Blueprint For Christchurch Rebuild Earns International Award
“This establishes a community-informed spatial framework for locating anchor projects and revitalising a city in the face of natural disaster. The community participation component is very strong.” Alan Pullman, founder of Studio One Eleven
The blueprint for the rebuild of Christchurch City received a prestigious accolade on Wednesday, 3rd of December, in the WAN Awards - the world’s largest architectural awards programme, based in London.
Blueprint for Christchurch Central Recovery Plan was selected as the winning entry from a shortlist of 80 global entries in the Future Projects sub-category of the highly competitive Urban Design section.
The team of five international judges said they were” blown away” by the scale of the proposed framework for central Christchurch, as it faced a major rebuild of its infrastructure and amenities following the earthquakes. The judges praised the Blueprint for its strong, innovative and legible response to the urban issues facing the city post the earthquakes.
The judges said that the containment of the core within a 'frame' in particular was recognised as one of the more significant aspects of the Blueprint Consortium. When aligned with a strong focus on the Avon River, the expectation is for a city which combines the best of urban renewal principles whilst retaining the uniqueness of Christchurch.
One of the judges, Alan Pullman, founder of Studio One Eleven, an integrated practice of architecture, landscape and urban design in California, said: “This establishes a community-informed spatial framework for locating anchor projects and revitalising a city in the face of natural disaster. The community participation component is very strong.”
Key ideas included compressing the urban boundaries within a ‘frame’ to intensify the core; the inclusion of anchor projects to act as catalysts for development, and embracing the Avon River as a corridor by creating amenities in the spaces alongside it.
“These aspects celebrate the unique topography of Christchurch and will encourage people to return to live, work and play in the city,” said Peter Marshall, Managing Director, Warren and Mahoney.
“A team of 12 architects and designers worked intensively on the recovery plan for the 100 days we were given to come up with a blueprint. We are delighted and honoured to have been recognised for this project which is very important for ourselves and the city,” said Peter Marshall, who is based in Warren and Mahoney’s Christchurch studio.
“It’s extremely encouraging that our vision for Christchurch has been recognised because, in consultation with the public, we believe that the city that emerges will be better and more dynamic and yet, by retaining important elements of our built heritage, will still provide vital continuity with our city’s past.”
