Current Projects in Christchurch - UPDATED 27/4/06

- Kingsgate - High Precinct - a new 14-level apartment block on Liverpool Street.
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/buildings/kings.gif

UPDATE: 27/4/06 - Complete

- The Devonia - Oxford Precinct - 12 level top-end apartment tower on Cambridge Terrace (penthouse selling for $ 1,975,000, units starting at $600,000)
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/buildings/devon.gif

UPDATE: 13/11/04 - It's possible that this has been replaced by a scaled-back, five or six storey development called Cambridge Apartments or something. The signboard for that project is up, but I'm not sure if it's the same site or not. Construction has started, and there's a few structural walls in place.

- Oxford Apartments - Oxford Precinct - 12 level apartment tower on Oxford Terrace with shopping arcade (penthouse selling for $1,800,000)
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/buildings/oxford.gifhttp://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/ox2.jpg
UPDATE: 6/7/05 - Complete.

- Cathedral Junction - Complete. Empty - not the biggest success, there's no people because there's no reason to go there, hopefully the shops will fill (27/4/05).
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/buildings/cj.gif

- Victoria Square Tower - Market Precinct - 15 level luxury apartment block on Armagh Street. Facade complete, some construction and fitting out of apartments still to go (27/4/06).
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/buildings/victoria.gif

- QV Apartments - Market Precinct - 14 level luxury apartment block on Armagh Street. Signboards up, unlikely to commence construction until next year.
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/buildings/qvtower.gif

NOTE: The two buildings above are part of the same project, with Victoria Square being labelled the West Tower and QV the East. They look really complementary to each other, and seal off Victoria Square with high-rises, from the old Kodak building (now ABN AMRO), through the apartments to Forsyth Barr, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Copthorne Central.

- Ferrymead Apartments - Ferrymead - Scaled back to 7 stories, model released (27/4/06).
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5613/ferrymead45jv.jpg

- IRD Headquarters - 8 storey office block on Madras & Cashel corner. Will become Christchurch's largest office building in terms of space (22,000 sq/m) when complete in late 2007.
http://img334.imageshack.us/img334/193/id89tbuildingimages3xm2hr.jpg

- Gallery Apartments - Cultural Precinct - 14 storey apartment complex on Gloucester Street looming over the new Art Gallery. Managed to get through the resource consent process (thank god!). Construction to commence soon (27/4/06).
http://www.wilsonandhill.co.nz/images/Gallery-Apartments-2.jpg

- Canterbury House - Cultural Precint - 12 storey office and apartment tower on Worcester Boulevard. Construction to commence 2007.
http://img334.imageshack.us/img334/6414/canteburyhouse28vx.png



Extra developments likely to be high-rise:
- New Council Buildings - possible Union Centre site on Armagh & Colombo
- Novotel - Accor looking for site
- A possible rumoured 20+ storey tower? Watch this space!

hey timnz2000! great to have you on board mate! and great to have someone from Christchurch to keep us up to date - there are some impressive developments there!

Here's your complimentary milo and a toffee pop. :)

lol@atkinson1

yeah, welcome to forums!

And great to hear of those developments too! Good to see teh southern metropolis isnt letting us down development wise.
The Kingsgate has a website too (obviously where u got the render:http://www.paxtongroup.co.nz/current/kingsgate/ )

I heard there was a planned 15 level office development on/ near Victoria Sq, pending a planning tribunal decision. Any info on that timnz2000?

excellent! ill all to ss.com!
Ive tydied up as much as i can on Christchurch stats on ss.com but need more.
I still havent a pic for there tallest! the 76m PWC tower.
heres a skyline pic showing it. (brown bldg) has anyone got a pic?

http://www.gondola.co.nz/images/photos/lg-christchurch-city3.jpg

cheers

hey timnz2000! great to have you on board mate! and great to have someone from Christchurch to keep us up to date - there are some impressive developments there!

Here's your complimentary milo and a toffee pop. :)

Hey where's my toffee pop? I only got a milo! :sly:
Anywho... welcome, timnz2000. Some quite nice buildings you got going there. That first building i especially like.

Usually Christchurch buildings are pretty conservative compared to Auckland and Wellington. One of my hugest peeves is whenever a major building project comes up, the city's conservatives come out and say how outrageous it is. About the new office tower by Victoria Park, I've been hearing about various ones like that for a while. Not sure if any will be able to take to the sky. There's a group called Iconz that is lobbying to have the area around Victoria Square zoned so that nothing over five (that's right, five!) storeys can be built. Which is a shame because that's probably the most attractive part of the CBD. Just last year a new hotel high-rise by Vic Square was shelved after public protests that it would "spoil the view". And we're only talking 12-14 storeys here. And back in the 80's an enteprenuer had planned a 150m tower with observation deck, which would have easily been the tallest in the country at the time, but he failed to get resource consent on the grounds that Christchurch "didn't need" such a building. So for me, who loves skyscrapers: :wallbash:

Here's small photo's of the four tallest buildings in the city (PWC, Forsyth Barr, Clarendon and the GrandChancellor):
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/pwc.gifhttp://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/fors.gifhttp://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/claren.gifhttp://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/gc.gif

Here's a cool photo of the PWC Tower i found on a website, so it's up to you whether to use it or not (copyright etc)
http://www.inneuseeland.de/030301/CHRISTCHURCH/skyline2.jpg

Mmmm Toffee Pops... my favourite

EDIT: The website is: http://www.inneuseeland.de/030301/CHRISTCHURCH/ if you need to ask permission

Christchurch looks great! Hopefully it wont be long before they get a 150m skyscraper. You just never know what is around the corner.

Wellington doesn't even have that.

wow, a 150m proposal! I wish that had've gone ahead.
BTW, timnz2000, I just read somewhere in a property magazine, that the site of that proposed office tower near Victoria Sq, a 50m height limit had been slapped on the site! :bash: But at least it looks like the project will be going ahead anyway, a 15 level office block is better than nothing i spose.

15 is quite a bit for Christchurch, considering our tallest is only 22 or so. You have to halve it from Auckland standards to put it in context - it's like a 30 storey tower development in Auckland. Your tallest is around twice ours too.

I got the feeling the 150m tower was more of a Sky Tower like thing than an office tower. Christchurch will always have more tourists than office workers... Would have been nice though.

I think it'll be a while before a 25+ level tower makes it through all the red tape and actually gets built, but believe me I'm holding out for it...

Great thread!
I'm actually surprised Christchurch has this many developments on the go at present.

Hopefully it's on on-going trend.

On the hotels front, Accor are planning to open two new Christchurch hotels before the end of next year, as well as several more throughout the country. The first will be a Hotel Ibis on the west side of Cathedral Square, pretty much completing the complete surrounding of the Square by high-rise hotels.
The next will be a Mercure at a yet-undisclosed site.

No specific construction details are available on the hotels yet, but construction is starting in three months, and based on the surrounding hotels and the size of the site, the Hotel Ibis should be around 10-12 storeys or so.

Any word on any of the others around the country? I'm guessing the Auckland and Wellington ones will be highrises?

Here's some articles:
http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040525/15/3kjsw.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2915211a13,00.html

There has just been a new apartment tower released onto the market for Christchurch-
known as "Victoria Square", its 15 levels, and looks great in the render i saw in the Sunday Star Times (which isn't on the <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=website&v=56">website</a> for some reason).
Anyway- www.victoriasquare.co.nz
Add this one as planned CUL!

Christchurch looks great! Hopefully it wont be long before they get a 150m skyscraper. You just never know what is around the corner.

I like to think of Christchurch as a uptopian Adelaide.They should limit any new developments to about 7 stories.Condense the city but keep it European its feel.Too many cities look the same.Christchurch will end up looking like any other inland city in North America if they build any more tall buildings.

I like this kind of delelopement.But no higher

http://www.propertylook.com.au/listings/CBRE/CBRE_64/300/CBRE_64_26986_16001.jpg

Most of the developments will be around 10-15 levels for a while I think. Theres another 14-storey office tower with a 6-storey parking building planned in Ferrymead, which is kind of strange being so far out of town, with what I would think to be low demand for office space.

It has come under criticism from architects (as everything new in Christchurch does) for being unnecessary and would "cast a shadow of more than 150m" over the surrounding area. The resource consent is currently before the Council.

The Victoria Square Tower looks very good, kind of retaining an old style architecture, but the buildings around it are far more modern looking, so that may look out of place. Here's a render I got off the website:

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/victower.gif

timnz2000,where is Ferrymead in relation to town?

Ferrymead is out to the south-east of the city - on the way to Sumner and nestled in the Port Hills. Ferry Road runs there from the centre of town, so it's hard to say exactly where the planned high-rise is.

I went past the Victoria Square site today - theres a project board up advertising, so it looks all set to go ahead. The Oxford apartment complex is closing in on the peak height, although its very much still a skeleton. Nothing apparent at the proposed Ibis site and I didn't make it all the way over to the Kingsgate or Devonia sites. Cathedral Junction is all but complete and just waiting for the shops to move in.

I've been up the port hills - from port littleton, and to sign of the Takahe. Great Place.

Thanks for posting that pic timnz, thats the one i saw in the paper, looks quite nice i think!

Great little City
Victoria Square Tower looks great

I'll update the post at the top as information comes in. I'll keep it as a file of current projects and developments.

Cool!

thanks again guys! ill update ss.com!
tmnz2000- id love to use those pix but there too small. they need to be 250pixels wide.
cheers

The Victoria Square apartment tower has just officially begun construction- with Hawkins Cunstruction moving onsite this week, as reported in the Sunday Star Times property section. Seen any action onsite TimNZ?

Great News on another one under construction for Christchurch,Seems to be alot more Highrise since I was in the city last, about eight years ago before going to Queenstown to do the Bungee Jump ! :)

I'm just about to head into town so I'll do an update when I get back.

Turns out my friend's boss is the mastermind behind the 14 storey proposal in Ferrymead that the hillsiders are up-in-arms about. He's exploiting a loophole in the zoning bylaws that allows him to build to any height he chooses on one side of the road, even though the other side of the road is highly restricted. Hopefully it'll make it through the construction process, because the views around there over the Estuary are really nice, and if interest is high, more buildings may follow and Christchurch may have it's first out-of-CBD collection of highrises.

Great News on another one under construction for Christchurch,Seems to be alot more Highrise since I was in the city last, about eight years ago before going to Queenstown to do the Bungee Jump !

I get the same feeling, but I just figured it was because I actively hunt out the information for them now. Some areas of the CBD most local people would hardly ever see, for example I doubt I'd even know the new Oxford apartment tower existed if I didn't see it in the Press property section. How many Aucklanders would have any idea about all the developments going on there?

On the Victoria Square apartment website, www.victoriasquare.co.nz, there is a progress picture up now, showing the site. its not a brilliant pic, but it gives an idea of the site.

Well, well, well, look what we have here, another 14 level apartment tower for Christchurch! Indeed.
The QV Apartments is right next to teh currently under construction Victoria Square Apartments- and is developed by the same people.

