At last the Anglican church in Christchurch appears to be speaking the same language as the people.
Finally, two years after the earthquakes, the Bishop Victoria Matthews has decided to approach the question of a replacement cathedral in a manner that does, to some extent, involve the People. A choice range of three possible options for rebuilding the Anglican Cathedral has been published today, and we wish our southern cousins all the best in the ensuing discussions.
We all know what Bishop Matthews preferred option is, as she has made her stand quite plain before, but at least, here are three options presented for discussion, even if the outcome is probably already well known. there is of course the full rebuild, looking just like the original:
Then there is a “traditional” option, which also looks outwardly similar, although I suspect that it may be made from timber. Is this an updated version of the proposal that Sir Miles Warren put forward some months ago?:
And lastly, but not leastly, here is a very exciting new church design by Warren and Mahoney, or WAM as they are now formally known, seeing as Miles and Maurice are no longer employed there. This is truly a great step forward for proposals of a replacement church, and is sure to get many people excited. It has a look reminiscent of Piano’s centre for the Kanak people, in the manner of giant upturned boats (oh no! Christchurch in-joke!) or clasped hands (much better) or even petals (very buddhist…). And seriously – its pretty lovely. There is even a suspended rose window, hanging in the space like a giant hippy wind chime:
I thought that the church missed a vital chance a couple of months back to get the public back on side, with Miles’ well rendered sketches of a structure composed of giant curving timber beams, that seem to have been passed over in discussions:
That one also looked suitably gothickesque inside, as would be expected by a master of Architecture like Miles:
No doubt the discussion is running red-hot down there in ChCh. What do you think?
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