Cranmer Court

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

The Cranmer Court demolition started today in Christchurch. The 1876 building was originally a Normal School and was in a derelict state in the early 1980s when it was rescued and converted into apartments. The heritage-listed building was red-stickered after the February 2011 earthquake.

Playing Silly Buggers

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Part of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage To Lost Spaces' in the Cramner Courts building, a photograph of a skateboarder has been inserted into a gap in the building. The photographer comments, "Although Cranmer Courts are in ruins pictures have been inserted into the windows to make them look more 'normal'".

His Career is in Ruins

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Part of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage To Lost Spaces' in the Cramner Courts building, a photograph of a young man working at a desk has been inserted into a gap in the building. The photographer comments, "Although Cranmer Courts are in ruins pictures have been inserted into the windows to make them look occupied".

Fairfax Video October 2012 (1)

Videos, UC QuakeStudies

A video of people protesting the demolition of the Cranmer Courts on Armagh Street. In the background, an excavator is being used to demolish the building. Earlier in the day a man was arrested on a trespassing charge for climbing the fence.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 2426

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Damage to Cranmer Courts, where some parts of the wall and windows have been boarded up.

Creating Modern History

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Part of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage To Lost Spaces' in the Cramner Courts building, photographs of people riding bicycles have been inserted into a gap in the building. The photographer comments, "Cranmer Courts was very badly damaged in the quakes that unexpectedly hit Christchurch. Originally big photographs were put into the holes where the doors and windows were, but now these massive pictures have been put across the boarded up ends of the buildings to keep them alive in the minds of the people of Christchurch. The project was thought up by Mike Hewson".

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 2429

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Damage to the Cranmer Courts, seen from behind cordon fencing and road cones. Some parts of the wall and windows has been boarded up.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 2591

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Damage to the Cranmer Courts. Mike Hewson's art installation, 'Homage To The Lost Spaces (Government Life Building Studio Series)' can be seen on the bottom right.

The Arched Windows

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated image of three arched windows in a damaged stone building.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 2592

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The intersection of Montreal and Kilmore Streets, with the Cranmer Courts on the right and on the left is a vacant lot left by the demolition of a building.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 2535

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Detail of the artwork 'Homage To The Lost Spaces (Government Life Building Studio Series' by Mike Hewson. These were installed on damaged buildings, this one being the Cranmer Courts.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 2536

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Detail of the artwork 'Tony De In The Door (Government Life Building Studio Series' by Mike Hewson. These were installed on damaged buildings, this one being a building opposite the Cranmer Courts.

Keeping a Sense of Normality

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Part of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage To Lost Spaces' in the Cramner Courts building, a photograph of a young man working at a desk has been inserted into a gap in the building. The photographer comments, "Cranmer Courts in Christchurch, New Zealand was very badly damaged in the earthquakes that have rocked the City for the past two years. Mike Hewson thought he would try to bring life back into the buildings by putting photographs into the spaces where the doors and windows were. There was a month or so when no one seemed to know or admit who had put the pictures up, but it was done officially. It seems that though very badly damaged the buildings may get restored".