A Canterbury Museum special exhibition tells about the devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
As you may recall, the city of Christchurch, New Zealand suffered massive earthquake damage in February 2011. This followed a large quake in September 2010 that did little apparent damage to the city but likely weakened many buildings.
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Quake damaged Christchurch Cathedral & roof line of Transitional Cathedral aka the cardboard cathedral.
I first visited Christchurch in 1974 and my only clear memory of the city is of the cathedral with which the city shares its name. Today the cathedral, deconsecrated, stands behind a security fence awaiting a decision on its fate while a few blocks away is a transitional cathedral of reinforced cardboard.
Open space abounds in Christchurch city centre.
On my recent visit 6 years after the quakes I was quite unprepared for what I saw in the city centre. My first thought was that this is a city very well endowed with parking lots. Then I realized that buildings had once stood on the empty plots of land now available for parking. I learned that about 80% of the buildings in the central business district are being demolished! Over 8000 homes have also been demolished in red zoned residential areas that were deemed unsafe mainly due to liquefaction of the ground.
A memorial of 185 empty hairs by artist Pete Majendie remembers those who died in the 2011 quake.
A large building once stood on this site.
Demolition continues in city centre.
Large areas of parkland have replaced some residential neighbourhoods due to liquefaction of the ground.
Shipping containers stabilize buildings awaiting restoration or demolition.
Shops have been set up in shipping containers.
Some historic buildings have been repaired and reopened and small garden areas added as gap fillers throughout city centre.
New Regent street, a 1930s heritage area, reopened in April 2013 after repairs to quake affected buildings.
The people of Christchurch are committed to rebuilding their city and are doing so in a manner that acknowledges the ever present risk of earthquakes throughout New Zealand.
A new residential area under construction in city centre.
This Quake City display quotes American writer Will Durant (1885-1981).