2019 Canterbury Architecture Awards Winner
The Arts Centre of Christchurch - DA and CE Buildings
The people of Christchurch cherish the Gothic Revival buildings of the Arts Centre, badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes. The subsequent repairs allowed an upgrade and rethinking of these historic buildings. The DA and CE buildings are polished and careful restorations strengthened by the clever insertion of contemporary elements. Decades of makeshift and ad hoc alterations have been stripped out to reveal the inherent beauty of the ornate timber and stonework. A pared-back palette of white-painted walls and ceilings show off the quirky gothic spaces and deep-reveal windows. All new elements are uncompromisingly contemporary and sit elegantly within the heavy architecture rather than competing with it. An inspired decision to use grey-blue metal cladding on an exterior element gently nods to the soft turquoise patina of existing copper roofs. The view from a new rooftop balcony reveals the extent of the restoration – zinc flashings, cream stonework and custom-made downpipes. The extensive strengthening and restoration work has been achieved with barely a trace. These heritage buildings have been returned to public use warmer, stronger and more accessible.
- Practice
- Warren and Mahoney Architects New Zealand Ltd
- Category
- Heritage
- Location
- Canterbury
