This thesis revisits the topic of earthquake recovery in Christchurch City more than a decade after the Canterbury earthquakes. Despite promising visions of a community reconnected and a sustainable and liveable city, significant portions of the city’s core – the Red Zone – remain dilapidated and “eerily empty”. At the same time, new developments in other areas have proven to be alienated or underutilised. Currently, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority’s plans for the rebuilding highlight the delivery of more residential housing to re-populate the city centre. However, prevalent approaches to housing development in Christchurch are ineffective for building an inclusive and active community. Hence, the central inquiry of the thesis is how the development of housing complexes can revitalise the Red Zone within the Christchurch city centre. The inquiry has been carried out through a research-through-design methodology, recognising the importance of an in-depth investigation that is contextualised and combined with the intuition and embodied knowledge of the designer. The investigation focuses on a neglected site in the Red Zone in the heart of Christchurch city, with significant Victorian and Edwardian Baroque heritage buildings, including Odeon Theatre, Lawrie & Wilson Auctioneers, and Sol Square, owned by The Regional Council Environment Canterbury. The design inquiry argues, develops, and is carried through a place-assemblage lens to housing development for city recovery, which recognizes the significance of socially responsive architecture that explores urban renewal by forging connections within the social network. Therefore, place-assemblage criteria and methods for developing socially active and meaningful housing developments are identified. Firstly, this thesis argues that co-living housing models are more focused on people relations and collective identity than the dominant developer-driven housing rebuilds, as they prioritise conduits for interaction and shared social meaning and practices. Secondly, the adaptive reuse of derelict heritage structures is proposed to reinvigorate the urban fabric, as heritage is seen to be conceived as and from a social assemblage of people. The design is realised by the principles outlined in the ICOMOS charter, which involves incorporating the material histories of existing structures and preserving the intangible heritage of the site by ensuring the continuity of cultural practices. Lastly, design processes and methods are also vital for place-sensitive results, which pay attention to the site’s unique characteristics to engage with local stakeholders and communities. The research explores place-assemblage methods of photographic extraction, the drawing of story maps, precedent studies, assemblage maps, bricolages, and paper models, which show an assembly of layers that piece together the existing heritage, social conduits, urban commons and housing to conceptualise the social network within its place.
A photograph of a house in Christchurch with an earthquake-damaged chimney. The chimney has crumbled, leaving a hole in the roof. The hole has been covered with a tarpaulin.
A photograph of a house in Christchurch with an earthquake-damaged chimney. The chimney has crumbled, leaving a hole in the roof. The hole has been covered in plastic sheeting.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force's C-130 Hercules almost ready to take off. The Hercules was being used to evacuate people from Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force refuelling a Iroquois helicopter in Hagley Park. The Iroquois helicopters were used to tour Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Medics from the New Zealand Army assisting a rest home resident. The resident was being transferred onto a Boeing 757 and evacuated from Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Aerial image of a residential area of Christchurch taken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for the Earthquake Commission. Porritt Park is visible on the right of the photograph.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force's C-130 Hercules almost ready to take off. The Hercules was being used to evacuate people from Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Members of No. 40 Squadron, a transport squadron in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, preparing the Hercules to move people out of Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A member of the Air Force supporting the loading of a C-130 Hercules. The Hercules was used to evacuate people from Christchurch City after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A member of the Air Force supporting the loading of a C-130 Hercules. The Hercules was used to evacuate people from Christchurch City after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A member of the Air Force supporting the loading of a C-130 Hercules. The Hercules was used to evacuate people from Christchurch City after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Members of No. 40 Squadron, a transport squadron in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, preparing the Hercules to move people out of Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Members of No. 40 Squadron, a transport squadron in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, preparing the Hercules to move people out of Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team standing among broken furniture and rubble in the room of an earthquake-damaged house in Christchurch.
A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office in Wellington Airport. The volunteers travelled to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake to help with the emergency response.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force's C-130 Hercules almost ready to take off. The Hercules was being used to evacuate people from Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of plastic bags around a chimney of a house in Christchurch. The top of the chimney has broken during the earthquake and made a hole in the roof.
A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office in Wellington Airport. The volunteers travelled to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake to help with the emergency response.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team standing amongst broken furniture and rubble in the room of an earthquake-damaged house in Christchurch.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house in the Christchurch central city. The bricks walls of the building have collapsed and the bricks have spilt into the garden.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force's C-130 Hercules almost ready to take off. The Hercules was being used to evacuate people from Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the curb of a street in Christchurch. The curb has cracked in two places and slumped, exposing the earth beneath the grass turf.
A member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force refuelling a Iroquois helicopter in Hagley Park. The Iroquois helicopters were used to tour Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
PO Frankham on board the HMNZS Otago in Lyttelton. The ship travelled to Lyttelton after the 22 February 2011 earthquake to help in the relief effort.
PO Frankham on board the HMNZS Otago in Lyttelton. The ship travelled to Lyttelton after the 22 February 2011 earthquake to help in the relief effort.
A string quartet from Christchurch Girls High School plays on the riverbank before the River of Flowers event held in Riccarton Bush, commemorating the second anniversary of the 22 February earthquake.
Outside the Arts Centre, near the former Dux de Lux which has closed following the February earthquake. On the cordon fencing are pieces of paper with words of hope for Christchurch.
A string quartet from Christchurch Girls High School play on the riverbank before the River of Flowers event held in Riccarton Bush, commemorating the second anniversary of the 22 February earthquake.
Moira Fraser standing in front of the 'Passing Time' sculpture on the corner of St Asaph Street and Madras Street. 'Passing Time' was installed outside the CPIT Building for the 6th SCAPE (a contemporary public art programme in Christchurch) a few days prior to the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The work features twisting boxes depicting each year between 1906 (the founding of CPIT) and 2010 (the date of the sculpture's production).