In the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes, one of the biggest threats to our heritage buildings is the risk of earthquakes and the associated drive to strengthen or demolish buildings. Can Small Town NZ balance the requirements of the EQPB legislation and economic realities of their places? The government’s priority is on safety of building occupants and citizens in the streets. However, maintaining and strengthening privately-owned heritage buildings is often cost prohibitive. Hence, heritage regulation has frequently been perceived as interfering with private property rights, especially when heritage buildings occupy a special place in the community becoming an important place for people (i.e. public benefits are larger than private). We investigate several case studies where building owners have been given green light to demolish heritage listed buildings to make way for modern developments. In two of the case studies developers provided evidence of unaffordable strengthening costs. A new trend that has emerged is a voluntary offer of contributing to an incentive fund to assist with heritage preservation of other buildings. This is a unique example where private owners offer incentives (via council controlled organisations) instead of it being purely the domain of the central or local governments.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The machinery used in the demolitions keeps getting more sophisticated as the taller buildings are dealt with. This is the large crane put in place to work on the deconstruction and demolition of the BNZ Building".
A photograph of the launch event for Gap Filler's Grandstadium at the Retro Sports Facility (The Commons). The Grandstadium is a re-locatable mini-grandstand. The launch event took place as part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of the launch event for Gap Filler's Grandstadium at the Retro Sports Facility (The Commons). The Grandstadium is a re-locatable mini-grandstand. The launch event took place as part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of the launch event for Gap Filler's Grandstadium at the Retro Sports Facility (The Commons). The Grandstadium is a re-locatable mini-grandstand. The launch event took place as part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of the launch event for Gap Filler's Grandstadium at the Retro Sports Facility (The Commons). The Grandstadium is a re-locatable mini-grandstand. The launch event took place as part of FESTA 2014.
Posters which describe the earthquake damage, planned restoration methods and historic information about the Bridge of Remembrance and Memorial Arch. These posters were hung on the fencing around the Bridge and Arch to inform the public about the work taking place.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The machinery used in the demolitions keeps getting more sophisticated as the taller buildings are dealt with. This is the large crane put in place to work on the deconstruction and demolition of the BNZ Building".
An aerial photograph of the Horseshoe Lake residential area. The photograph has been captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Kingsford Street on the left and the end of Tasman Place on the right, Horseshoe Lake".
A photograph of the launch event for Gap Filler's Grandstadium at the Retro Sports Facility (The Commons). The Grandstadium is a re-locatable mini-grandstand. The launch event took place as part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of the launch event for Gap Filler's Grandstadium at the Retro Sports Facility (The Commons). The Grandstadium is a re-locatable mini-grandstand. The launch event took place as part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of the launch event for Gap Filler's Grandstadium at the Retro Sports Facility (The Commons). The Grandstadium is a re-locatable mini-grandstand. The launch event took place as part of FESTA 2014.
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled6.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled7.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled8.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled3.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
File Reference: CCL-CE-2010-09-08-DSC02022 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled2.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled5.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Removal of the earthquake damaged footbridge over the Avon at Medway Street. Tuesday 12 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-12-untitled4.bmp From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Aftermath of September 4th Earthquake in Canterbury. Shops on Colombo Street in Christchurch. The initial 7.1 quake has been followed by around 1590 aftershocks recorded to date - causing further damage to already weakened structures.
Sand volcanoes put the silt all over the road.
The earthquake knocked over the bird bath.
Debra points at the beginnings of a sand volcano not long after the big earthquake.
An usual thing to see coming from the ground in Hoon Hay, Christchurch.
Post February 22 Earthquake Damage PWS-2011-03-09-DSC9921
Post February 22 Earthquake Damage PWS-2011-03-09-DSC9922
Post February 22 Earthquake Damage PWS-2011-03-09-DSC9930
Behind Shops in Colombo Street PWS-2010-10-02-DSC03087