Activating the edges Cymon Allfrey
Be it through restoration of the old, repurposing of the existing, or the building of new, the development around Victoria Square is breathing new life into this much loved space. Architect Cymon Allfrey explains.
A
s you all know, I am a passionate advocator for the Town Hall restoration. Viewing photos of the work being completed inspired my thinking about that area of Christchurch and the extensive development being undertaken, and about to start. The grid layout of our inner city streets is an important aspect of our history and one that we need to retain and embrace. As a combined area, it is the largest open space we have in the city and it is potted with pockets of spaces that boast longterm heritage value. Spaces that we need to protect and enhance, such as Victoria Square.
The concept of gathering dates back beyond colonization and if we put aside the absence of cultural sensitivity of our forebears in the colonizing of our cityscape, it is possible to see and understand the cultural importance of places built on this ideal. Conceived as a market place, Victoria Square pays homage to this while still remaining an active space today. There are very few locations that have continued to be occupied in the same way for quite as long. It is a place where people meet, interact and can occupy. Architecturally, Victoria Square and the surrounds can be viewed as a cornerstone
Metro Decorating Ltd
Trade qualified Family Owned
Experienced Trustworthy Architectural Heritage Small /Medium Commercial
First Impressions Matter Ph. 03 3551 554 I 021 784 095 I 021 446 636 www.metrodecorating.co.nz
76 September 8, 2016 Metropol
of our built environment. It has, I believe, the best examples of late modernist architecture in one cluster, while paying respect to our architectural history with the Magistrate Court: the oldest purpose built court building in Christchurch. While the Court has been added to and extended, it forms a cluster of buildings that offer insight into our architectural journey. And now we are seeing a new stage added to this, with the edges of Victoria Square responding to a post-quake Christchurch.