It's certainly a brilliant design! Probably the most modern looking structure (bar the new Art Gallery) to go up in Christchurch for a while!
http://www.realenz.co.nz/showcase/269465_files/269465-1.jpg

info at www.qvapartments.co.nz

Looks nice, I'm getting back into the city in a few days so I'll do an update then. That new one won't be finished until the start of 2007, so it's a while off. Definitely will change the look of that area though. Don't know where they are finding space for both, it's quite a small site. The new Ibis is going just across the road from that one too.

Edited to Add: Also coming is a new Mercure Grand hotel on the site of the former Public Trust building, set to commence construction at the end of next year. The building is four storeys high, which will be the lobby area, and the accommodation tower (120 rooms) will be built behind it. I'm guessing the new Ibis is still planned for Cathedral Square.

Bump. Any more updates to add timnz?

Just announced: a new 14 storey apartment tower right next to the new Christchurch Art Gallery. The front page of The Press this morning had a big photo with the headline "High art, but higher building" - because of (yup, you guessed it) more protests from resident groups. Luckily, it's going ahead anyway. The developer even said: "Opposition to development in Christchurch is very common, so, of course, I expect it." Link to the full story below:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3290024a11,00.html

Will have to do an Updated count for Christchurch Soon , once we have finished Wellington LOL :)

Good news Timnz! Hopefully the design is a good one, which it sounds like it will be.

You should be showing off your beautiful City LOL :)

http://www.realenz.co.nz/photos/HPSHARC001/14/PI050614-1.jpg

You should be showing off your beautiful City LOL :)
Opps haven't double posted in a while , must be that Bundee I'm Drinking LOL
Heres a Render of those Gallery Apartments - 14 levels - 62 Gloucester Street - Christchurch :)
http://www.realenz.co.nz/photos/HPSHARC001/14/PI050614-1.jpg

Oh wow, they look really nice too

and I'm stuck at work playing on Skyscrapercity :fiddle:

Anyways , this might have been posted before , a nice shot of Christchurch :)

http://www.gondola.co.nz/images/photos/lg-christchurch-city3.jpg

Of all the travel brochures that I have been studying, Christchurch seems to be the most picturesque city in NZ, I might be wrong but the photos are amazing and I can't wait to see the city for myself. Great building rising there.

the buildings look so much taller when taken from a higher point as above.Ive been a couple times and besides cathedral square the other streets were pretty average looking and was a bit dissappointed :( but its a nice city. Coming back to wellington the buildings looked so much higher but then again pple probly think that from there to auck.Its good to see chch getting sum new buildings, it must get annoying them always being 14 floors?

Christchurch does however have some very nice historic buildings

^^^ Then I will LOVE Christchurch. I have a weakness for historical buildings and that is the one thing that I am going to miss about Cape Town i.e. buildings that are 300 Years old.

LOL I will show off my beautiful city when I go back there on Wednesday. I'll take my camera around and try and get some cool photos, plus I'll have a look at any updates on the building front.

14 or so storeys is pretty regular for a new Christchurch development. The whole city is sitting on the largest piece of flat land in the country, so there isn't much need for high-rises other than apartment buildings, and the newer ones are mostly 10-15 storeys tall.

Enigma, Christchurch does really well at complementing older buildings with modern ones. Case in point, the new Art Gallery in the Victorian-dominated cultural precinct. A lot of Christchurch people are extremely conservative when it comes to protecting older buildings and stifling new ones. It does mean that anything built has to be high quality though, which I guess is a plus. Anyway, if historical buildings get you off, Christchurch is your Amsterdam (as long as you don't expect anything pre-Victorian).

I updated the building construction progress with some photos. I took heaps of cool photos around the city that I'll get onto editing later.

On another note, just the other day there was a jumper who landed in the construction site for the future Queen Victoria Aapartments. They apparently jumped from the Farmers carpark building which backs on to the site. My friends works in an office with a view right over the sight and saw the whole aftermath. So a sad start to the history of the building.

Ya mean they or he or she committed Suicide ?

Antway looking forward to those photos Tim ! :)

This one here isn't down , I count 8 office levels plus the Height in the roof should take it to 35 Metres !
BDO Spices House - Victoria Street - Christchurch :)

http://www.movingtimes.co.nz/share/property_images/1644.jpg :)

Great stuff timnz! Nice to see some visuals on whats going on down there. Do you have any larger versions of you pics? The one you took of the Vicotria Square apartments looks great, would be cool to see a bigger version. :cheers:

Do you have an email address to send it to? I don't really have anywhere to upload big images.

EDIT: Marky Mark, yea they commited suicide. There's quite a few buildings around 8-12 stories not listed or mentioned here previously. When I'm back in the city I should do a full inventory of them.

They have updated the design for this one (see re-inserted pic). Still looks pretty good tho. Estimated completion is early 2007;)

Well, well, well, look what we have here, another 14 level apartment tower for Christchurch! Indeed.
The QV Apartments is right next to teh currently under construction Victoria Square Apartments- and is developed by the same people.

It's certainly a brilliant design! Probably the most modern looking structure (bar the new Art Gallery) to go up in Christchurch for a while!
http://www.realenz.co.nz/showcase/269465_files/269465-1.jpg

info at www.qvapartments.co.nz

Looks like the same number of levels, just narrower. The website seems to still be carrying the previous design though.

Nice design , Christchurch is certainly getting its fair share of Building , ther must be a few Cranes about ? :)

CC

Hmmm like that name ! Anyways yes Christchurch is getting a very Nice Skyline , I remember something about that 200m tower , but isn't it more along the lines of the Skytower in Auckland ? Could be with instead of a Casino underneath it would have office etc .

Hey there is a thread under Thread about the Forums I think , shall try and find it for you ! which helps with downloading photos etc , would be Fab to see some updates of your City ! :)


Here ya go Buddy http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=59844

Howdie dude.
Cool! Yet another Cantabrian to keep us up to date. Interesting about the 200m tower.

Cartel! Welcome man. Awesome to have you on board. Here's your complimentary welcoming milo and a pear. That 200+ m tower sounds cool but might be out of place a bit. Also I can imagine there will be alot of objection to it.

Btw what is the current high rise list in Christchurch?

Police Building, Forsyth Barr building, PwC, Chancellor?

Cartel! Welcome man. Awesome to have you on board. Here's your complimentary welcoming milo and a pear. That 200+ m tower sounds cool but might be out of place a bit. Also I can imagine there will be alot of objection to it.
A pear now is it? lol

i got a grapefruit fruju lol

Nice one lol. I don't think i ever got anything, mind you i joined a while before tom did;)

The almost completed Christchurch UniLodge (12 levels), this is what it will look like at completion in Jan 06.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Christchurchunilodgepic.jpg

Renders of both apartments as will be seen from Victoria Square
http://images.open2view.com/IMAGES/XL/2/1/6/0/91061.jpg?&r=30
http://images.open2view.com/IMAGES/XL/10/1/6/0/91061.jpg?&r=30
Victoria Square
http://images.open2view.com/IMAGES/XL/3/1/6/0/91061.jpg?&r=30
Hey Timnz, is this a development you know about? It was on the First National realty website
http://images.open2view.com/IMAGES/XL/1/3/0/1/55103.jpg?&r=1

Btw what is the current high rise list in Christchurch?

Police Building, Forsyth Barr building, PwC, Chancellor?

here is the top ten ive got listed on emporis.
bldg/height/st/year
1. Pricewaterhouse Coopers Centre 76 m 21 1986
2. Hotel Grand Chancellor 70 m 20 1986
3. Forsyth Barr House 70 m 19 1989
4. Clarendon Tower 67 m 19 1988
5. Landmark Centre 64 m 16 1988
6. Canterbury WEA Centre 60 m 15 1990
7. Rydges Christchurch 60 m 15 1989
8. Victoria Square Tower 50 m 15 2006 UC
9. Kingsgate 50 m 14 2006 UC
10. Ferrymead Tower 50 m 14 approv

woooo nice pics there flyin

It looks like we need to do a tally of the buildings in Christchurch people? pitty im so far away, or i would go there and take a few pics myself

I might be heading down to Christchurch over the summer, so could fit in a bit of photo taking, and checkin up on whats what.

Whats the Canterbury WEA Centre?

Also, how tall is the Police Building and when was it constructed? When I was in Christchurch it looked a bit shoddy as if it were built in the 60's.

Heres a pic I took from the top of the catherdral last November:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/rickster2kuk/Australia%20and%20NZ%20cities/174.jpg

Well like almost all Police bldg's in NZ, chch's one is a very modernist, butt-ugly structure.

Nice pic btw, I like the design of the Clarendon Tower (the tall grey one).

the police centre was completed 1973.
Its 45m/150ft to roof + 5m plant.
theres a 150ft limit around the cathedral. ;-)

Been away for ages but back in the city for a few days.

There's a couple of buildings around the city not up in the database. One is the RadioWorks building overlooking Latimer Square which looks around 14-15 stories although could that be the Landmark Centre... not sure I've heard of that?

Also given the go-ahead, the 42m, 14 storey Gallery Apartments right beside the Centre of Contemporary Art. And the Centra Christchurch is now the Holiday Inn City Centre :)

Good to see another Chch person on here, exciting about the 200m tower. A building that size would be pretty unfeasible but an observation tower would be cool and, unlike maybe with office space or apartments, there would actually be more than enough tourism demand to justify it.

Good news about the Gallery apartments there timnz! Liked the desing for that one. A 200m tower would be a bit out of scale for Christchurch no? lol

Here's some construction progress pics of the Kingsgate tower that I found;
http://www.paxtongroup.co.nz/assets/kingsgate-26-oct-2005-1.jpg
http://www.paxtongroup.co.nz/assets/kingsgate-26-oct-2005-2.jpg

Thought this Photo is Just Stunning ! :)

http://www.ballooning.co.nz/images/cityballoon.jpg

Wow nice pic marky!

that angle , Nana took a Balloon Flight before heading to Queenstown for her Bungy Jump LOL :sly: ;)

Here's one of my pics from a plane. It doesn't come close - but it's still nice:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/atkinson1/chch.jpg

Here's one of my pics from a plane. It doesn't come close - but it's still nice:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/atkinson1/chch.jpg

The wing of that Plane looks as though it has some Major patching up though LOL! :bash:

oh I remember that view when I flew into Chch, only it was night time. Oh so pretty~

Yea coming in to land at Christchurch always affords great views of the city, like you cool pic tom.

that angle , Nana took a Balloon Flight before heading to Queenstown for her Bungy Jump LOL :sly: ;)
haha! hope she didn't havea heart attack from all that excitement! lol

The wing of that Plane looks as though it has some Major patching up though LOL! :bash:

yeah that was one dodgy plane lol. The view leaving Christchurch was better.

The wing of that Plane looks as though it has some Major patching up though LOL! :bash:

must have been an air New Zealand plane :cheers:

Reported in NBR last week, Christchurch developer Ernst Duval gave a presentation to the Christchurch City Council to build the city's tallest building, which would be a hotel/apartment complex. No indication how high it could go.

