Draft: Christchurch Central City Recovery Plan (aug. 2011)
Christchurch
/ NEW ZEALAND / 2011
PROJECT: RECOVERY PLAN CLIENT: CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH
After a series of devastating earthquakes, the citizens of Christchurch, New Zealand engaged in a comprehensive public participation process in which 106,000 ideas were collected. In close collaboration with the City Council, Gehl Architects synthesized this input into a redevelopment plan for the Central City. CITY PROJECT
Distinctive City
Destinctive City: A new lively, fine-grain low-rise city is envisioned for the rebuild.
Gehl Architects arrived in May to a devastated city. The City Art Gallery, one of the few public buildings to survive the Earthquake more or less unscathed, had
Typical Central City block:
become the temporary home for the council as well as emergency centre for rescue
‘Corner’ buildings
services. Varied Roof Forms
Open space for building occupants
An extensive community engagement process collected over 100.000 ideas from Christchurch residents. Gehl Architects played a leading role in this conversation through keynote presentations and targeted community engagement as well as the ongoing influence of Gehl Architects 2009 Public Space Public Life report. Gehl Architects provided thought leadership through lectures, media liason,
Retention of heritage buildings through adaptive re-use Green roofs
Building forms maximise solar aspect
Photovoltaic panels
Building services screened from view
Weather protection to footpaths
Maximising natural light
internal and external workshop leadership, document structuring, storyboarding, masterplanning, identification and illustration of key projects, management of team input as well as having the overall quality assurance responsibility. The synthesis of the engagement process as well as informed council input served as the basis for the Central City Recovery Plan. Gehl Architects with Council Partners lead the formulation of the document structure, it’s contents, key projects,
Retail and activity to ground floors Concealed carparking within ‘block’
illustrations, diagrams and key passages of text. The Recovery Plan outlines over 70 projects and it ensures a new way of growth focusing on a low-rise, resilient,
Green technologies & stormwater collection in new buildings Internal block courtyard District Heating piping to individual buildings
Internal parking access concealed to side laneways
Shared surfaces for pedestrians, cyclists and cars
safe and sustainable city. It puts forward a vision that places people first and its production has helped serve as part of the healing process of the communities and individuals affected by the quake.
Gehl Architects · Urban Quality Consultants · Gl. Kongevej 1 · DK 1610 Copenhagen V · Denmark · www.gehlarchitects.dk
Christchurch City Council Central City Plan Christchurch urban city block - a vision for a denserDraftcity centre
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