershaw, Technician at the University of Canterbury Department of Physics and Astronomy, looking through the lens of the Townsend Telescope. The lens is the most crucial component of the telescope. It was found unscratched and unbroken in the rubble of the Observatory tower, after 22 February 2011 earthquake. This means that the telescope can be restored. Other parts of the earthquake-damaged telescope are in the background of the photograph.
A photograph of Graeme Kershaw, Technician at the University of Canterbury Department of Physics and Astronomy, looking through the lens of the Townsend Telescope. The lens is the most crucial component of the telescope. It was found unscratched and unbroken in the rubble of the Observatory tower, after 22 February 2011 earthquake. This means that the telescope can be restored. Other parts of the earthquake-damaged telescope are in the background of the photograph.
A photograph of Graeme Kershaw, Technician at the University of Canterbury Department of Physics and Astronomy, looking through the lens of the Townsend Telescope. The lens is the most crucial component of the telescope. It was found unscratched and unbroken in the rubble of the Observatory tower, after 22 February 2011 earthquake. This means that the telescope can be restored.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled Antigravity, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Cakes by Anna. Antigravity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled Antigravity, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Cakes by Anna. Antigravity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled Antigravity, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Cakes by Anna. Antigravity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
Following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes Christchurch is undergoing extensive development on the periphery of the city. This has been driven in part by the large numbers of people who have lost their homes. Prior to the earthquakes, Christchurch was already experiencing placeless subdivisions and now these are being rolled out rapidly thanks to the efficiency of a formula that has been embraced by the Council, developers and the public alike. However, sprawling subdivisions have a number of issues including inefficient land use, limited housing types, high dependence on motor vehicles and low levels of resilience and no sense of place. Sense of place is of particular interest due to its glaring absence from new subdivisions and its growing importance in the literature. Research shows that sense of place has benefits to our feeling of belonging, well-being, and self-identity, particularly following a disaster. It improves the resilience and sustainability of our living environment and fosters a connection to the landscape thereby making us better placed to respond to future changes. Despite these benefits, current planning models such as new urbanism and transit-oriented design tend to give sense of place a low priority and as a result it can get lost. Given these issues, the focus of this research is “can landscape driven sense of place drive subdivision design without compromising on other urban planning criteria to produce subdivisions that address the issues of sprawl, as well as achieving the benefits associated with a strong sense of place that can improve our overall quality of life?” Answering this question required a thorough review of current urban planning and sense of place literature. This was used to critique existing subdivisions to gain a thorough understanding of the issues. The outcomes of this led to extensive design exploration which showed that, not only is it possible to design a subdivision with sense of place as the key driver but by doing this, the other urban planning criteria become easier to achieve.
Catholic Basilica, Christchurch - at the right place, at the right time...
A photograph of cakes made by Cakes By Anna. The cakes are being sold at a temporary installation titled Antigravity, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Cakes by Anna. em>Antigravity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a tug-of-war contest at CityUps. In the background is a temporary illuminated sculpture titled GlowCity. GlowCity was created by students from Unitec for CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary structure, titled Continuum, being installed for CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014. Continuum was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Excuse My French Crepe Cart.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled Continuum, which was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Excuse My French Crepe Cart. Continuum was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a temporary structure, titled Continuum, being installed for CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014. Continuum was created by students from the University of Auckland, in partnership with Excuse My French Crepe Cart.