Rebuilding and revitalising Christchurch City in the face of an unprecedented natural disaster
Christchurch Blueprint
The Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) was tasked to devise an orchestrated plan for the recovery of Christchurch central city after a catastrophic sequence of major earthquakes devastated the city in 2010 and 2011. This sequence of more than 9,000 earthquakes destroyed most of the major buildings in the city including commercial, civic, retail and administrative properties, resulting in a rapid decentralisation of the city core.
The vision for Christchurch, in consultation with the public, was to create a regenerated city which combined the best of urban renewal principles while retaining the uniqueness of Christchurch, including elements of built heritage – a vital continuity to the city’s past.
Anchor projects
The 100-day blueprint provided a deliverable plan for the location, scale and essential format of 16 anchor projects considered necessary to regenerate the city centre. These projects – including a new convention centre, a metro sports centre, public library, transport hub, justice and emergency services precinct and sports stadium – needed to be considered together to allow for catalytic development between new projects.
Unique topography
Key ideas included compressing the urban boundaries within a ‘frame’ to intensify the core, the inclusion of anchor projects to act as catalysts for development, and embracing the Avon River as a corridor by creating amenities in the spaces alongside it. This encourages people to live, work, and play in the central city.
This piece of work is about all of us grasping our futures, believing in what we can together do.
Collective Effort
Collective Effort