Watch this space!

^^

That’s awesome news... I will definitely be watching this space now, im sure it will look nice too

Cool. Would be nice to see ChCh atleast break the 100m mark.

Surely the whole essense of Christchurch is lo-rise, a 100m tower would be good, but anything substantial tall would look out of place.

I guessing anything tall would be residential - whats the office demand like in Christchurch? I know its the biggest city on the South Island but i was under the impression (from when i was in NZ last year) that most of the commerce is split between Auckland and Wellington.

I think 100m would well and truly be enough for Christchurch. And yes, most of the commerce is in Auckland-Wellington, but as Christchurch is the South Island's largest centre (by far) it still has relatively strong office demand (which is mostly met by current buildings and other low rises surrounding CBD).

with No sleep or anything lol , When will we see this new Tower !

Was reading that Christchurch had a Population increase of 3,500 for 2004 !
Can't wait until the 2006 Census is done ! :)

haha. well I didn't think you'd be that interested. Aren't your eyes, like, falling out by now? lol.
By seriously I don't know anything more that you guys at thsi stage; I just saw that little snippet article in the NBR and posted the details here. So just have to keep an eye out on Christchurch related property news eh!
And yes, the city is growing quite well, second behind Auckland in terms of actual numbers, and still second largest in NZ@almost 350 000!

haha. well I didn't think you'd be that interested. Aren't your eyes, like, falling out by now? lol.
By seriously I don't know anything more that you guys at thsi stage; I just saw that little snippet article in the NBR and posted the details here. So just have to keep an eye out on Christchurch related property news eh!
And yes, the city is growing quite well, second behind Auckland in terms of actual numbers, and still second largest in NZ@almost 350 000!

I'll have a Break , have a nice Hot Shower and put some Fresh Undies on LOL

Tauranga's Population grew by 2,900 , obviously with not as Large a overall Population as the others , but percentage wise rather High ! :)

I'm excited , off to the city tomorrow , to see the Big E , I'll have a Cafe Latee at Southbank in the Morning for you guys and at the same time Dribble over Eureka ! :cheers:

How many floors would a 100m building have?

is that a trick question? SOUNDS LIKE ONE!

Not at all, I would love to see Chch have more than one 100m building or higher. It's a city that desperatley needs some sort of city wide central city visual focal point. It's a place you can eaisly get lost in because it's so flat, and the city centre sinks down into a swamp like basin. Hight is good, so long as it's done with good taste.

How many floors would a 100m building have?

Anyways most Apartment Towers have 3m high Floor plates and Office Buildings 4m , so that would be approx 33 Floors for an apartment building and 25 Floors for an Office Tower ! :)

Thanks Marky Mark. I'm a complete novice when it comes to the practacalities of buildings and urban design.

Thanks Marky Mark. I'm a complete novice when it comes to the practacalities of buildings and urban design.

However you can learn Heaps on these Forums !
I take it David that you live in Christchurch ? Student ? :)

Christchurch born, lived there till age 19, left home to travel, have spent the last 20 years living all over the world, just turned 39 and I live in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. Family in Chch, Akl & Melb. Miss Chch very much, thats why I'm so interested in it's growth and development. Would love to live there again, but work and money in the UK is good.

Does anyone know what's happening with:

New city council buildings
Highrise development in New Brighton
Redevelopment at Chch International Airport
Accor Hotels
Turner and Growers site

check out www.ccc.govt.nz, its the city council website, and has some good info. The Turners and Growers site is being developed into an urban village (new urbanist style) with its own vineyard.

Some pics of various new projects-

The Est@blishment Apartments:
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/08/The%20Establishment_2.jpg
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/08/The%20Establishment_3.jpg
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/08/The%20Establishment_4.jpg
Oxford Apartments:
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/08/oxford_1.jpg

And some random images of the Westpac Canterbury Centre:
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/02/pro_westpt_canty_cntr_01.jpg
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/02/pro_westpt_canty_cntr_02.jpg
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/02/pro_westpt_canty_cntr_04.jpg
http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/02/pro_westpt_canty_cntr_06.jpg

Great pictures. Keep them coming. Last time I saw the establishment site, it was a grotty carpark. Are there any more developments planned around the Oxford aparment site?

Have you looked at the earlier pages of this thread? There's a fair bit of info on the other new developments that are going on in Christchurch right now which you might find informative.

Another random CBD pic i found, this one looking down Christchurch's High Street north west towards Cathedral Square
http://www.lichfieldlanes.co.nz/images/P6016125.jpg

New city council buildings
They're still looking for a suitable site I think. I wish they'd use the Union Buildings site opposite Victoria Square, but maybe that's been sold.


Highrise development in New Brighton
Not sure, I live there and all those huge beachfront houses have been sold for exorbitant prices. So look out for some high rise development soon. A couple of 6-7 storey apartment blocks in South Brighton were planned and apparently some in North Brighton.

Redevelopment at Chch International Airport
The car park will be the first thing done. The actual $200m terminal won't be finished until 2009 or so.

Accor Hotels
Honestly no idea, no sign of any development at the site for the new Ibis in the Square. No news about the supposed Mercure and Novotel.

Turner and Growers site
Being cleared as we speak. Going to become an urban village with apartments and shops and apparently a wine-related attraction for tourists.

Timnz2000 - are you still about? We've got all the North Islanders to compete with!!! :wave:

The Press
Impact of residential tower decried
09 February 2006
By BECK ELEVEN

The backers of a controversial high-rise building for Ferrymead do not have any idea of the wider environmental impacts it would have, a hearing was told yesterday.

A resource consent application for the controversial seven-storey residential tower was heard yesterday in New Brighton.

The landowner, the Dymand Family Trust, already has consent to build a 14 or seven-storey commercial office building on the site, but it does not have permission for residential use.

Commissioner John Milligan, who approved the previous consents, yesterday heard protests from local residents and business owners.

Alex Drysdale, vice commodore of the Mount Pleasant Yacht Club and chairman of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust, said he was appalled that the public were not given a chance to comment at previous consent applications.

"It's contrary to the view of the people. There's been denial of due process with consents being non-notified. The environmental effects go beyond the contained zone. The site is not a glass wall and they appear to be ignoring the rest of the environment. It's very frustrating."

Drysdale said the apartment block would stop boaters seeing incoming bad weather and could change the wind direction and speed, making yachting dangerous.

"The prospect of having the estuary ringed with high-rise apartment buildings raise the spectre of Gold Coast-type development and chills me to the bone," Drysdale said.

He also said non-notified consent was in direct conflict with communities working together, and with the city council on estuary matters.

The site is in the "Business 4" zone in the City Plan and many of the opposing views centred around the legalities of building a residential block within the zone.

The 36-unit building is expected to cost about $25 million. Designed by architects Warren and Mahoney, it will be 22m high with an underground carpark, tennis court and summer house with a landscaped garden of native plants and trees.

Warren and Mahoney architect Andrew Barclay said the building would have a "high degree of transparency" which he attributed to three glass atria joining the four apartment towers.

The Auckland-based architect previously lived on St Andrews Hill overlooking the site and said the high-rise, high-quality building would be a welcome sight amongst the series of uniform roofs.

A decision will be made within 15 days.

I've seen pictures of the apartment development and I think they look great. It is a much better development than the 14 story box that was proposed. Positive waterside development is what Chch needs. The only problem with Christchurch folk is they are so picky about anything that is a little adventurious. :mad2:

The Christchurch Star
Development rises from ashes
07.02.2006
By Rachel Solotti

The foundations are being laid for a new office and retail complex that is set to rise form the ashes of an historic central city site.

Developer Simon Henry, of Rapaki Property Group, said the piles were being laid for the complex that will incorporate the former Cashel Chambers building on Cashel St and Bedford Row. The abandoned building, which was built from 1882-1919 was destroyed by fire in January last year.

Most of the 22,000 sqm complex - which henry says is the biggest office space in Christchurch and will be built behind the facade of the burnt out building - will be occupied by the Inland Revenue Department.

There will also be 250 carparks and retail space in the eigh-story building, which is due to be finished by October next year.

Henry said signing off the contract with IRD was the culmination of 10 years' negotiation and it was great to see the complex getting off the ground.

"It's been a long, hard road and, at times, a negative battle. I'm very pleased to see the cranes digging and the pouring of concrete."

In 2004, Henry caused an uproar among heritage supporters when he asked the city council for permission to demolish the 15 buildings in the complex because he believed they were structurally unsound.

He changed his mind just before it burnt down, but its future remained unclear until last year when he struch a deal with the Historic Places Trust to build the new complex within the exisiting facade. Henry, who is now based in Auckland, bought the site in March 1992.

hi! i have been for a wander around the christchurch CBD recently and thought it would be good to give a progress update on some of the major projects going on.

Victoria Square Tower: Nearing completion, looks excellent!!! Still quite shrouded but definately a really attractive building, and complements vic square and the city well. pitty my camera is not working, maybe soon i could put up a few photos (hopefully). Its a neat building.

QV Apartments: First few levels poured, should hopefully take shape in the next few monhs. This is the sister tower to the above and will make this part of the city look really good (PWC, Forsyth Barr, copthorne hotel and other midto high rise buildings are clustered in this area).

Cashel Chambers: Have no idea yet what this progect will look like in the end but they have begun to dig a great big hole. Looks like its gonna take up half a city bock! will keep you all posted.

Hotel Ibis: Ground work has started on the new hotel ibis!!! the newest chch development. To be only 8 stories high. situated on hereford st.

Kingsgate Apartments: 14 story structure is now complete!

Not too sure about any other developments but with the council keen to get more people living within the four avenues (CBD) id expect (hopefully) a few large residential projects in the next few years. there is also, apparently, a renewed demand for commercial space in the christchurch CBD perhaps due to population growth or perhaps to the strong local economy. in anycase ill try keep people posted as i seem to be one of few south islanders on here!

^^

good to see another south islander joining kiwiscrapers

seems like christchurch is having a little building boom at the moment too

sensible, you are the man! Welcome to kiwiscrapers.

I took some pics of the Victoria Towers when I was in Christchurch myself a few week back..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_1194.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_1376.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_1298.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_1374.jpg

Awesome Crane !

Welcome sensible. Just got back from Oxford (UK) and what a surprise seeing this post. Great to have you here. Can you get some pictures of the new Ibis going up? Still not heard of where the new Hilton and Novotel are going yet?! I have read thought that the Canterbury Club has sold prime land on their Worcester Street site for over $2 million, it was only their large carparking spaces. Any development on the Gallery aparments?

Great to have you on board to counter balance the North Islanders (sorry guys).

:)

Ferrymead Tower Issue

The Press reported on the 15th Feb, that developers have been granted resourse consent for a high rise apparment building in the suburb of Ferrymead, despite fears for the environment raised by some residents.

The original plan was for a 14 story office block, now a seven story (22m) 36 unit building will be built with sweeping water front views. The building will include landscaped gardens and a tennis court.

