The renewal of central city retail in Christchurch, NZ, after a devastating earthquake, began in October 2011 with the opening of a pedestrian shopping mall fabricated from 27 shipping containers.
The relocatable, modular system was proposed by Buchan using its retail expertise to assist in re-establishing retail amenities in the CBD following an invitation by the city’s Re:START The Heart Trust.
Our team had previously designed a home using shipping containers, which inspired a concept that could be used for single or multistorey formats to create an exciting, vibrant retail precinct.
Buchan’s design created a north and south precinct and sited the containers to screen damaged areas. Generous public space is a feature of both precincts, each of which has a café, seating and extensive landscaping.
Re:START has become such a valued part of the city’s recovery that it has been twice reconfigured and relocated as permanent structures are built or rebuilt throughout central city.
- Discipline | Architecture
- Sector | Mixed-Use, Retail
- Region | New Zealand
- Location | Christchurch, New Zealand
- Client | Re:START The Heart Trust
- Photography | John Suckling, Murray Hedwig
Photography | John Suckling
Photography | John Suckling
Photography | John Suckling
Photography | John Suckling
Photography | Murray Hedwig
Photography | Murray Hedwig
Photography | John Suckling
Photography | John Suckling
Photography | John Suckling
