In 1848, when the City of Christchurch was nothing but a design concept of the Canterbury Association back in London the idea of a ‘little slice of England’ (but half the world away) was born (Rice 2014, 9). Exactly how … Continue reading →
Victoria Square, the slightly less famous cousin of nearby Cathedral Square was re-opened today following $7.5 million worth of earthquake repairs.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The statue of Queen Victoria is removed from Victoria Square".
It was hard to avoid sinking up to your knees in wet weather in Market Square in 1862. This panoramic photograph shows Christchurch’s Market Place (later renamed Victoria Square) the damp ge…
A video of a tour through the Christchurch central city Red Zone. The video includes footage of Victoria Square, the Town Hall, Oxford Terrace, Armagh Street, New Regent Street, Gloucester Street, Colombo Street, and Cathedral Square. It also includes footage of excavators demolishing the ChristChurch Cathedral.
A video of a tour through the Christchurch central city Red Zone. The video includes footage of the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Victoria Square, the Forsyth Barr building, Colombo Street, Gloucester Street, Cathedral Square, the BNZ building, Cashel Mall, and the Kathmandu store on High Street.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake damage in central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake. Victoria Square".
This topic was chosen in response to the devastation caused to Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand following earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Working amongst the demolition bought to attention questions about how to re-conceive the square within the rebuilt city. In particular, it raised questions as to how a central square could be better integrated and experienced as a contemporary addition to Christchurch city. This thesis seeks to investigate the ways in which central squares can be better integrated with the contemporary city and how New Urbanist design principles can contribute toward this union. The research principally focuses on the physical and spatial integration of the square with the contemporary city. A drawing-based analysis of select precedent case studies helped to determine early on that overall integration of the contemporary square could be attributed to several interdependent criteria. The detailed studies are supplemented further with literature-based research that narrowed the criteria to five integrative properties. These are: identity, scale and proportion, use, connectivity and natural landscape. These were synthesised, in part, from the integrative New Urbanist movement and the emerging integrative side of the more contemporary Post Urbanist movement. The literature-based research revealed that a more inclusive approach toward New Urbanist and Post Urbanist design methodologies may also produce a more integrated and contemporary square. Three design case studies, using the redesign of Cathedral Square, were undertaken to test this hypothesis. The case studies found that overall, integration was reliant on a harmonious balance between the five integrative properties, concluding that squares can be better integrated with the contemporary city. Further testing of the third concept, which embraced an allied New Urbanist / Post Urbanist approach to design, found that New Urbanism was limited in its contribution toward the integration of the square.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake damage in central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake. Crowds gathering in Victoria Square".
Full of weeds after nearly two years of neglect. First time I have been in Victoria Square in over two years.
Awaiting the demolition ball! See the hole punched in by the neighbouring building (now demolished) during the February 22 2011 earthquake. This building is leaning to the north (left) while it's now demolished neighbour was leaning to the south (right). All because the crap land gave way underneath!
Shows a happy crowd playing in the sea and sand in the Christchurch Square. Bishop Victoria Matthews is seen balancing on the Wizard of Christchurch who has turned himself into a surfboard. Context: refers to a proposal by Bishop of Christchurch Victoria Matthews that the earthquake-damaged Square could be made "welcoming and engaging" again by transforming it into an artificial beach with large movie screens. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Nader Guirguis assists Michael Awadalla with his traditional Arabic headdress at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Nader Guirguis assists Michael Awadalla with his traditional Arabic headdress at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Nader Guirguis assists Michael Awadalla with his traditional Arabic headdress at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Nader Guirguis assists Michael Awadalla with his traditional Arabic headdress at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Karim Mina (17) is missed by a thrown wet sponge at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Nader Guirguis assists Michael Awadalla with his traditional Arabic headdress at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Nader Guirguis assists Michael Awadalla with his traditional Arabic headdress at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
A PDF copy of pages 152-153 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'The Arcades Project'. Drawings and Photos: Andrew Just, F3 Design, LIVS
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Karim Mina (17) is narrowly missed by a thrown wet sponge at an event in Victoria Square to raise funds for the Coptic Church, damaged in the Canterbury earthquake".
A photograph of a small wooden hut at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice car parks.
A photograph of a small wooden hut at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice car parks.
A photograph of a small wooden hut at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice car parks.
A photograph of a small wooden hut at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice car parks.
A photograph of a small wooden hut at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice car parks.
A photograph of a small wooden hut at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice car parks.
A photograph of a small wooden hut at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice car parks.
The statue of Captain Cook looks over an empty Victoria Square with autumn leaves lying around. This used to be a very tidy and busy area, but is now nearly all fenced off. Pedestrian access to this section was established about five or six months ago.
A PDF copy of pages 242-243 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Ministry of Justice Gate Keepers'. Photos: Douglas Horrell