Ideas for Christchurch

AuthorByron 14 September 2010 Comments

Launched as a design initiative to engage with the effects of the devastating earthquake, a group of architectural graduates are looking to engage in public and professional dialogue.

Ideas for Christchurch declares an urgency, like the fast-tracked rebuilding response, creative, critical and considered responses to and for the city should be considered in submissions. The organisers explain:

"The events in Christchurch have given their concerns a direct and immediate weight: over the coming months, hugely significant, city-defining architectural and planning decisions are going to have to be made. We implore the public at large, as well as architecture students and praticing architects, to become involved in a positive and productive discussion over the nature of these decisions and the kinds of rebuilding they would like to see take place. We want to see your ideas providing a framework to give shape to what could, should, or might be."

"Choose your strategy, construct an argument, share a notion, indulge in joyful play, fight against or reach towards. Scale is open: form a strategic vision for the entire city; reconsider a hard hit suburb; preserve a local dairy. Salvage heritage and character, design temporary infills, sustainable developments, urban parks/reserves, inner-city living, a new typology of housing, a city of skyscrapers, a city of pickes..."

There's some loaded dialogue in there ready to be sprung, so this is a great opportunity for those living in, or having lived in, or having connected in some way with the Garden City, to offer something to this eager conversation.

Works can be created in any medium, but must be translated to an A3 (420mm x 297mm) digital format and sent along to ideasforchristchurch@gmail.com

Submit as often as you like, between September 15 - 25.
Selected works will be uploaded to online discussion forums, presented to media, and publicly exhibited.

For more info visit ideasforchristchurch.wordpress.com.

Also check out rebuildingchristchurch.wordpress.com.

1 Comment

The older buildings give Christchurch city and suburbs it's distinct character. Clearly it has for decades been seen as vitally important to preserve that character as many dollars have been spent on earthquakeproofing places like the Arts Center, etc; and buildings like the old Clarendon Hotel kept it's facade when it was turned into a highrise. That many of our other quaint old buildings that created the character of our town never had their turn being earthquakeproofed is was not because we didn't want them there. It was a matter of money. In other words: The 'What look do we want here' question was never a question - and should actually never have become a question! The question was merely: 'How do we preserve and earthquakeproof the character of oour heritage'. So to me the question is now 'How can we bring back as much of what we've lost as possible'? To bring back the essence of the character of the lost ones there are in my view 2 key aspects. One aspect is that many of those older buildings combined inner city living on the higher floors with shop/business fronts on the lower floors. The other aspect is the facades of those buildings. How can we re-create at the very least facades that are in the same old-look style, with earthquakeproof materials plus retain that live-above-the-business idea? This also counts for the many 'business houses' lost in suburbs like Edgeware and crnr of Gloucester and Woodham etc. Now...if we did want to add in a totally new look here and there...how about going for an architectural style inspired by nature a la Gaudi? Something with flowing lines? Something that fits in with our NZ landscape? Or some giant Hobbit style homes or such like?

Marianne Briels