In a city destroyed by earthquakes, and around the country as well, confidence in our built environment has taken a massive hit this week. After a decade of suffering stories about leaky buildings, and the recent quakes that have destroyed the centre of Christchurch city, what people need to have now is confidence in their architecture. That is something that has just not happened. Images of destroyed buildings, of twisted wreckage and destruction in the heritage architecture of the garden city, have saturated the press coverage of the 2011 Canterbury quake. Alongside that, we can notice people gathering in the open spaces, under the leafy trees of Hagley Park and other places. A city designed with open spaces is a resilient city – it is prepared and it will survive. The trees in the park are supple – they bend and sway in the force of the quakes – and then are back to normal again. In times like this, trees and open space are safe places to be.

Buildings are different. Buildings can kill you. Read the rest of this entry »

Extensive damage to Christchurch CBD, with the 6.3 quake at 1pm today, and the numerous heavy aftershocks. Some deaths have been reported – no details as yet update: 78 reported deaths so far, with hundreds still missing, but many many buildings down. The Cathedral has partially collapsed – the steeple has gone, and a nearby church in Durham St is destroyed.
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FUTUNA – TO THE FUTURE – 24th Feb – evening event

Presentation on the work of the Trust in the saving of the Chapel, planning for restoration works for a Heritage listed building, preparation and process of Resource Consent and Building Consent documentation, programming of building works, recording Read the rest of this entry »

FUTUNA – TO THE FUTURE – 10 CPD Points
Presentation on the work of the Trust in the saving of the Chapel, planning for restoration works for a Heritage listed building, preparation and process of Resource Consent and Building Consent documentation, programming of building works, recording of the restoration works, review of recently completed restoration including before and after photos, recent developments of the future plans for the Chapel.

Presented by: Nick Bevin and David Kernohan.
Date: Thursday 24 February
Time: 5.30 pm – drink and nibbles
6.00 pm – talk
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, School of Architecture, Victoria University, Wellington
Cost: Koha
RSVP: nick@bevinslessor.co.nz

An exhibition: Before / After, recently opened in Christchurch at the Art Gallery, regarding the September earthquake and subsequent aftershocks down in Canterbury. A link to their website is here. It notes:

“Let’s build a better Canterbury
BEFORE AFTER is an exhibition and discussion series that explores our built environment and seeks to connect with the public. The aim is to work with the public in identifying opportunities to create a better and more liveable region after the Canterbury Earthquake.”

The exhibition runs until 20th March, and there are a number of associated events: Read the rest of this entry »

Wellington’s famous “Cake Tin”, sometimes also known by the name of the Westpac Stadium, is getting a new skin. Very quietly, and rather quickly, every single panel of external cladding is being replaced on the tin, as pictured here. Thanks for the photo Nick !

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Soviet Modernism 1955-85

Friday 8 April – Soviet Modernism 1955-85
Vladimir Belogolovsky, the founder of New York based Intercontinental Curatorial project
Done in conjunction w School of Architecture