Just found this preliminary design for the Ferrymead Appartments.

http://www.loxoarchitecture.com/loxo_images/projects-multiresidential/nautic-apartments.jpg

Hopefully more to come.

:)

New Marina for Christchurch

The Press reported on the 25/2/06 that one of the last decisions approved by the Banks Penisular District Council before it dispanded and became part of Christchurch was to approve plans for a multi million dollar Marina at Lyttelton.

Formal planning of a world class marina will now begin by the Covington Group, who owns and operates Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland. $3.2 million has been set aside for subdividing costs, $3.3 million for infurstructure up-grades (power & sewrage) and $4.9 million for improving access to the western side of the port.

Covington plan to build a 450 beth marina with boat storage, haulout facilities, retail areas, restaurants, cafes, residential areas and tourist accomadation.

Concept plans are now being prepared and hopefully made public soon. This is the start of major developments at Lyttelton Port of Christchurch.

:)

Both projects sound pretty good

Can you get some pictures of the new Ibis going up? Still not heard of where the new Hilton and Novotel are going yet?

What's this about a Hilton? Must have missed that one. Last I heard Accor were still looking for somewhere to build. Someone could easily develop the Union Centre site on the corner of Colombo and Armagh. I think the city council were looking at the site for their new $50m office building but I haven't heard anything since.

About a year ago The Press had an article saying about Hilton expanding into the South Island, Chch and Queenstown being their target spots. It came up again with the announcement of NZ getting the Rugby World Cup. The Mayor is also keen for more hotel development. He reckons another 2 top class hotels are need, apart from what is being planned already (ibis 3*, Novotel 4*, Mercure 4*, Clearwater expansion 5*, and a new 200 room plus 5* hotel planned for the redesigned Russley Golf Course next to the airport.

Good to have you back timnz2000, we've you been??

I don't really know if a Marina would suit Lyttelton.

Know what you mean. It's all a bit jammed up around the harbour and the roading is crap. Just have to wait and see what the concept plan will look like.

The marina's going in quite a bit further round from the port, on the western headleads, I'm guessing at least partly for aesthetic reasons. It's been needed for the last five or so years after the last one was destroyed in a freak storm. I think it's also being used as a welcome present to the people of Banks Peninsula (who just joined Christchurch - the CCC's coughing up $14m towards the cost). They're improving the roading and access, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Never heard about the Hilton, would be very surprising if they built one in Chch. Lots of tourism operators are predicting the new tourism "boom" to drop off, in fact it already has started to in places. Admittedly, Christchurch isn't one of them, and hasn't had a new hotel in over a decade so who knows?

David, I've been around, just busy at the moment. I try to get on here every now and then and see what's happenin. Looks like the South Island part of the forum is in capable hands :)

----
ETA:

Just have to wait and see what the concept plan will look like.
Out already:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0602/2b503ae0ed21099c7730.jpeg

Here is an indication of some of the many housing projects going on in the Greater Christchurch area.

Styxmill Estate - North Christchurch - www.styxmillestate.co.nz

http://www.styxmillestate.co.nz/images/chchview.jpg

http://www.styxmillestate.co.nz/images/clubhouse1.jpg

http://www.styxmillestate.co.nz/images/01.jpg

http://www.styxmillestate.co.nz/images/2%20Brm%20Milano%20Exterior%20View.jpg

http://www.styxmillestate.co.nz/images/siteplan_med.jpg

Kajens Country Estate - Rolleston - www.kajens.co.nz

http://www.kajens.co.nz/images/streetmap2.gif

http://www.kajens.co.nz/images/stage1_2_3map.gif

http://www.kajens.co.nz/images/photos/01.jpg

http://www.kajens.co.nz/images/photos/03.jpg

http://www.kajens.co.nz/images/photos/04.jpg

http://www.kajens.co.nz/images/photos/12.jpg

http://www.kajens.co.nz/images/photos/13.jpg

Hampton Grange - North Christchurch - www.hamptongrange.co.nz

http://www.hamptongrange.co.nz/images/map.gif

Shearalea - Rolleston - www.shearalea.co.nz

http://www.shearalea.co.nz/images/photo1.jpg

http://www.shearalea.co.nz/images/pic_one.jpg

http://www.shearalea.co.nz/images/map_big.gif

Turmara Park - Northeast Christchurch - www.tumarapark.co.nz

http://www.ngaitahuproperty.co.nz/images/chunk-tumara-street.jpg

http://www.ngaitahuproperty.co.nz/images/entiresite.jpg

http://www.ngaitahuproperty.co.nz/images/tumara-stage4.jpg

http://www.ngaitahuproperty.co.nz/images/tumara-stage5.jpg

:)

Yum, me likes the look of that!!

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0602/2b503ae0ed21099c7730.jpeg

Good find mate :)

Interesting that Ngai Tahu is getting into property development, they are very diversified in their investments, good to see them doing so well

Great find David its good to see Christchurch getting its fair share of development, love the render of the new marina!

Great to see some info on new subdivisions anyone found any on Lincoln I heard theres alot happening in my old town :D

http://suburban.estates.co.nz/subdivision.htm

Heres some more subdivisons in the area

Hopefully it gets off the Ground !

Flight-test centre proposed at airport
29 March 2006
By JOHN MCCRONE

An ambitious plan to safeguard Christchurch's aviation industry by attracting aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing to the city is about to be hatched.


Auckland's Airwork New Zealand and FTI Engineering of Germany are in talks to create a new test facility at Christchurch International Airport and are expected to give details of their proposal at an international conference in the city next week.

The pair want to build a flight-test integration and qualification centre at the airport, which would pitch for work with the world's biggest aircraft manufacturers.

FTI already does a large amount of work for Airbus, and the Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) hopes the German engineering business will decide to set up shop in Christchurch.

No financial figures on the deal have been released.

David Rycroft, the CDC's aviation project manager, confirmed FTI and Airwork would talk about the proposal next week.

Rycroft said a flight-test centre would open up a wide range of opportunities for aviation-related businesses and was all the more significant in the wake of Air New Zealand's recent threats of cuts in local aircraft maintenance work.

AdvertisementAdvertisement"We are not talking about just the creation of a few new engineering jobs here, but a whole support industry," Rycroft said.

The combination of Canterbury's wide open spaces and excellence in engineering made Christchurch a natural home for such a facility.

"Whenever modifications are made to an aircraft, like converting a passenger plane to a freighter, or using new engines, it has to be tested," Rycroft said.

"We have a skilled workforce that adapts easily. We are English-speaking, and people like to visit here. We have an uncluttered airspace and uncluttered wireless spectrums. So there are a lot of advantages to doing flight-testing here," he added.

Christchurch Airport is already home to about 800 Air New Zealand Engineering Services staff who do maintenance work for the national carrier and overseas customers, including the United States Government, Qantas and Virgin Blue.

The airline is also a joint venture partner with US jet engine giant Pratt and Whitney at the Christchurch Engine Centre, which repairs and overhauls a variety of engines, employing about 300 staff.

The Christchurch City Council has been a keen backer of the aviation industry, two years ago building a $20-million testing facility for new generation jet engines which has been leased back by the Air New Zealand and Pratt and Whitney venture.

Guy Tapley, the business development manager with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, said a flight-test centre was exactly the kind of new business the country needed.

He said large manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus kept the building of planes to themselves, but wanted to sub-contract out the job of modifying and updating aircraft. If planes are being tested here, it was then a short step to Kiwi firms doing the modification work themselves.

"We already have a good industry support structure," Tapley said. "We have the software developers, the electronics companies, the back-shop engineers."

"There will be lots of opportunity for new business," he added.

Rycroft said there was already a new brand name to push New Zealand's capability in this area – Space, or the South Pacific Centre of Excellence.

Rycroft said universities and other institutions were likely to be involved.

The Airwork-FTI flight-test centre would be "hubbed" at Christchurch airport.

However, it was likely to use airfields all round the country, he said.

Airwork could not be contacted for comment.

Chief flight-test directors for both European-based Airbus and United States-based Boeing will be sharing the podium at the conference next Wednesday.

Ian Diamond, former general manager of engineering at Air New Zealand, has organised next week's International Meeting of Aviation Products and Support Processes (IMAPP), which will be held at the Christchurch Convention Centre.

IMAPP was going to be the most important aerospace conference to be held in New Zealand for many years, Diamond said.





»

wow thats pretty big news for Christchurch, would mean alot more business for the city, which means more office space required as well- new buildings!

Great to see some info on new subdivisions anyone found any on Lincoln I heard theres alot happening in my old town :D

Tons happening out that way. I think Lincoln is going to become one of the new hub areas. Will try and find stuff.

Nice little link NZGSR. The city is sure growing and they need to get it right - hence the Greater Christchurch site.

Marky - once again you're a star coming up with that great news about the airport. I hope it goes ahead the South Island needs this type of investment and GC is the place for it. I would love to see an A380 in the sky above both the North and South Islands.

Park Terrace runs alongside the river from Calton Mill Bridge and/Bealey Avenue/Haper Avenue Corner all the way along to Christ College, The Canterbury Museum and Worcster Blvd. It is all around this area which gives Christchurch its real English feel, and these old homes are so much part of it. One guy squatted in one of the houses so the developers would not pull it down. I must say it is one of the rare occasions I have supported the "do-gooders" who oppose high rise development.

http://www.bobmckay.co.uk/christchurch_09.JPG

New life for grand old lady

January, 2006

By RACHEL SOLOTTI
An historic Park Tce home that has escaped demolition twice has gone on sale for $4.5m as part of an upmarket apartment complex.

The four-bedroom Fleming House is being restored to its former glory as part of the Parkbridge Luxury Apartments complex, due to be finished by June on the corner of Park Tce and Bealey Ave.

Another historic home, McKellar House, has been divided into five apartments, which are part of a 19-unit complex. The 19 apartments are selling for between $1.2m and just under $4m.

McKellar House, which was built in 1912 for prominent Christchurch public accountant Arnaud McKellar and Fleming House, which was built in 1926 for Port Levy farmer Arthur R Fleming, have both escaped demolition twice since 2000.

The Methodist Church bought them in the 1960s and incorporated them into the Wesley Lodge and Hospital for the Ageing.
But when in 1997 they were no longer suitable for housing elderly people, the church sought consent to demolish them. This was granted in 2000 and confirmed, despite an Environment Court appeal, in 2001.

Park Tce Apartments Ltd bought the property in 2002 and applied to demolish the buildings that year.

But the city council worked with the developers to save the homes and building began on the complex last year.

Developer Dennis Thompson said there would be a mixture of two, three and four bedroom apartments in the complex, which was designed by prominent architect Sir Miles Warren.

He said the four-storey complex was being marketed as an alternative to the many high-rise apartments springing up elsewhere in the city.

Developers had also retained other historic features such as the original brick wall.

“We thought that it would be a good site. Park Tce is a good address and we wanted a high profile site to offer to the top end of the market.”

