At 4.35 a.m. on the 4th of September 2010 Christchurch residents were shaken awake by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, the largest earthquake to hit urban New Zealand for nearly 80 years. It was a large earthquake. On average the world only has 17 earthquakes a year larger than magnitude seven. Haiti’s earthquake in January 2010 was magnitude 7.1 and Chile’s earthquake in February was magnitude 8.8. Although it was a big quake, Christchurch was lucky. In Haiti’s earthquake over 230,000 people were killed and in Chile 40,000 homes were destroyed. Happily this was not the situation in Christchurch, however the earthquake has caused considerable damage. The challenge for the Landscape Architecture community is to contribute to the city’s reconstruction in ways that will not only fix the problems of housing, and the city’s urban, suburban and neighbourhood fabric but that will do so in ways that will help solve the landscape problems that dogged the city before the earthquake struck.
Photo of damage in Canterbury, taken by John Weeber.
A goods train stopped on the track beside SH71 near Rangiora. Trains were unable to run until buckled tracks were inspected and repaired.
A goods train stopped on the track beside SH71 near Rangiora. Trains were unable to run until buckled tracks were inspected and repaired.
A goods train stopped on the track beside SH71 near Rangiora. Trains were unable to run until buckled tracks were inspected and repaired.
A goods train stopped on the track beside SH71 near Rangiora. Trains were unable to run until buckled tracks were inspected and repaired.
A goods train stopped on the track beside SH71 near Rangiora. Trains were unable to run until buckled tracks were inspected and repaired.
A goods train stopped on the track beside SH71 near Rangiora. Trains were unable to run until buckled tracks were inspected and repaired.
Page 1 of Section B of the Christchurch Press, published on Tuesday 7 December 2010.
Page 7 of Section B of the Christchurch Press, published on Friday 1 October 2010.
Page 7 of Section B of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 1 December 2010.
Page 1 of Section B of the Christchurch Press, published on Tuesday 7 September 2010.
Page 7 of Section B of the Christchurch Press, published on Monday 1 November 2010.
Page 7 of Section C of the Christchurch Press, published on Friday 1 October 2010.
Page 7 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Monday 1 November 2010.
Page 7 of Section D of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 1 December 2010.
Page 7 of Section C of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 1 December 2010.
Page 7 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 1 December 2010.
Page 1 of Section B of the Christchurch Press, published on Thursday 7 October 2010.
Page 7 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Friday 1 October 2010.
A photograph of a decorated fence. A sign on the fence advertises Gap Filler's first project. Behind the fence, an excavator is demolishing a building on Colombo Street.
Page 1 of The Box section of the Christchurch Press, published on Tuesday 7 September 2010.
Page 7 of the Punt section of the Christchurch Press, published on Friday 1 October 2010.
Page 7 of the Go section of the Christchurch Press, published on Friday 1 October 2010.
Page 1 of the Punt section of the Christchurch Press, published on Thursday 7 October 2010.
Page 7 of the Zest section of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 1 December 2010.
Page 1 of The Box section of the Christchurch Press, published on Tuesday 7 December 2010.
Page 1 of the Good Living section of the Christchurch Press, published on Thursday 7 October 2010.
Page 7 of the At Home section of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 1 December 2010.
Pages 6 and 7 of the Escape section of the Christchurch Press, published on Monday 1 November 2010.