Community engagement Gehl Architects arrived in Christchurch in May 2011 to a devastated city, to partner in preparing a plan for recovery. An extensive community engagement process was already underway entitled ‘Share an Idea’. In the end over 100.000 ideas from Christchurch residents were collected, and Gehl Architects played a leading role in this conversation. Taking insights from the 2009 Public Space Public Life survey Gehl Architects provided leadership through lectures, media liaison and internal and external workshop leadership. The synthesis of the engagement process served as the basis for the Central City Recovery Plan. Gehl Architects with Council Partners led the formulation of the plan, it’s structure, contents, key projects, illustrations and text. This included ‘behind the scenes’ work of document structuring, storyboarding, identification and illustration of key projects, management of team input and overall quality assurance. The Recovery Plan outlines over 70 projects that aim to enable a new paradigm of growth focusing on a low-rise, resilient, safe and sustainable city. It puts forward a vision that places people first and its production has served as an ongoing part of the healing process for the communities and individuals affected by the quake.
Listening First Gehl Architects gave a multi-faceted contribution to the community engagement program. Our keynote presentation entitled ‘What kind of city do you want’ at Share an Idea received widespread public acclaim and prominent coverage on local newspaper and radio. We led workshops with local business leaders and city governance. We visited kindergartens, public workshops and churches. We listened to countless people whose stories and visions inspired us. We also worked with the data team to take leading themes from community engagement into design work and we structured the end plan to reflect this process. We have now formed a partnership with the digital team behind Share an Idea as we feel this process has enormous potential for application in other cities.
Lectures, media liaison and internal and external workshops as part of the services provided by Gehl Architects
Avon River / Õtakaro, meandering through the heart of the Central City, will be celebrated as Christchurch’s new riverfront park in the redeveloped city centre.
Gehl Architects · Urban Quality Consultants · Gl. Kongevej 1 · DK 1610 Copenhagen V · Denmark · www.gehlarchitects.dk