Thompson said he had already had about 10-12 “expressions of interest” but none of the apartments had sold yet.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/botanical-gardens/river-avon.jpg

:)

I've got a pic of that development under construction, took it last month when i was down there..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_1341.jpg

Great shot flyin. Keep those surprise pictures coming!

This is a really cool development going on to the south of Cathedral Square. It ties in with the recent redevelopment study on the Greater Christchurch thread.

SOL

SOL is an acronym for “South of Lichfield”. With a proud history in fashion and textiles, this distinct heritage district in central Christchurch is now home to some of New Zealand’s leading restaurants, cafés, bars, nightclubs and fashion retailers.

Made up of 20 separate tenancies, SOL Square encompasses five properties acquired over the past six years. The buildings are linked by a series of laneways winding their way behind some of Christchurch’s busiest streets.

The tenancies spill out onto the laneways, creating a busy precinct with something happening at any hour of the day. Whether dining, shopping or just wandering through to look at the historic buildings, SOL has attracted a lot of interest from both the Christchurch public and visitors to the city.

SOL has already proved successful with the businesses in the precinct thriving and creating a whole new entertainment and shopping centre in the city.

SOL is rapidly gaining a reputation as the coolest place to play, stay, live and learn.

Click on the link to view our webpage: www.sol.net.nz

Key Statistics

SOL Square consists of the following buildings and properties.

92 Lichfield Street

The four-level Sargood, Son and Ewan building was constructed in 1893. This historic building which has been completely refurbished and current tenants include Base Nightclub, Mu Steak House, and the Christchurch City Council. Three apartments have been built on the top floor.

96 Lichfield Street

Christchurch’s earliest example of modernist architecture, the former Wellington Woollen Manufacturing is a five-level building that has been restored to its original glory. Tenants include LivingSpace at The Mill, Minx Bar and Dining Room, and Illicit Clothing.

102 Lichfield Street

This site was where one of Christchurch’s earliest hotels and eateries – His Lordship’s Larder – stood for almost 100 years. Sadly the building was razed by fire in 1990. The property has since been transformed into a cobbled, character laneway called “His Lordship’s Lane”. The laneway is full of people spilling out of the restaurants and retail tenancies and acts as a link between Lichfield Street and the tenancies at the rear of SOL Square.

110 Lichfield Street

A two level building constructed in 1920, the former Bells Motor Works building was designed according to the Chicago Skyscraper idiom. This refurbished building now houses the Mexican Café, Marocka Jewelry and the all new His Lordship’s Café and Bar.

179 Tuam Street

This four-level building was occupied for many years by Llichfield Shirts, a company that began its life making woolen garments for the armed forces during WWI. Currently undergoing a total refurbishment and reconstruction, The Tuam Street side of this building contains several office tenancies on the upper levels and provides space for large scale retailer, Real Groovy Records is on the ground floor while the rear of this building will soon feature the SOL Square piazza and several additional tenancies.

Hey everyone, im yet another forumer from christchurch. Im chinese and attened chch boys high school. Can't wait to keep everyone informed on the stuff thats happening in chch along with other chch forumers.

I really like chch and am lucky enough to live the city's only suburban skyline-riccarton.
But it really pisses me off to hear every time theres a proposal the grandma and granddad of this city starting to bark, and the developers are really struggling to get a resource consent, even the news paper are somewhat on the protester's side and often highlight the negative impact rather than the benefit of it.

and btw, can anyone be kind enough to teach me how to post pics? thx

Welcome young one. GREAT to have you here.

Make sure you register in KIWI COUNT - important.

Will be back in a couple of hours (I'm in the UK) if some else hasn't shown you how to post (I'm a novice) I will give you the intructions (when I find them) it dead easy.

Talk soon :)

linkhere.jpg

piece of piss.

Queen Victoria Apartments !
http://data.realenz.co.nz/edi/virtour105/photos/PP301021-1.jpg

I think the QV apartments will be my fav building in CHCH I like modern design:)

welcome new chch members aswell we got good strong growth here now :D

Yea that QV Apartment design is brilliant! luurve it. Its under construction now I think, cause I walked past the site last month and there was building going on, although the advert hoarding only advertised for the commercial space on the bottom 2 floors, but im sure the apartments are getting donw too, because the foundations they were putting in for the bldg looked too much for just a 2-3 level structure- it had to be for a taller bldg

Can confirm from home sourse that it is under way.

Have they started the new Gallery Appartments yet? Kiss the Rain - help us out here!

Interestingly they pulled down the crane that was working on the Victoria tower last weekend. I was thinking it would work on the QV building as well (it worked on the first 5 levels that are largely retail and comercial) but obviously not. I dunno whats happening with it

Aviation-testing plan could bring in $225m a year
06 April 2006
By ALAN WOOD :)

Partners in a planned Christchurch aviation testing facility hope to achieve nearly $225 million in annual sales after winning interest from Airbus and Boeing.


Airwork New Zealand and FTI Engineering, of Germany, yesterday confirmed they were looking at establishing an independent testing complex at Christchurch International Airport.

The plans are at an early stage, with no firm commitment to an opening date.

FTI managing director Michael Weisel, in New Zealand for an aviation symposium, said his company believed this country was a suitable location for the business, which would complement FTI operations in Europe.

Weisel said the German flight-test engineering business would provide flight testing and other services to international aircraft manufacturers and operators.

The business would focus on the global market, but particularly the Asia-Pacific region.

"Our aim is to take 1 per cent of the global turnover for this segment," he said. "This equates to at least $US150m ($NZ244m) per year. We will provide customers with a fast turnaround and competitively costed services to world-class standards."

Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend said the announcement was positive for the region and another step in building a stronger engineering sector for Christchurch.

With key aviation engineering businesses already in place, spin-off industries and new investment could be attracted to the city.

"It's a step along the way for Christchurch becoming another world-recognised centre for aviation support," he said.

The plan has been 18 months in the making, and Air New Zealand and Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore have been in recent talks on the project.

"In terms of the opportunities to develop joint ventures and so on with Airbus, we're certainly keen to explore that with Garry," Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said last week.

Airwork managing director Hugh Jones said the joint-venture testing company would be able to accelerate export activities by using international expertise. It was targeting niche work in a $US21 billion-a-year ($NZ34b) industry.

"It's a five-year plan. We've got a lot of work to do, but it's amazing the amount of interest in this whole concept," he said.

Jones would not reveal how much stage-one capital would be put into the venture, saying investment would depend on contracts.

FTI already did a large amount of work for Airbus, and Jones said there had been significant interest in the joint venture from Airbus and Boeing, as well as such engine-makers as Pratt and Whitney, General Electric and Rolls-Royce.

Air New Zealand already has Pratt and Whitney as a joint-venture partner at the Christchurch Engine Centre, employing about 300 staff, and Christchurch International Airport is home to about 800 Air New Zealand Engineering Services staff. :cheers:



»PRINTABLE VERSION

This $21 million mixed use development is due for construction in 2006. The concept design was undertaken by Duany Plater-Zyberk and developed by Dalman Architecture Ltd. It combines retail offices and apartments

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/tonybratina/Sydenham_Square1.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/tonybratina/sydsquare11.jpg

Wow, that's cool! And Duany and Plater-Zyberk, those guys are likethe founders of the whole New Urbanist movement, they are legends in planning, lol. Where exactly is this place? I'll visit it next time im in Christchurch.
I found the website for that development; http://www.propertyventures.co.nz/web-content/Our_Projects/Sydenham_Square.html

Head south straight down Columbo Street, over the Moorehouse Ave over bridge, you're then coming into Sydenham. It's on the left hand side of Columbo St I believe. Sydenham is one of the oldest suburbs in the city, quiet run down now, but big plans in the pipeline. It was one of Chc first bourghs, as it fell outside the city (outside the four avenues).

I quite like Columbo st in Sydenham, its not that run down, reminds me alot of suburban London.

Hey that looks good nothing better than living up the south end of Colombo street. Is it getting built on the left hand side of colombo street travelling south just before Brougham street intersection??? I also heard they are starting the carpark at chch airport aswell:)


p.s can someone tell me when a district becomes a city?

Hey that looks good nothing better than living up the south end of Colombo street. Is it getting built on the left hand side of colombo street travelling south just before Brougham street intersection??? I also heard they are starting the carpark at chch airport aswell:)


p.s can someone tell me when a district becomes a city?


Don't you have to have a population over 50,000 now and there must be some other criteria.

Gallery apartments selling a year out from completion.

11.04.2006
By RACHEL SOLOTTI
Work has begun on a controversial 14-storey apartment building behind the Art Gallery, with eight of the 18 apartments already sold a year before they will be finished.

The Gloucester St site next to the Art Gallery is being prepared for foundations to be laid for the 42m-high Gallery Apartments complex, which is due to be finished in May next year.

A two-storey brick commercial building was demolished a month ago to make way for the complex, which will consist of two towers. The north tower has retail space on the bottom floor, which has been leased to an art gallery, and 11 apartments, including a penthouse.

http://www.wilsonandhill.co.nz/images/Gallery-Apartments-2.jpg

The south tower will have car parking space and seven apartments, including a penthouse with a roof garden.
Ten apartments, ranging in price from $1 million-$2.5 million, are still on the market.

DGM Group property developer Grant MacKinnon, of Sumner, said he had wanted to build an apartment block in the Gloucester Street area since 2003.

“I had been door knocking up and down Gloucester St for about three years. I had an idea of what I wanted and then this site came up 18 months ago and they said they would sell.”

MacKinnon, who has bought the north tower penthouse, has already built five other apartment complexes, including the Braemar Apartments in Cranmer Square and the Metro Apartments in Salisbury St.

Last May, central city residents’ group Inner City Neighbourhood Association protested the council had given the building resource consent without the public being given a say. The group was angry it had not been consulted about the development, particularly because it breached aspects of the City Plan, including the 40m height restriction.

But MacKinnon said that despite its height, the complex’s design would be in keeping with its surroundings. The walls would be made from a material that looked like concrete to complement the outside of the art gallery. Copper would be used on the front and roof of the complex to match the copper used on neighbouring Centre of Contemporary Art. The rest of the apartments would be made from natural timber.

“I’m trying to give a more warm, residential feel to a high rise building,” he said.

Hoorahhhh for Height!!

:)

yay, good news for Christchurch and inner city living!

I wouldn't be suprised to see a few more going up round that area looking at how quickly they get sold:) nice building to. i also feel as the older population of Christchurch dies away the new generation wont be so agaisnt buildings like this going up because im not against buildings like this and im sure there are alot out there who would agree (no offence to the elderly) :)

I wouldn't be suprised to see a few more going up round that area looking at how quickly they get sold:) nice building to. i also feel as the older population of Christchurch dies away the new generation wont be so agaisnt buildings like this going up because im not against buildings like this and im sure there are alot out there who would agree (no offence to the elderly) :)

lol that is so true NZGSR :)

Hi, I updated the first post with all the info we have at the moment. Looks like QV is back on, with the signboards reappearing at the site. For more info see the first post.

