The collapsed cliff at Redcliffs. In the foreground, a house has loosened roof tiles. The photographer comments, "The roof tiles were displaced during the February quake".
The collapsed cliff at Redcliffs. In the foreground, a house has loosened roof tiles. The photographer comments, "The roof tiles were displaced during the February quake".
People watch the flowers floating down the Avon River during the River of Flowers event held in Riccarton Bush, commemorating the second anniversary of the 22 February earthquake.
Two women watch the flowers floating down the Avon River during the River of Flowers event held in Riccarton Bush, commemorating the second anniversary of the 22 February earthquake.
A photograph of the east side of the Odeon Theatre, showing the severe damage at the back of the theatre.
A line of shipping containers along the base of the cliffs in Sumner protects the road from rockfalls. In the foreground on the right is what remains of Shag Rock.
The seismic tremor that shook Christchurch on February 22, 2011, not only shattered buildings but also the spirit of the city’s residents. Amidst the ruins, this design-focused thesis unravels two intertwining narratives, each essential to the city’s resurrection. At its core, this thesis probes the preservation of Christchurch’s memory and character, meticulously chronicling the lost heritage architecture and the subsequent urban metamorphosis. Beyond bricks and mortar, it also confronts the silent aftershocks - the pervasive mental health challenges stemming from personal losses and the disfigured cityscape. As a native of Christchurch, intimately connected to its fabric, my lens reflects not just on the architectural reconstruction but also on the emotional reconstruction. My experience as an autistic individual, a recently discovered facet of my identity, infuses this design journey with a distinct prism through which I perceive and interact with the world. The colourful sketches that drive the design process aren’t mere illustrations but manifestations of my interpretation of spaces and concepts, evoking joy and vitality—a testament to embracing diversity in design. Drawing parallels between healing my own traumas with my colourful and joyful neurodivergent worldview, I’ve woven this concept into proposals aimed at healing the city through whimsy, joy, and vibrant colours. Personal experiences during and post-earthquakes profoundly shape my design proposals. Having navigated the labyrinth of my own mental health amid the altered cityscape, I seek avenues for reconciliation, both personal and communal. The vibrant sketches and designs presented in this thesis encapsulate this vision—a fusion of vivid, unconventional interpretations and a dedication to preserving the essence of the original cityscape while still encouraging movement into the future.
An abandoned residential property at 35 Seabreeze Close in Bexley. Weeds are growing through the cracks in the ground and the yard has become overgrown. The number 35 has been spray-painted onto the entrance of the house.
The Windsor Hotel, on the corner of Montreal Street and Armagh Street. The building was red-stickered after the September 2010 earthquake and demolished after the February 2011 earthquake. Beside the hotel, construction has begun on a modern, tilt-slab building.
An entry from Deborah Fitchett's blog for 14 September 2010, posted to Livejournal. The entry is titled, "In which the cat is scared of the house".The entry was downloaded on 14 April 2015.
A building on Norwich Quay building which house the Stand Gourmet Takeout and Cafe. The front wall of the top storey has collapsed onto the road below, crushing a car and exposing the inside of the building.
The A and T Burt building on Ferry Road in Woolston. Bricks from the top section of the building have fallen away, and can be seen piled in the car park beside it. A safety fence encloses the base of the building.
The back of St John the Baptist Church on Hereford Street near Latimer Square. The tower has crumbled revealing the inner structure. The fallen bricks have been stacked on pallets, some still lying in the grass.
Yellow stickers on the window of 164 Victoria Street. The sticker on the left readings, "Danger, your building has a yellow placard, do not enter". The sticker on the right indicates that the building is restricted to essential business.
The former Public Library building on the corner of Hereford Street and Cambridge Terrace. The brickwork of the gables has crumbled onto the street. Wire fencing has been placed around the building to keep people away.
The south wall of Knox Presbyterian Church. The brickwork around the gables has crumbled into the street below, exposing the wooden bracing underneath. Wire fencing has been placed around the building to keep people away.
A close-up photograph of the damage to the support arm of the clock hour setting circle from the Townsend Telescope. The arm was bent out of shape during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church with cracks on the front facade. Bracing has been placed under the roof and at the front of the church to support the building and limit further damage from aftershocks.
The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church with cracks on the front facade. Bracing has been placed under the roof and at the front of the church to support the building and limit further damage from aftershocks.
A precarious chimney on the roof of a house. Most of the bricks at the base of the chimney have broken away and fallen to the ground. The rest are still holding together. It will need to be deconstructed and removed.
An aerial photograph of the intersection of Madras and Chester Street East. On the left is the Edmonds Clock tower and the site of the demolished Oxford Terrace Baptist Church is on the right.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Canterbury Provincial Chambers. The top section of the building has crumbled, taking the scaffolding with it. Wire fencing has been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph of the Lone Star building on Manchester Street with scaffolding up the side. Part of the top of the façade has crumbled, the bricks spilling onto the footpath below.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the back of a building on Madras Street. The outer walls of the building have collapsed and the bricks and other rubble have spilled onto the car park.
A photograph of the Lone Star building on Manchester Street with scaffolding up the side. Part of the top of the façade has crumbled, the bricks spilling onto the footpath below.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Keith Hague shows how the house has sunk by the ease at which he can touch the downpipes. Note the heap of liquefaction to the right of the picture".
A photograph of the alleyway between to buildings in Christchurch. A chimney has fallen off the roof of one of the buildings and landed in the alleyway. One of the screens from the archway above has come with it.
For the first time in November 2011, Christchurch residents finally had the opportunity to see the earthquake-damaged city centre on the Red Zone bus tours organised by CERA. Looking down the new Re:Start Mall as the bus goes down Colombo Street.
A photograph of the alleyway between to buildings in Christchurch. A chimney has fallen off the roof of one of the buildings and landed in the alleyway. One of the screens from the archway above has come with it.
A photograph of an earthquake-damaged house in Christchurch. The bricks on the side of the house have crumbled and damaged the fence. A red sticker on the front window indicates that the building is unsafe to enter.