Open
Several hundred visitors took the opportunity to visit St Andrew’s College over the weekend of Saturday 15 – Sunday 16 May, to tour the spectacular Centennial Chapel and historic Strowan House as part of Open Christchurch, a celebration of Christchurch’s most exceptional architecture. These buildings were among 40 which were open to the public for free as part of the initiative. On the Sunday, Jane Rooney, of Architectus, led two well-received Architects Tours of the Centennial Chapel, providing fascinating insights into its stunning, and national awardwinning design.
Visitors to St Andrew’s during the weekend were also able to visit the grand old lady, Strowan House, which provides a ‘march through the styles of the late 1800s’, including Carpenter Gothic, Stick Style, and Queen Anne. Although significantly damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes, the sensitive restoration of Strowan House has
Senior Architect, Jane Rooney, of Architectus, leads an Architects Tour of the Centennial Chapel during the Open Christchurch weekend.
preserved its unique character and heritage. Guests enjoyed viewing some of the celebrated craftsmanship, including carvings of native flora and fauna in the dining room.
25 Regulus
Open Christchurch said in its promotional material that the striking sculptural form of the roof, with its peaks and valleys, announces how well the Centennial Chapel successfully blends a contemporary look and feel with heritage. “The pitched roof references the early
V huts that served as churches in the European settlement of Christchurch. The Memorial Wall, a dark and reflective space of heavy brick, holds treasures from the demolished 1950s Memorial Chapel and runs one length of the building; a folded glass screen runs the length of the other, opening up a visual connection to both the College and stream; seating runs between the two. The result: a building that captures the past, serves the present, and looks to the future.”
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Christchurch
T R A N S F O R M YO U R O U T S I D E S PA C E I N TO A N EX TR AORDINARY PL ACE
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN & BUILD SPECIALISTS C A L L 0 8 0 0 10 0 75 0 FOR A FREE C O N S U LT A T I O N
OUTER S PAC EL A N DSC A PES.CO.NZ