Thanks for the update timnz :cheers:

Hi, I updated the first post with all the info we have at the moment. Looks like QV is back on, with the signboards reappearing at the site. For more info see the first post.

Cheers Timnz - good to see someone walking about having a look. I can't wait to get home in December for a good stroll and picture taking spree!

Finally it looks as those this project is about to get underway!! Will be fun to watch.

The Christchurch Star

Urban Winery Plans Maturing

09.05.2006
By RACHEL SOLOTTI

The group turning the old Turners and Growers site into an urban wine village has applied for council permission to start building it.

Urban Winery Holdings Ltd has applied for resource consent to build the first of seven stages on the Tuam St site.

The first stage will include a winery, retail space, serviced apartments similar to backpackers’ accommodation, a large public park and car parking space.

The next six stages will include a hotel, residential apartments, and office and retail space, and will be completed over the next two to five years.

The resource consent application says the proposed urban winery will be built at the eastern end of the site, which is bounded by Tuam, Lichfield and Madras Sts.

The winery will produce its own label wine from contract growers’ grapes produced in Canterbury and other regions. The development will include a large public park in the centre, which will be planted with exotic and native trees such as olive, ornamental pear, cabbage and totara trees.

Fruit and nut trees will also be planted for future residents to enjoy. Other features could include a petanque area or an outdoor dining area.

There will be a 258-space carpark and a mixture of studio, one and two-bedroom serviced apartments. They will essentially operate as travellers’ accommodation and will be available for long or short-term lease or rent.

The retail area will feature stores that are in keeping with the urban winery concept, such as an art gallery or art studios, a delicatessen or a French bakery.

The council bought the old Turners and Growers site in 2002 and Urban Winery Holdings Ltd won the tender to develop the site last year. Earlier this year, the council hired a company to remove the unused buildings from the site and it now stands empty.

:)

Didn't know this Stadium was being built in Christchurch ! Must have missed it somewhere along the line ! :)

http://www.peddlethorp.com.au/projects/projects/project_images/westpactrust_1.jpg

Ngai Tahu have just unveild plans to build a two storey waka shaped building and a five storey office block in central Christchurch.

The development will be on the site of the old King Edward Barracks. The new buildings will serve as the Ngai Tahu cultrual centre and administrative headquarters for the tribe.

The block of land encompasses the Avon River, Cambridge Tce, Hereford, Montreal and Cashel Streets. Landscaping will include 3 streams coming together on the site, representing Waitaha, Kati Mamoe and Ngai Tahu settlement strands on the South Island.

There was a picture of the building in The Press - it looks really weird. Can't seem to find one to put on the thread at present.

:)

Marky - thats the Westpac Trust Centre - it's a multi purpose entertainment centre built out next to the Addington Race Course. It's been there for about 5 years. Seats about 8000-100000 people.

Marky - thats the Westpac Trust Centre - it's a multi purpose entertainment centre built out next to the Addington Race Course. It's been there for about 5 years. Seats about 8000-100000 people.

Thats so funny ! :cheers:

went for a walk around the CBD the other day. noticed the following;

crane up at Hotel Ibis site (looks weird, wish i had a photo) and theres a big hole.
crane up at Cashel Chambers (or whatever its called) site. The area is huge!
advert hoarding up for QV apartments (no crane yet)
Whole city block demolished!!! This is the turners and growers site cant wait to see what it will look like when all the projects are completed. maybe i should get a camera? nah.

My wish list is a new flash shopping centre right smack bang in the CBD spilling out onto city mall and two 100m plus high rises. christ is it too much to ask for? oh and a pony park

the other neat thing around CHCH that i have noticed is all the new bars and restaurants popping up in old historic buildings down narrow lanes in the CBD. Really good atmosphere it reminds you of something from a european city. its really neat.

Thanks for the update sensible. And yea, a camera can be pretty handy. :cheers:

http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/11/images/ferrymead4.jpg :)

Looks like it marky - good find!!!! Will start making the water frontages of Christchurch interesting - I'd live there!

Can't wait till the Brighton high rise consultation is finished. We should see some more of these beauties and higher (hopefully) going up in the eastern suburbs.

Ferrymead? *drinks his WTF? milk*

Ferrymead? *drinks his WTF? milk*

??????

did you not know about this?

Cost - $18,000,000
Completion - end 2007
Architect - Peter Marshall of Warren & Mahoney

http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/11/images/ferrymead3.jpg

Water and Port Hill views.

http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/11/images/ferrymead4.jpg

Designed that all living space and bedrooms have uninterupted views.

http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/11/images/ferrymead2.jpg

Each apartment is accessed by a glazed atrium which runs the full height of the building

http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/11/images/ferrymead1.jpg

Basement carpark.

http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/11/images/ferrymead5.jpg

Material include - external aggregate finish reinforced concrete panels, white conrete balconies, zinc sheet cladding to the penthouse walls

http://www.wam.co.nz/projects/11/images/ferrymead6.jpg

I think it looks great!! :)

They look great! Very nice :cheers:

??????

did you not know about this?


Haha. I did but I still say 'wtf'

Ferrymead looks awesome :banana: :cheers:

Yea nice building perferct place for a nice waterfront area to

A new office building to be built overlooking Hagley Park! The first office building to be built in Moorhouse Ave in recent years. This well specified building offers exceptional floor plates in a location second to none. Just five minutes east of the central city and Riccarton to the west. :)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/tonybratina/111_mainLarge1.jpg

A new office building to be built overlooking Hagley Park! The first office building to be built in Moorhouse Ave in recent years. This well specified building offers exceptional floor plates in a location second to none. Just five minutes east of the central city and Riccarton to the west. :)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/tonybratina/111_mainLarge1.jpg

Nice - pity it wasn't four times the height!!!
Development around Hagley Park will make it look so good.
:)

A new office building to be built overlooking Hagley Park! The first office building to be built in Moorhouse Ave in recent years. This well specified building offers exceptional floor plates in a location second to none. Just five minutes east of the central city and Riccarton to the west. :)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/tonybratina/111_mainLarge1.jpg

That should be added to Emporis ,no wait a minute not tall enough anyways I'm sure the Christchurch count should be updated ! :)

Thanks goodness this is about to happen. It will help to make this part of town really nice again.

Road Through Latimer Square to be Stopped Next Monday.

18 May 2006

From next Monday 22 May, motorists will no longer be able to pass through Latimer Square.

The part of Worcester St that runs through the Square is being stopped and replaced with grass and a pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. Lights to match those on the western side of the Square will also be installed along the new pathway.

Christchurch City Council has commissioned the work to bring both parts of Latimer Square together and make it a more functional recreational space, according to Council Greenspace Unit manager Michael Aitken.

“No trees will be removed and care will be taken to minimise any disturbance to trees,” he said.

The work comes after considerable community consultation and an Environment Court ruling earlier this year that gave the Council permission to close the road.

Work on the Square is expected to be finished by the end of June at a cost of about $270,000.

:)

This was the question and first ideas that were asked about the Latimer district of the city.

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/LatimerSquare/images/Map1.gif

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/LatimerSquare/images/Option1.jpg

The local community and the Christchurch City Council agree that something must be done to improve the appearance and image of the square. However, there is still discussion over the best way to enhance it in keeping with the values and objectives for the area.

Should the square be left in two halves, with Worcester Street cutting through the middle, or rejoined to make one large space like Cranmer Square by closing Worcester Street? Or should Worcester Street be narrowed, allowing traffic to continue through the park but improving pedestrian links and recreational opportunities?

Latimer Square is listed as a protected place in the City Plan, mirroring Cranmer Square in the original layout of Christchurch. Although it was designed as a single, rectangular green, Latimer Square was split in two to accommodate the early tramline.

Flanked by mature trees and with a number of historic buildings facing onto it, the square continues to be a key inner-city green space, as well as the principal park for eastside workers and residents of the Latimer neighbourhood. However, it has lost its original status as a prime destination for civic and community events, and essentially has become a place to pass through or drive and park around.

Over the past few decades Latimer Square has declined, and, as a result, become under-utilised. The park is tired-looking. It needs to be re-levelled and resown, the paths are broken and many of the trees are nearing the end of their lives. On Latimer Square West, the old-style deep gutter is due for replacement.

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/LatimerSquare/images/Map2.gif

Latimer Square is to be turned back to its original look with some improvements. :)

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/LatimerSquare/images/Option2.jpg

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/LatimerSquare/images/Map_Option2.gif


Advantages

Green space and recreation
• One large open space
• Increased recreational opportunities
• Greater uses/flexibility as a park – opportunities for festivals
and events
• Could redesign the park to encourage better day-to-day use
• Reduction of traffic impact so that park can be better enjoyed
for casual, passive recreation

Traffic and parking
• A pedestrian-oriented space
• No through traffic between the two squares
• Removal of parking reduces the impact of vehicles in the park
• Removal of traffic signals on Worcester/Madras Streets

Central City
• A focal point along Worcester Street from the Museum through
Cathedral Square to Latimer Square
• Increased significance of pedestrian link – Botanic Gardens/
Cathedral Square/Latimer Square
• Strengthened purpose within context of other green spaces
in the city such as Victoria Square, Cranmer Square, Turners & Growers site
• Potential for an under-utilised area to be maximised as a
significant civic space
• Catalyst for eastern central city rejuvenation

Heritage
• Returns to original 1800s form and tree layout
• Opportunity for Fitzgerald statue to be set on intended site

would look Fab in the Middle of that Park ! LOL :cheers: how Camp !

Ice skating and hot mulled wine in the winter, twinkley lights in the trees - and a dramatic ice queen to keep everyone in check!

http://www.narniafans.com/movies/images/nc_03lg.jpg

She's just FANTASTIC!!!

That plan to fix up Latimer Sq sounds good, the City Council is smart to do that. :cheers:

That should be added to Emporis ,no wait a minute not tall enough anyways I'm sure the Christchurch count should be updated ! :)



Are university buildings counted because theres a few at the uni that would be classed high rises and Lincoln uni aswell has a couple :)

Are university buildings counted because theres a few at the uni that would be classed high rises and Lincoln uni aswell has a couple :)

I think anything over 7 or 8 stories high should be done in a count for CHC - don't laugh you guys for WGL or AKL - we do come from a city that is more interested in spreading out rather than going up. NZGSR is right - can CHC go up not out - no wonder the traffic and times to get to places are getting so bad >(

I agree. Christchurch would look fantastic if it had a centre that everyone could see. It would look like a tiny tiny LA - all on the flat with some decent high rise and the hills and mountains in the background.

This project is going to be really important to the revitalisation of the central city. The Press ran a outline drawing yesterday and it looks good - even at a very early draft stage. Some really neat ideas coming out. :)

Initial Concept Proposals for City Mall Unveiled

23 May 2006

Initial concept proposals for the redevelopment of the City Mall were presented to Christchurch City councillors today by locally-based Isthmus Group, the urban design company carrying out the redevelopment for the Council.

“There is no one solution to the complex issues facing the City Mall,“ said Isthmus Group director and City Mall redevelopment project leader Garth Falconer. “By presenting this initial sketch of our planning, we hoped to show that our approach is a balanced, composite plan with solutions set up to address these different issues.”

