Architects begin to look at rebuild of Christchurch
National architectural practice Warren and Mahoney is starting to look at how quake-ravaged Christchurch buildings can rise out of the rubble.
Warren and Mahoney have put together a group of urban planning, design and property experts to begin considering the best way forward for Christchurch buildings, director Peter Marshall said.
The group, which decided to form of their own accord, will start to develop a set of key design principles and long term development scenarios which they can then take to Christchurch City Council.
It is made up of Warren and Mahoney, environmental planners and urban designers Boffa Miskell, structural and civil engineers Holmes Consulting Group, commercial leasing and sales service Colliers International and tenant advisory services Wareham Cameron.
The group planned to meet next week to brainstorm ideas.
“Civic leaders and government officials are rightly focused on the immediate rescue and recovery mission,” Boffa Miskell managing director Don Miskell said.
“Forming the group and turning our minds to seeking integrated solutions by combining visionary thinking with a depth and breadth of development experience is one way that the interdisciplinary members thought we could contribute to the rebuilding of Christchurch.”
At this stage, in its very preliminary phase, the group had let Christchurch City Council know about their plans and assumed the council would see merits in the group, Mr Marshall said.
From NZHERALD
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Comments
Housing is the immediate problem. If rebuilding cannot take place until the tremors stop then thousands may be stuck in temporary accommodation for another 12 months before they can begin rebuilding. It may be another year on top of that before their houses are complete and ready for habitation. And that is assuming everything settles down in 12 months.
Rather than wait for such a long time, one solution would be to build several townships just outside Christchurch in areas that are not suffering from aftershocks. The houses could be quickly built production line style, but in modular form suitable for disassembly and transportation. Once the aftershocks stop, people could transport their house to their own properties in Christchurch and have their home ready to move into in a couple of weeks. No need to wait another year while their house is built from scratch. After a few years, these houses could still be sold on, if people want to build something better on their property.
This would provide quick relief and allow people to commute into work. Of course, roads would need widening for the increased traffic and shops, amenities, etc. would need to be built in the townships. The building programme would provide plenty of work as well as a quick solution.
Assuming that the CBD can be eventually rebuilt on, I think there is possibly a great opportunity here for great men of great vision to enable a splendid phoenix arise from the rubble. It is an opportunity to get rid of largely the hotchpotch of building styles that ChCh was, with the old brick buildings sitting awkwardly next to zany and odd looking modern buildings invariably constructed with cheap as chips materials.
There is the opportunity to have a harmonious style of many buildings using modern ideas of space and recreation alongside business. Think of the effect and beauty of central Paris, as just one example. The harmony there creates a feeling and beauty greater than the sum of its parts. Look at the harmony of the Art Deco style of Napier as a closer example.
Ultra fast broad band laid down, perhaps covered walkways between buildings above the street, all these things can now be done the right way, just as they should be. A new CBD whose beauty and wonder draws people towards it.
Tony H
I agree and I really hope that these powers to be listen this time. Its a perfect opportunity to start over, make a world class bench mark. People are worried about tourism failing as we have lost our heritage. Well lets fix this by actually making something unique which people will want to experience. Our art gallery is a great starting bench mark i think.
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