Tūranga
Christchurch, New Zealand
Challenge Cities and societies form and build their significant identities through their history; through decades or centuries of investments, cultural developments and personal characteristics. When disasters devastate entire societies – whether the disasters are natural or manmade – these societies are also at risk of losing the identity they have established. Contribution Over the course of 15 months in 2010 and 2011, Christchurch, the largest city of New Zealand’s South Island, was devastated by four major earthquakes that toppled the city known for its arts, culture and surrounding natural beauty. The earthquakes cost 185 citizens’ lives and left the city’s infrastructure and buildings severely damaged with an estimated 400,000 citizens directly affected by the natural disaster. Rebuilding Christchurch, rehousing the people who were left homeless by the earthquake and quickly restoring the city’s infrastructure was a challenge. But the city also needed to rebuild its identity and emphasise its cultural strengths in order for the community to regain trust and confidence. The new central library is one of nine anchor projects identified as vital to the redevelopment of the city centre. It is designed to be a symbol of hope, unity and rebirth, and it is a unifying meeting place for the people of Christchurch. The design of the library in Christchurch’s historic Cathedral Square supports the city’s desire for a public space that strengthens the community, advances literacy and lifetime learning, celebrates diversity of culture and heritage, draws people back to the city centre and fosters innovation. Early in the design process, the architects collaborated with the local Ngāi Tūāhuriri people on aspects such as building materials and physical orientation so that a rich tapestry of ancestry, traditional knowledge and culture was woven throughout the library. The structure is built to withstand future potential earthquakes of the magnitude that destroyed so many of Christchurch’s buildings in 2011.
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