The proposals include:

Re-introduction of traffic to High Street to reinforce links to the Square and the upper High Street area.

Cashel Street from Colombo Street to Oxford Terrace to be developed into a slow traffic area, the public space being shared by cars and pedestrians. The section of Cashel Street between Colombo Street to High Street to remain pedestrian.

A number of new anchors or destinations to attract additional foot traffic are to be developed.

A number of interconnecting lanes are proposed to allow easy access throughout the area between Oxford Terrace and Lichfield, Manchester and Hereford Streets, better linking the City Mall to other parts of the central city.
“Alternative suggestions, ideas and views are still up for consideration. However, these proposals presented to the Council today are based on consultation with a broad range of groups over the past few weeks, which uncovered a number of clear themes. These proposals are broad concepts only. We have presented them now to stimulate more discussion and feedback. We will be refining these proposals and listening to what people have to say about them, before presenting more detailed plans for more formal consultation in late July,” Garth Falconer said.

Proposing to allow traffic to return to High Street and providing limited thoroughfare to Cashel Street was likely to be supported by many of the different groups that Isthmus has met, Garth Falconer said.

Many of the larger landowners and retailers in the City Mall area attended the seminar meeting.

“I think that the general consensus was that this initial plan is a very good start,” said Philip Richard, trading manager and a director of Ballantynes.

“There is a lot of scope in this initial design for land owners and private developers to get involved. I believe there is a lot of interest in the possibilities among the development community and I hope the council will make working together as painless as possible,” said Antony Gough of Hereford Holdings.

“Retailers and property owners championed plans to turn sections of Cashel and High Streets into pedestrian only shopping streets in the early 1980s, like many streets in cities worldwide. However, in many cases elsewhere in the world, the experiment of paving streets and blocking traffic has not succeeded in attracting new shops, reducing retail vacancies or improving security, especially at night. Shops on the street are visible to passing cars and potential customers.”

“Other urban shopping streets, internationally, have reverted from pedestrian only to allowing some vehicle movement. It has been a strong theme among the stakeholders we have spoken to, and we would like to see more discussion on the limited re-introduction of traffic to these streets, which is why we have included it in these initial proposals,” said Garth Falconer.

The City Mall area in the redevelopment project is bounded by Lichfield, Oxford, Hereford and Manchester Streets and includes some 15 bars and clubs, 25 cafes, 24 restaurants and over 40 food takeaway outlets in a total of over 450 shops and services.

More detailed design proposals from the Isthmus Group will be presented by late July. These will combine proposals on physical improvements for the streets with a draft business management plan to co-ordinate marketing of the area on behalf of retailers and property owners.

I agree. Christchurch would look fantastic if it had a centre that everyone could see. It would look like a tiny tiny LA - all on the flat with some decent high rise and the hills and mountains in the background.

I'm pretty sure the sprawl can't continue for to much longer. Take the selwyn district for an example its slowly getting chewed up by Christchurch sprawl with towns like Prebbleton,Rolleston and Templeton all becoming part of the sprawl. Soon people will relise that these towns were more enjoyed when they were part of a rural enviroment but now its to late so towns like that are no more so people will venture out to places like southbridge and leeston for that kind of lifestlye. Hopefully by then they would have made a stop to sprawl before we can say goodbye to good ol rural canterbury.

Chester Street West, Christchurch Central

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9669/fe0603202custom0as.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/1975/fe0603203custom7uf.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4345/fe0603204custom2td.jpg

Not a big one but hey it is kinda for Christchurch lol

78 Park Terrace, Christchurch Central

This one has been here for awhile but I like the building looking over hagley park

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1918/fe0602423custom9pu.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5930/fe0602425custom3if.jpg

In my opinion chch is gay and so are the crusaders which are going 2 get dominated come saturday nite!

In my opinion chch is gay and so are the crusaders which are going 2 get dominated come saturday nite!

In that case - Christchurch must be one fucking fabulous city with loads of class ;)

:cheers:

In my opinion chch is gay and so are the crusaders which are going 2 get dominated come saturday nite!

Not a good way to start on skyscrapercity mistassher. you sound like your've experienced gay life in christchurch. sounds like you're a bit confussed!!

I make the chester street west to be 7 floors. Strange looking building. Don't know if I like the box things on top, but hey if it is bringing about some regeneration for an area, i don't mind. so long as it doesn't spoil any heritage build close by if there are any.

How cool!

We're sticky :tyty:

Thanks guys :wave:

In my opinion chch is gay and so are the crusaders which are going 2 get dominated come saturday nite!

Welcome to fabulous Christchurch and SSC. Get yah details onto the Kiwi Count Thread so you can be part of our big happy family :)

Enjoy the game big boy ;)

http://www.atlasgeo.net/fotw/images/n/nz-cy1.gif

IRD DEVELOPMENT, 224 CASHEL STREET - CHRISTCHURCH

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6607/id89tbuildingimages3xm.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6181/id90tbuildingimages0lx.jpg

The 4,465 m² site located at 224 Cashel Street is currently being redeveloped. A “new generation” 8 level office building with ground floor retail and 210 carparks will be built on the site. The total net lettable area will be in excess of 16,000 m² with completion expected mid October 2007.


UNION HOUSE, 193 CASHEL STREET - CHRISTCHURCH

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3659/id126tbuildingimages8kk.jpg

Union House, located at 193 Cashel Street, is a 7 level office building with a rooftop apartment and 18 carparks located on the ground floor. The net lettable area is 3,622 m².


27 Cashel Street Christchurch

Rapaki Property Group recently purchased a superb 1000sqm site near the historic Christchurch Arts Centre, with a view to redevelop the site into luxurious and spacious inner city apartments.

Thanks for the update!

NZGSR - you are good at finding these great images!

I believe the IRD will be the only people in the building. Top quality office space is still hard to find.

I get this feeling that all this mid height building around the city centre is like bulking out, infilling - it's almost like getting ready before going up. There must be plans for taller buildings for the city centre?!

Thanks Dave I really did push google for those finds lol.

Im waiting for that day when we break the 100m, heres my gamble late 2007 we will find out that there is going to be a new office building that will be the tallest in Christchurch. Plus when they do start to build up we no that the buildings will be top quality because we no how strict some people are about building in Christchurch that are higher than there fence can be.

Yay 50 Posts!!!

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees, finally!!!!!!! some office development, shame those look pretty cheap but i suppose thats better than nothing.

Thanks Dave I really did push google for those finds lol.

Im waiting for that day when we break the 100m, heres my gamble late 2007 we will find out that there is going to be a new office building that will be the tallest in Christchurch. Plus when they do start to build up we no that the buildings will be top quality because we no how strict some people are about building in Christchurch that are higher than there fence can be.

Yay 50 Posts!!!

Cool - half century mark - keep em coming big fella!!! :)
I hope you're right about the 100m thing. I wonder when they will start doing things like AKL, building offices, hotels and apartments in the same building to give it a multi use? I'm sure soooooomething must just be around the corner!

wicked
good to see development going on around the place. can't wait till we get some real tall developments. the airport looks amazing, won't recognise the place when I get home whenever!

my count of building developments in progress so far is:

IRD 8 stories
Union House 7 stories
Ibis Hotel 8 stories
Victoria Sq apartment ?stories
Hagley park building 5 stories
Gallery apartments 14 stories
chester street west 7 stories
Waters Edge apartments 7stories
nagi tahu 5 stories

Also to add to that list you got

QV Apartments-14 stories
The Devonia-12 stories- coulad be scaled back to five thoe:S

also vic square apartments is basically done at 14 stories:)

plus the novotel must be nearly getting built aswell because the "old man" works for a plumbing company and does all the suppling to big jobs and he told me he has already got all the equipment ready for it. I will ask next time I speak to him on location.

Does anyone know the name of the architectural firm that designed the new Christchurch art galley and Christchurch airport? It is the same firm that has designed the new 8 story Ibis hotel so if you were to find their site you may be able to get a render.

Its the Buchan Group; http://www.buchan.com.au/

Its the Buchan Group; http://www.buchan.com.au/

Nothing there yet - damn! :bash:

See the Canterbury Museum have abandoned it's $48 million planned butchering of the museum. Thank goodness the Environment Court put a stop to that. They must have been mad to think they could have altered the external and internal design of such an important historic building.

http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/Photos/Disc17/IMG0007.jpg
Main Enterance

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c0/Canterbury_Museum.jpg
Just after completion in cir 1882

http://www.travelinfo.co.nz/content/images/2207/550x550normal/Canterbury_Museum_front.jpg

http://img1.travelblog.org/Photos/363/1076/f/2310-Canterbury-Museum-2.jpg

They were going to make a new entrance in the middle of the building (about where the middle flag is), do major redevelopment and change inside, and add another story to the building which would have been seen as you were apporaching the building.

It's not happening now :)

It is however paved the way for what so many people want - a brand new museum of Antarctic and Natural History. This will leave the splended Canterbury Museum as a museum of the History of Christchurch and Canterbury tracking Maori and European development in this part of New Zealand and the country as a whole. The present building is far to small, I believe they only have about 20% of the collection on display because of lack of space. Storage is a major problem and not up to the international standards they require. Something really needs to be done. I really hope the second museum comes about - watch this space :)

Loved going there as a kid. i'm glad they are not going to mess about with it. I thing the proposed square and features outside the building would be a goer. what is the blue whale feature they are talking about. I can't remember that?

Yes the blue Whale I remember seeing it on display outside somewhere when I was little. We might be getting a new musem by the sounds of it:)

It use to be in that court yard area, and it had lots of harpoons and a whaling boat nest to it so you could see the mega size of the creature! I read somewhere it was a female, and was washed up on the west coast somewhere in the late 1800's. I think the Canterbury Museum is the only museum in the world to have a Blue Whale skeleton! I'll need to check that out to make sure it's a 100% true.

Does anyone from church know what floor the Qv apartments are up to?

The first four or five levels, which are retail, are being finished now. Work on the tower itself probably will not start until this stage is complete. The completion date for the QV apartments is two years away according to a recent article in The Star.

The Christchurch Star

09.06.2006

By AMANDA LEGGE

The call has gone out by one of Christchurch’s most prominent retailers to turn Cathedral Square into a garden wonderland.

Richard Ballantyne, who made the proposal to city councillors listening to submissions on the Long Term Council Community Plan, said the Square should be the hub of Christchurch.

Mr Ballantyne, the managing director of J Ballantyne and Co, wants to see traffic allowed back into the Square and a world-class garden established.

“Not just a whole lot of plantings – something of tremendous substance. It could be built over a number of years and would become a “must-see” to Christchurch residents and tourists,” Mr Ballantyne said.

While the council would need to front up with some funding, he believed there would also be private investors keen to invest in the Square.
Gardening experts agree the Square could do with a revamp. Darryn Odering, director of Oderings Nurseries, said the suggestion was a good one, although he believed traffic should be restricted completely from the Square.

