A company helping to demolish earthquake damaged buildings in Christchurch, has come to the rescue of the heritage-listed Peterborough Centre.
"Heritage Buildings, Earthquake Strengthening and Damage: the Canterbury earthquakes September 2010 - January 2012", a report submitted by the then New Zealand Historic Places Trust to the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission. The report was written by Robert McClean.
A digitally manipulated image of a broken window. The photographer comments, "There is hardly anything left of Christchurch's proud heritage buildings. Most older buildings were made of brick and though they should have had improvements to make them withstand a medium earthquake most did not. They were badly damaged when hit with a series of earthquakes that were up to 2.2g at the epicentre and 1.88g in the City".
Up until February 22nd, 2011, the city of Christchurch was a unique, historic and cultural living and breathing entity. Inherited from a long list of valuable contributors dating back to its incept…
The former mayor of Christchurch, Gary Moore, speaking to a woman at the Rally for the Cathedral in Cranmer Square. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
Slides from the presentation by Jill Durney (MacMillan Brown Library) on "UC CEISMIC Virtual Heritage Project: Christchurch Lost and Found".
People signing the petitions during the Rally for the Cathedral in Cranmer Square. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
A crowd gathered in Cranmer Square for the Rally for the Cathedral protest. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
A crowd gathered in Cranmer Square for the Rally for the Cathedral protest. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
A crowd gathered in Cranmer Square for the Rally for the Cathedral protest. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
People gathering at the cordon fence on Worcester Boulevard during the Rally for the Cathedral. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
Protestors, escorted by police, marching down Madras Street from Cranmer Square during the Rally for the Cathedral. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
The demand for a new approach to safeguarding New Zealand’s endangered historic buildings was identified as a result of the recent increase in building code and strengthening requirements following the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010-2011. The Wellington City Council identified 266 heritage buildings in the city that must be either strengthened or demolished to address these increased requirements. This thesis explores this threat as an opportunity for researching how contemporary design interventions can be challenged to both strengthen and become active participants in the ongoing history of New Zealand’s potentially endangered historic buildings. This thesis challenges the current approach of completely ‘restoring’ 19th-20th century historic buildings in New Zealand, to develop techniques that structurally reinforce historic buildings while inviting the progressive weathering of a building to remain as a testament to its history. This thesis proposes a structural intervention that is responsive to the progressive history of historic buildings, simultaneously introducing a contemporary structural intervention that both participates in and compliments the progressive historic transformations of the vehicle. This thesis argues that current historic buildings in semi-decayed states in fact enable visitors to witness multiple stages in the life of a building, while fully restored buildings only enable visitors to witness the original form of the building. This thesis proposes a model for contemporary intervention within historic buildings that draws a design intervention from seismic strengthening.The notion of layering is explored as a design approach to incorporate the contemporary with the historic as an additional layer of exposed on-going history, thereby further exposing the layers of history evident within New Zealand’s historic buildings. This thesis combines layering theories of architects Louis Kahn and Carlo Scarpa with related theories of installation artist Mary Miss. The theoretical imperatives of Scarpa and Kahn are explored as a tool of engagement for the junction between the contemporary and historic building materials, and the work of Marry Miss is explored as a design approach for developing a contemporary intervention that references the layered historic building while inviting new means of occupancy between layers. The selected vehicle for the design research investigation is the Albemarle Hotel on Ghuznee Street in Wellington. The techniques proposed in this thesis to strengthen the Albemarle Hotel suggest an approach that might be applied to New Zealand’s wider body of historic buildings that constitute New Zealand’s heritage fabric, ultimately protecting them from demolition while preserving additional layers of their historic narratives. Over all the design research experiments suggest that contemporary interventions derived from structural strengthening may be a viable and cost-effective method of re-inhabiting New Zealand’s endangered heritage buildings, avoiding demolition and securing New Zealand’s heritage for future generations. Research Questions: This thesis challenges the current economically unsustainable approach of laterally reinforcing and completely ‘restoring’ 19th-20th century historic buildings in New Zealand. This thesis argues that current historic buildings in semi-decayed states in fact enable visitors to witness multiple stages in the on-going life of a building. Can the weathered state of New Zealand's heritage buildings be proactively retained and celebrated as witnesses to their history? Can new lateral reinforcing requirements be conceived as active participants in revealing the on-going history of New Zealand's historic buildings?
A person takes a photograph during the Rally for the Cathedral in Cranmer Square. He is wearing a mask identified with the "Anonymous" movement. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
“The most historic bridge in Christchurch” The iconic stone arch which spans over Cashel Street bridge – linking Cambridge with Oxford Terrace is “a visible symbol” wh…
Blog of freelance journalist Adrienne Rewi who lives in Christchurch. She highlights Christchurch's historic cemeteries and covers the Christchurch earthquake among other things.
A woman in a wheelchair carrying a placard reading, "Save our cathedral. It will be cheaper. It will be safe," as protesters march down Worcester Boulevard during the Rally for the Cathedral. The rally protested the proposed demolition of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
Cathedral Square hosted one of New Zealand’s most significant historic events after the armistice was signed by the Western Allies and the Central Powers on 11th November 1918 in Paris, Franc…
"Training and Education of Engineers and Organisation of Engineering Profession and Building Assessment after Earthquakes", a report submitted by the then New Zealand Historic Places Trust on the Royal Commission Discussion Papers.
Our city is a repository for the social and historical narrative of our past Each street, wall, facade, interior is an integral part of the people who walked passed them, shopped in them, worked in…
A Christchurch Heritage Trust plaque outside a house on the section 86-100 Chester Street East.
A bollard covered in tattered posters. The photographer comments, "After the Christchurch February 2011 earthquake no more adverts were pasted onto this advertising pillar. Over a year later the posters are starting to peel off and reveal older ones. It seems that the constant addition of new posters was keeping everything in equilibrium, but with no new posters everything is literally falling apart".
A video of stills of Christchurch in 2009. The video highlights the heritage buildings and architecture which has been damaged or lost since the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
A building on St Asaph Street has been demolished, exposing the interior structure of the adjoining building. The photographer comments, "The building that this one was part of has been demolished and the join looks very much like the exterior walls of an Anglo-Saxon house. It has been exposed due to the demolition of damaged buildings after the Christchurch earthquake".
The tide at New Brighton could go out a long way and the sand was hard, making motor and bicycle racing on New Brighton beach a popular past time that would draw the crowds. Many cycling and motor …
A video of a tour of the historic Canterbury Club building on Cambridge Terrace. The club will reopen on 9 June 2012, after an intensive rebuild and restoration process which has fixed the damage from the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video also includes an interview with Dr Brent Stanley, the Canterbury Club President. Stanley talks about the strengthening work that was done in 2009, as well as the history of the club.
Shows Christchurch's Anglican cathedral receiving extensive treatment including blood, ambulances, scaffold and signs reading 'save!' In the background Christchurch's Catholic Cathedral says it wants its share of attention as well. Context: The focus of repairing the Christchurch Anglican cathedral appeared to draw focus and resources from the equally historic and damaged Catholic Cathedral. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
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.
Site of SCAPE which installs contemporary art by local, national and international artists in Christchurch’s public spaces. Information about past exhibits and about the next biennial, artists and permanent works. Includes the effect of the Christchurch earthquake on the organisation itself and the artists.
A video of a press conference with Bishop Victoria Matthews in the Botanic Gardens about the plans for the earthquake-damaged ChristChurch Cathedral. Matthews announces that the cathedral will be deconstructed, allowing the safe retrieval of taonga and heritage items within the building.