The Avon River Precinct for a new city waterfront in Christchurch

Presentation

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Context of how the project emerged:

The project was launched after the Canterbury Earthquakes 2010/11, which practically destroyed the entire central city of Christchurch, New Zealand’s then second largest city.  It is related to the Avon river which crosses the central city with the adjacent urban areas.

 

Strategy and objectives

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Nature is resilient to the mechanical destruction of quakes. The river still flows and the trees are green. The buildings are gone, but more importantly, the people suffer. Christchurch still has by far the highest suicide rate of the country.

The strategy is to embrace Maōri culture, which acknowledges the healing powers of the river, and make the urban area permeated by the Avon River a place to heal the people from their traumata, to circumvent the central city with a strip of lush green and running water.

A new city waterfront is being created along the Avon River (Ōtākaro in the language of  Ngāi Tūāhuriri, the indigenous people of Christchurch), in the central city to make it easier to access river front businesses and green spaces.

A key feature is the new City Promenade (opened November 2018) extending two kilometres through the heart of the precinct on the eastern side of the river, replacing Oxford Terrace. The western side of the river has become a green space with walking and cycling paths.

In large parts, the Avon River Precinct is completed and is a huge success. We cannot change that catastrophes happen, but we can direct the way a community evolves from it. Thus, the areas adjacent to the river were integrated in the reconstruction. Streets were either pedestrianized or dedicated as shared spaces, where motor vehicles are only permitted to drive 10km/h. New urban furniture and lighting was sourced. Sculptures and other pieces of art celebrate the reborn city. The two predominant Maōri tribes of the Christchurch area have been deeply involved in sourcing artists and supplying works. After 150 years of silence the original people of the region now got a voice to articulate their cultural values through art.

In a planning environment that previously was compartmentalized in silos, the river recovery project was a major exercise to pursue an integrated approach. This didn’t always run smoothly though. Residual resistance within authorities sometimes stroke back. However, the applause of the people, travelling from their suburban dwellings particularly to the river precinct, just to experience its new life, was a tremendous support for the integrated planning approach.

The project’s innovative characteristics

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Cultural

40 stakeholder groups were consulted during the development of the design.

This project has also been designeg in the respect of  the Ngāi Tahu values, customs and traditions relevant to the Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct area.

 

 

Results and perspectives

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The short-term benefits of this projects are:

• Improving both the morale and the mental health of the traumatized people.
• Reconnecting the west bank of the river with the central city by rebuilding destroyed bridges.
• Upgrading riverside roads in a pedestrian/cyclist-centered manner.
• Urban wellbeing during lunch breaks of office staff working in new office buildings west of the river.
• Making the river visible by creating a destination.

It brings another benefits for the future:

• An unprecedented urban design quality that kind of compensates for the loss of the historic architecture for which Christchurch was famed.
• Having an urban spaced focused on a natural feature rather than a traffic corridor.
• Considering the central city as a cohesive slow network of green spaces for walking and biking.

There are plans to expand this scheme further downstream, where the earthquakes made the land subside by a meter, have been made. These were supposed to incorporate ecosystem-based measures for flood resilience. However, commercial interest of certain historically privileged parties has been interfering. It will require another wave of enthusiasm to make it happen.

 

How can this project be duplicated on other rivers?

Principally it could, the cultural narrative must of course be linked to the roots of other places. It would be great to see projects like this emerge without a disaster or commercial “green city-branding” as trigger though.

 

Solution follow-up

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To know more

Crédit photo : Ōtākaro Ltd