146 of place and identity.
Learning from Cities— The 2nd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
its distinct function and all for the purpose
The post-earthquake rebuild process
of providing the services that people
for Christchurch was advanced under
greatly needed. These projects included:
the guiding principle of functional
weekend marketplaces, commercial
zoning. The central business district of
plazas, ice cream vehicles, bicycle renting
Christchurch was rebuilt and expanded
and repair, exchange of home potted
southeastward along the Avon River.
plants, 3D model printing and mini-sized
Efforts and resources were concentrated
golf courses, coupled with large-sized
on rebuilding major infrastructural
community-based activities that were
facilities, including the convention center
held on an irregular basis.
and the central library. Large sections of
In general, in the rebuild process,
vacant land were put to proper use in the
great importance was attached to the
rebuild process, while citizens, social and
following respects: using recyclable
non-governmental organizations were
and anti-seismic construction
encouraged to involve in the creative
materials; improving traffic conditions
reconstruction process. As a result, a
for pedestrians by opening up new
variety of transitional city projects with
pavements and increasing transportation
distinctive features sprang up, which helped to restore people’s sense of place and regenerate the city’s vitality. (3) Supporting business recovery to reinvigorate the city’s vitality A series of earthquakes and aftershocks devastated Christchurch’s business and disrupted people’s daily life and work. Business constitutes a city’s lifeline. As a number of commercial buildings were damaged to varying degrees by the earthquakes, there was an urgent need to restore these buildings for the recovery of business. Given the urgency of the situation, the Transitional City Program was infused with a variety of pilot projects, each with
□ Temporary Music House in the Christchurch after the earthquake