Earthquakes and other major disasters present communities and their authorities with an extraordinary challenge. While a lot can be done to prepare a city’s response in the event of a disaster, few cities are truly prepared for the initial impact, devastation, grief, and the seemingly formidable challenge of recovery. Many people find themselves overwhelmed with facing critical problems; ones which they have often never had experience with before. While the simple part is agreeing on a desired outcome for recovery, it appears the argument that exists between stakeholders is the conflicting ideas of How To effectively achieve the main objective. What I have identified as an important step toward collaborating on the How To of recovery is to identify the ways in which each discipline can most effectively contribute to the recovery. Landscape architecture is just one of the many disciplines (that should be) invovled in the How To of earthquake recovery. Canterbury has an incredible opportunity to set the benchmark for good practice in earthquake recovery. To make the most of this opportuntiy, it is critical that landscape architects are more effectively engaged in roles of recovery across a much broader spectrum of recovery activities. The overarching purpose of this research is to explore and provide insight to the current and potential of landscape architects in the earthquake recovery period in Canterbury, using international good practice as a benchmark. The research is aimed at stimulating and guiding landscape architects dealing with the earthquake recovery in Canterbury, while informing stakeholders: emergency managers, authorities, other disciplines and the wider community of themost effective role(s) for landscape architects in the recovery period.
The 48hr Design Challenge, run by the Christchurch City Council and held at Lincoln University, provided an opportunity for Council to gain inspiration from the design and architecture industry, while testing the draft Central City Plan currently being developed. The Challenge was a response to the recent earthquakes in Christchurch and brought together local and international talent. A total of 15 teams took part in the Challenge, with seven people in each including engineers, planners, urban designers, architects and landscape architects, as well as one student on each team. The four sites within the Red Zone included the Cathedral Square and BNZ Building; 160 Gloucester Street; the Orion NZ Building at 203 Gloucester Street; and 90 Armagh Street, including the Avon River and Victoria Square. The fifth site, which sits outside the Red Zone, is the former Christchurch Women’s Hospital at 885 Colombo Street. This is team SoLA's entry for 160 Gloucester Street.
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 27 April 2011 showing damage to London Street and demolition work being undertaken on the Harbourlight Theatre. Photograph taken looking west from the intersection of London Street with Oxford Street and Sumner Road. Architect In Christchurch's Central Business District many of the high profile d...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 25 February 2011 showing damage to the Lyttelton Historical Museum on the corner of Gladstone Quay and Donald Street. The photograph shows bracing and safety fencing installed after the September 2010 earthquakes. Architect Closed after the September 2010 earthquakes, the Lyttelton Museum buildin...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 25 February 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Presbyterian Church of St John in Winchester Street Lyttelton. Photograph shows the main doors, roof and collapsed tower at southern end of church. Architect St John's Lyttelton was one of the oldest Presbyterian Churches in Canterbury. The New Ze...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 27 April 2011 showing the demolition of the Harbourlight Theatre on London Street. In the background of the photo the damage to headstones in the Roman Catholic and Dissenters sections of the cemetery on Reserve Terrace can be seen. Architect In Christchurch's Central Business District many of the...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 15 June 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Presbyterian Church of St John in Winchester Street, Lyttelton. Photograph shows the collapsed roof and tower. The photograph is taken from the southeast corner of the church. Architect St John's Lyttelton was one of the oldest Presbyterian Churches in...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 25 February 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Anglican Church of The Most Holy Trinity in Winchester Street Lyttelton. Photograph shows the bracing to the northern transept erected after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Architect The earthquake damaged northern wall of the Anglican Church of t...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 14 July 2011 showing damage to the Lyttelton Historical Museum on the corner of Gladstone Quay and Donald Street. The photograph shows the safety fencing and containers installed after the 22 February 2011 earthquakes. Architect Closed after the September 2010 earthquakes, the Lyttelton Museum bu...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 16 June 2011 showing the site of the Timeball Station after its collapse. Part of the ground floor remains visible. Photograph taken from Oxford Street Overbridge. Architect The 13 June 2011 earthquakes caused the collapse of the already damaged Lyttelton Timeball Station. After the 22 February ...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 25 February 2011 showing the damage to the former Anglican Vicarage on Ripon Street Lyttelton. Taken from the footpath. Architect The sense of loss felt when confronted with the collapse or demolition of an historic building is compounded when that building is also a home. While the community sees...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 15 June 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Presbyterian Church of St John in Winchester Street, Lyttelton. Photograph shows the collapsed roof and tower. The photograph is taken from the southern side of the church. Architect The destructive force of the 14 June 2011 earthquakes on buildings in...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 25 February 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Lyttelton Timeball Station. Also visible is damage to some of the houses in the foreground such as temporarily patched holes in roofs where chimneys have fallen. Architect The Lyttelton Timeball Station was completed in 1876. Its function was to p...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 12 April 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Anglican Church of The Most Holy Trinity in Winchester Street Lyttelton. The photograph shows the bracing to the north transept which was erected after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Architect After the 22 February 2011 earthquake the Church of the ...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 27 April 2011 showing damage to the Old Post Office Building on the corner of Norwich Quay and Oxford Street. The old Telegraph office located beside the Old Post Office and the Timeball Station are also visible. Architect As Lyttelton's first main street, Norwich Quay was the site of many early g...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 12 April 2011 showing the site of the Norton Buildings and Lyttelton Lounge on Oxford Street. Architect The buildings on this site were severely damaged and demolished within days of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The larger of the two properties in this photograph was the site of the 1913 Norto...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 15 June 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Anglican Church of The Most Holy Trinity in Winchester Street, Lyttelton. Photograph shows collapsed roof of the nave and north transept. Photograph taken from the north side of the church. Architect The collapse of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity ...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 15 June 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Anglican Church of The Most Holy Trinity in Winchester Street, Lyttelton. Photograph shows collapsed roof of the nave and north transept. Photograph taken from the northwest corner of the church. Architect The collapse of the Church of the Most Holy Tr...