Disasters are a critical topic for practitioners of landscape architecture. A fundamental role of the profession is disaster prevention or mitigation through practitioners having a thorough understanding of known threats. Once we reach the ‘other side’ of a disaster – the aftermath – landscape architecture plays a central response in dealing with its consequences, rebuilding of settlements and infrastructure and gaining an enhanced understanding of the causes of any failures. Landscape architecture must respond not only to the physical dimensions of disaster landscapes but also to the social, psychological and spiritual aspects. Landscape’s experiential potency is heightened in disasters in ways that may challenge and extend the spectrum of emotions. Identity is rooted in landscape, and massive transformation through the impact of a disaster can lead to ongoing psychological devastation. Memory and landscape are tightly intertwined as part of individual and collective identities, as connections to place and time. The ruptures caused by disasters present a challenge to remembering the lives lost and the prior condition of the landscape, the intimate attachments to places now gone and even the event itself.
A scanned copy of a photograph of the garden of Di Madgin's former home in the Red Zone, taken before the earthquakes. She describes the scene in the photograph as, "This is the courtyard that we made, to have an eating place at the back of the house. The tree in the neighbours' was a tree that Pete's brother stole on a school trip up in the mountains from a national park. They planted this red beech in the garden. It became the neighbourhood bird tree and the sound was fantastic in the evenings."
A photograph of components of a model of the ChristChurch Cathedral being built from LEGO by Sam Butcher. Sam comments "Fixing a large variety of bits that were wrong/annoying/cheating (not purist) about the last model. The new one is set AFTER the Feb 22 earthquake. This newer, and much stronger model is also completely modular for easier transport. Obviously still a WIP, I'm currently waiting for a pretty large bricklink order at the moment, and will probably need to place a couple more after that to".
A photograph of Crack'd for Christchurch's preparation for mosaicking their armchair artwork in a garage. A number of mosaics of flowers and leaves have been laid over the floor. Several cars covered in dust sheets are parked in the background. To the right, Jenny Cooper is placing paper mosaic designs on the arms of the chair.Crack'd for Christchurch comments, "Some of the flowers made over the summer, laid out and ready to go on the chair."
A PDF copy of a Christmas card from 'Take a Breather', featuring a message by CDHB Chief Executive David Meates. The front design features a plethora of everyday and Christmas-themed images surrounding the words, "Take a breather... Canterbury's a busy place. What could you do to recharge?". The inside reads, "Merry Christmas. Meri Kirihimete." It also includes a message from David Meates encouraging the recipient to take a breather and have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
A PDF copy of a Christmas card from 'Take a Breather', featuring a message by CDHB Chief Executive David Meates. The front design features a plethora of everyday and Christmas-themed images surrounding the words, "Take a breather... Canterbury's a busy place. What could you do to recharge?". The inside reads, "Merry Christmas. Meri Kirihimete." It also includes a message from David Meates encouraging the recipient to take a breather and have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
A sewage pumping station on Avonside Drive has been lifted out of the ground by liquefaction. In the background, the damaged Snell Place footbridge over the Avon River is closed off with cordon fencing. The photographer comments, "A Sunday afternoon ride to New Brighton, then back via Aranui, Wainoni, Dallington, and Richmond. Not a cheerful experience. Dallington footbridge. The two pieces of this foot bridge have moved towards each other, so the bridge has developed quite a peak. The sewage pumping station has been heaved out of the ground by hydraulic pressure during quakes".
Little is known about The Wizard of New Zealand who took centre stage in Christchurch's Cathedral Square from the 70s until the Christchurch earthquakes in 2011, which saw the city in a state of disrepair. A man who challenged political, social and cultural ideology, The Wizard posed provocative questions in this public space, much to the delight, and sometimes dismay, of passersby. But the background to why The Wizard was there in the first place has been something of a mystery... until now. Sonia Yee finds out more in this episode of Eyewitness.
20131231_8484_EOS M-22 Quake City exhibit Another city walk around, this time with my brother-in-law from Auckland. Also went to the Quake City exhibition in the city organised by the Canterbury Museum. First fine day for a while. #4502
Obvious seeing why the Summit Road has been closed below Mt Cavendish since the February 22 2011 earthquake. There are some large rocks there!
Damage to the Hotel Grand Chancellor can be seen in the middle. At the bottom left is the lift shaft (now fully demolished) of the CTV building which claimed over 100 lives when it collapsed in the earthquake. Taken during a scenic flight over Christchurch, New Zealand, 3 months after the deadly earthquake of 22 February, 2011. Much of the inn...
The old Christchurch Railway Station Clock Tower was damaged during the 7.1 magnitude quake on 4 September 2010 and was braced by the wooden sleeve until repaired. However, although the sleeve did its job during the 6.3 magnitude quake on 22 February 2011, the lower part of the tower started to break away.
Football turf has now gone and the area fenced off again.
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20110821_1708_1D3-280 Six months on A house in Bexley damaged in the February earthquake still looks like this six months later.
The seismic survey truck T-Rex (from University of Texas) was in Bexley and Pacific Park a few days ago and may have left this calling card on the front lawn of my old "red zone" house. Obviously the geotechs will know what it means.
A red-zone house just a few down the road from where we used to live in Velsheda Street, with bricks (brick veneer?) off and lifted prior to transporting away.
Hotel Grand Chancellor - Leaning 1m to the east, demolition will start about mid June and is expected to take 10 months to complete at a cost of approx NZ$10m. It will be the biggest & tallest demolition project in New Zealand. Taken during a scenic flight over Christchurch, New Zealand, 3 months after the deadly earthquake of 22 February, ...
Awaiting demolition
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Revisiting some of my images coming up to our one year anniversary of the 22 February 2011 Christchurch 6.3 earthquake. Blue Jean Cuisine (Old Sydenham Post Office) built in 1911 was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes was demolished 2012.
The result of the magnitude 7.1 Christchurch earthquake at 4.35am on September 4th 2010. Taken from Dallington Terrace looking towards Avonside Drive. This pumping station used to be level. When the tide is in that flax bush on the bend appears to be growing from the middle of the river, suggesting the land has slumped about a meter.
Kia Kaha (in the little red love-heart on the fence) can be translated from the Maori language as “Be strong and fearless!” “Be Proud!” or “Stand tall!” The term is used in many situations to give encouragement and support to family, friends and mates. Taken one week after the 6.3 magnitude quake hit Christchurch 22 February 2011. Proce...
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When I was a kid this bit of land in the foreground was level and extended at least three times further out, but after the earthquakes you can see the angle that land near the river slumped. We used to catch a lot of herrings (yellow -eyed mullet) here when I was a kid, hence the local name of Herring Bay. Across the river is the Bexley Wetlands.