
File reference: CCL-2012-02-22-IMG_9690 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shop front of Nuttalls second hand store and pawn brokers, photograph taken in 2003.
Colour photograph of front door to the Occidental Hotel, which after the September quake had suffered vandalism. The name "B. Perry" was still above the door.
Occidental Hotel under renovation in January 2010, before the earthquakes.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Cityscape from Victoria Park, Cashmere".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Cityscape from the Cashmere Hills".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Wide cityscape from the Cashmere Hills".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "North-facing cityscape looking from west to north-east from the top of the BNZ building in Cathedral Square. Stitched together from nine images".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "City skyline from Overdale Drive, Cashmere".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "South-facing cityscape looking east to west from the top of the BNZ building in Cathedral Square. Stitched together from nine images".
A photograph of street art by the DTR crew between Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue. The artwork depicts an orange cityscape behind purple tag art. A bike rack and traffic signal are positioned in front of the wall.
A photograph of street art by the DTR crew between Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue. The artwork depicts an orange cityscape behind purple tag art. The wall with the artwork on it is hidden behind billboards for Smart Real Estate and CPIT. A car is passing through an intersection in front of the artwork.
A photograph of colourful street art by the DTR crew between Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue. The artwork depicts an orange cityscape behind purple tag writing. The wall with the artwork on it is hidden behind a billboard for Smart Real Estate, a roadside bench, and a power box with an Elvis poster on it.
A photograph of colourful street art by the DTR crew between Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue. The artwork depicts an orange cityscape behind purple tag art. The wall with the artwork on it, is hidden behind billboards for Smart Real Estate and CPIT. Street lights and a car with a "V" advertisement on it are in the foreground.
A photograph taken from the top of the BNZ building. The photograph is captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "From left to right are the Brannigans building (under demolition), former Government Life Building, Farmers building, MFL building (under demolition), Forsyth Barr building (staying) , PricewaterhouseCoopers building (going) and the roof of the cathedral in the foreground".
The seismic tremor that shook Christchurch on February 22, 2011, not only shattered buildings but also the spirit of the city’s residents. Amidst the ruins, this design-focused thesis unravels two intertwining narratives, each essential to the city’s resurrection. At its core, this thesis probes the preservation of Christchurch’s memory and character, meticulously chronicling the lost heritage architecture and the subsequent urban metamorphosis. Beyond bricks and mortar, it also confronts the silent aftershocks - the pervasive mental health challenges stemming from personal losses and the disfigured cityscape. As a native of Christchurch, intimately connected to its fabric, my lens reflects not just on the architectural reconstruction but also on the emotional reconstruction. My experience as an autistic individual, a recently discovered facet of my identity, infuses this design journey with a distinct prism through which I perceive and interact with the world. The colourful sketches that drive the design process aren’t mere illustrations but manifestations of my interpretation of spaces and concepts, evoking joy and vitality—a testament to embracing diversity in design. Drawing parallels between healing my own traumas with my colourful and joyful neurodivergent worldview, I’ve woven this concept into proposals aimed at healing the city through whimsy, joy, and vibrant colours. Personal experiences during and post-earthquakes profoundly shape my design proposals. Having navigated the labyrinth of my own mental health amid the altered cityscape, I seek avenues for reconciliation, both personal and communal. The vibrant sketches and designs presented in this thesis encapsulate this vision—a fusion of vivid, unconventional interpretations and a dedication to preserving the essence of the original cityscape while still encouraging movement into the future.