He said anything that was established needed to reflect the city’s English heritage.

“That’s what Christchurch is renowned for – its English architecture and gardens.”

Mr Odering would like to see oak, elm and plane trees planted, along with cobbled areas and a large grassed area incorporated. “It’s stark and sterile at the moment,” he said.

Former curator of the Botanic Gardens, Warwick Scadden, said Victoria Square had an ambience that Cathedral Square lacked.

He said plantings should show the distinct four seasons experienced in Christchurch.

“We would want plants in that garden that would be at their best in spring, summer, autumn and winter.”

Mr Scadden said there should be exotic and native plantings.

i agree entirely! The Square is now an eyesore and just doesnt fit in with the character of the city at all. Although probably no one would agree i believe returning traffic (via 30km/hr speed limit) to the square would be good, if you look back to the 1960's the square looks so much more warm and attractive. It was full of hussle and bussle and now... its just a grey, windswept skidpan! more trees, more green and fountains!!! The remodel in the 1970's was okay but passed its used by date in the 1990's. What we have now is a poor face lift of that design. I agree with this view the square in its current state is an embaressment

Oh yeah its snowing in ChCH right now! Brrrrrrrrr

Oh yeah its snowing in ChCH right now! Brrrrrrrrr

I am so jealous - enjoy it ;)

Oh yeah its snowing in ChCH right now! Brrrrrrrrr

Yea jealous here to and im in Dunedin WE are meant to get snow not you lol :bash:

i agree entirely! The Square is now an eyesore and just doesnt fit in with the character of the city at all. Although probably no one would agree i believe returning traffic (via 30km/hr speed limit) to the square would be good, if you look back to the 1960's the square looks so much more warm and attractive. It was full of hussle and bussle and now... its just a grey, windswept skidpan! more trees, more green and fountains!!! The remodel in the 1970's was okay but passed its used by date in the 1990's. What we have now is a poor face lift of that design. I agree with this view the square in its current state is an embaressment

Plus also isn't Christchurch known as the garden city so why the hell ins't our centre point in the City a garden lol

Garden or not, i still think that it should remain mostly car-free

i think, just keep the traffic flow as it is now and get some to noch gardners in to turn it into a garden of four sessions, like someone said years ago when they were plann on tarting up the place. it is really barren, it should be the real heart of the whole of greater christchurch. Something like victoria square, but even better! i hope the council listen.

i think adding some life to a square wld be a good thing, esp if it is in a state

This is a call for our CHC Forumers to post a pic of the Square for those of us that don't live there or that have never been there - get clicking boys ;)

Council to update on New Brighton high-rise
Monday, 19 June 2006
Christchurch City Council

Council to update community on New Brighton high-rise findings

Council staff and consultants will present their preliminary findings on the potential effects of different development scenarios covering Marine Parade and New Brighton Mall at two Open Days to be held at New Brighton Club on 29 and 30 June.

Christchurch City Council Planner Jonathan Clease says the two sessions:

- from 1pm to 5pm on Thursday 29 June, and

- 4pm to 8pm on Friday 30 June, at the J.C. Walsh Lounge, New Brighton Club,

are an opportunity for people to view the displays at their leisure and ask questions of those who wrote the review in an informal setting.

The Open Days follow a meeting in March, attended by over 300 people, where the Council told residents that it planned to research whether or not high-density apartment development is appropriate for the residential block fronting Marine Parade, from Rawhiti Domain south to Shackleton Street and the business area surrounding New Brighton Mall.

Mr Clease says the review was a response to several factors. A number of developers had approached Council to build such apartments in the area and the community - through the New Brighton Master Plan – had indicated such development could help rejuvenate the area.

Rather than address the developer issues in a series of resource consents, which would revisit the same issues repeatedly in an ad hoc manner, the Council resolved to consult the community and investigate the potential for environmental effects in this high-interest area through a single, comprehensive study, he says.

The review findings will then be opened for public consultation from 1 July to 4 August, when people can have their say on the future scale of development in New Brighton. The details on how you go about this, will be made available at the Open Days.

Heres some links to small apartment projects around Christchurch

http://www.parkbridge.co.nz/index.html
http://www.salisburypark.co.nz/home.php
http://www.thecliffs.co.nz/

:)

This is a call for our CHC Forumers to post a pic of the Square for those of us that don't live there or that have never been there - get clicking boys ;)


Here we go....

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9409/095g0rr.jpg

^^^ Thanks, now I know what you are all talking about. Far too much paving - a park-like setting would look really swell.

Just heard from thee old man whos a key acounts manager at Plumbing World that there are 2 new apartments in the works planed for the Central City. He didnt no much more just a word from a Plumber or how high they would be. But one suspects anything for the Central City would be rather high. So fingers crossed:)

Just heard from thee old man whos a key acounts manager at Plumbing World that there are 2 new apartments in the works planed for the Central City. He didnt no much more just a word from a Plumber or how high they would be. But one suspects anything for the Central City would be rather high. So fingers crossed:)

We shall have our fingers Crossed for Christchurch ! :)

Good news indeed!

Here an above shot of the much talked about square, thanks to google earth:)

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9929/sq3fn.jpg

Don't think it has been Posted before , not sure where they are being Built , all they are saying is the Apartments will overlook the Plains and will be built in 3 stages commencing late 2006 :cheers:

http://www.dalman.co.nz/projects/images/quick_update/russley3.jpg

i wonder if they are part of the new turners&growers develpment?

i have come across this development before whilst searching the web, i dont think it is in the city but out in the country side somewhere, i hate the red brick it looks so old fashion.

We need to find more info on this I havnt even com across this. Hope its in the selwyn:D

have a Search through , you might find some more Goodies ! :scouserd:
http://dalman.co.nz/
http://dalman.co.nz/projects/images/quick_update/russley1.jpg

Sweet thanks for the link marky:) Ok so its in Russley by the golfcourse. For people that dont no where Russley is its out by the Airport. I see its looking over the golf course aswell.

Thanks to the link Marky gave us heres another development on Moorehouse Ave.
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/868/moorhouse19fc.jpg
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9908/moorhouse23vu.jpg
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/6947/moorhouse30sg.jpg

Heres some more renders of Sydenham Square
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/3607/sydsquare18zy.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5084/sydsquare20ek.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9018/sydsquare31uc.jpg

:)

Loving that Sydneham Square design, very new urbanist.

Sydenham Square is so Le Corbuier it's not funny. Looks interesting as a high-density urban residential proposition though.

Le Courbusier? But he was the modernist who favoured 'towers in a park'!? This doesn't look much like that I think. As the website states, the design was made in collaboration with Duany Playter-Zybeck, who were co-founders of the New Urbanist movement in the US; very much an anti-modernist movement i'd say lol.

Here an above shot of the much talked about square, thanks to google earth:)

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9929/sq3fn.jpg

The gap at the bottom of the picture just above the S 172 38'10.37" is where the new 8 story Ibis Hotel is being built. The red roof is an acade that leads into the new post office building, then through into the old postoffice building housing the Touris Information centre, Starbuck, resturant etc - giving access to the Square. The acade is to be kept as part of the new hotels feature and will be used by the public.

have a Search through , you might find some more Goodies ! :scouserd:
http://dalman.co.nz/
http://dalman.co.nz/projects/images/quick_update/russley1.jpg

there was an article in The Press about this development. i think it is a rival to clearwater resort about 2miles away. i've forgotten the name of the developer, but he is planning on a 5 star hotel and conference type facilities. the place is so close to the airport, i think it will become the first of a new type of airport complex for the area. I believe that the Russley golf club are in on this and the course is going to be revamped and improved. the memorial avenue side of the complex is going to look good, but it raises the whole question about the four lanning of johns road etc (state highway 1). It's a massive joke!

Le Courbusier? But he was the modernist who favoured 'towers in a park'!? This doesn't look much like that I think. As the website states, the design was made in collaboration with Duany Playter-Zybeck, who were co-founders of the New Urbanist movement in the US; very much an anti-modernist movement i'd say lol.
This is true. But in his earlier years he believed in quite the opposite. For example Maison Citrohan, but in particular his "5 Points of Architecture" - some of which are strongly evident in this development in Chch.

Thats interesting. He must have made some radical changes to his professional mindset during his career.

This is true. But in his earlier years he believed in quite the opposite. For example Maison Citrohan, but in particular his "5 Points of Architecture" - some of which are strongly evident in this development in Chch.

What are the 5 points? Are these to fellows still alive and what makes them important in the building world? :)

What are the 5 points? Are these to fellows still alive and what makes them important in the building world? :)

was thinking the same thing myself!

What are the 5 points? Are these to fellows still alive and what makes them important in the building world? :)
It's not so much what the points were about that was important - which are actually probably more mundane than alot of people expect. It's more about the fact that one of the 'great architects' of history had such defined ideas about what constitutes good architecture. It's all debatable though. The five points were to use free facades - ones that didn't have any structural members which allowed the architect to use it as he/she pleases. Also to use vertical window strips, open plan interior spaces, roof terraces and something about putting the building on supports. Villa Savoye is a good example of these points.

Anyway i was also just refering to the visual references in the building. Using mostly white with black window frames, a few circular windows, strong horizontal elements (particularly above the ground floor), proportions of volumes etc.

Slapping up a building is not as easy as it looks!!! Cheers Sam.

Anyone see on 3news tonight about New Brighton they had a cool render of all these high rises along the coast line shit I hope the Council lets this happen will really boost East Christchurch and the City.

Anyone see on 3news tonight about New Brighton they had a cool render of all these high rises along the coast line shit I hope the Council lets this happen will really boost East Christchurch and the City.

Wow! What did it look like? How high were the buildings? Brighton is ready to take off - I'm sure of it :)

There was about 15-20 high rises in and around new brighton mall and along the coast both ways. They looked guess here around 15+ stories no higher than 20 hard to tell but look great:) and also a mixture of smaller ones 3-6 stories spread around. I have been pushing google hard to find the render but no luck as yet. Lets just say it would make a huge impact to the skyline. they talked to a developer last night and he said that there is 17km of beach to work with. So if it goes to plan we could have a mini Gold Coast on our hand:D

Yay good news for Christchurch! :)

They made an article about this is a local paper, showed some drifferent high rise situations, it looked sik! Most of east Christchruch is so gritty and ghetto.

They made an article about this is a local paper, showed some drifferent high rise situations, it looked sik! Most of east Christchruch is so gritty and ghetto.

You got that right about it been run down always has been like. New Brighton used to boom because it was the only place in chch that use to have shops open on Saturdays. But then everywhere in CHCH had shops open on Saturdays and it just stoped dead. But with this news of High Rises will really boost it back up:)

Heres a pic of New Brighton Mall from Google Earth which now is open to one way traffic.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5434/newbrighton6gu.jpg

They made an article about this is a local paper, showed some drifferent high rise situations, it looked sik! Most of east Christchruch is so gritty and ghetto.

yer i agree New Brighton is hole!, Im glad they are considering developing it into highrise.