Dom Post on Christchurch

The Dom Post editorial:

Tsar Gerry Brownlee has upset architectural historians by suggesting all but a handful of Christchurch’s old buildings should be demolished. He must go on upsetting them. …

Some have left the Canterbury region, others have hunkered down at home, but few, if any, will feel safe returning to work unless they know the buildings they are in can withstand an earthquake of the magnitude that devastated Christchurch two weeks ago.

They will be just as concerned by the quality of the buildings around them. Mr Brownlee was simply voicing the views of all who survived the quake when he said that if it was up to him he would have most of the city’s heritage buildings down “tomorrow”.

I wonder if all those decrying Gerry’s views, would do so if they were forced to work and live in those heritage buildings.

Like Wellington, Christchurch’s older buildings add to the character of the city.

However, the truth that cannot be overlooked is that people died on February 22 because buildings that should have been demolished after the September 4 earthquake were not demolished.

And this is something an inquiry should look into.

Heritage buildings were not the sole cause of loss of life, or even the biggest cause of it. The greatest number of deaths occurred in two reinforced concrete buildings  the Pyne Gould Corporation building completed in 1964 and the CTV building built in 1979.

However, in the wake of the tragedy Mr Brownlee, his ministerial colleagues and Christchurch city planners must do everything that can be done to make Christchurch a safe place to live and work.

Mr Brownlee has suggested that only iconic buildings such as Christ Church Cathedral, the Provincial Chambers, the Arts Centre and the Catholic Basilica should be retained and restored.

Undoubtedly there will be others among the city’s 1600 heritage buildings, 1000 of them in the CBD, that warrant preservation.

However, the bottom line is that unless their owners are able to quickly bring them up to the same safety standards as buildings constructed today  an expensive task  they should be knocked down.

Exactly. And I’m suspicious of 1,600 buildings all being listed as heritage.

Christchurch’s future is not as a shrine to 19th and 20th century architecture, but as a modern, low-rise example of what can be done today.

The 1931 Napier earthquake led to the construction of a unique city showcasing the art-deco style then in vogue.

Once the rubble has been cleared, Christchurch’s planners have the opportunity to create a modern city that reflects today’s thinking.

Mr Brownlee is right. Sentiment should not outweigh safety. Start planning for the new city.

Perhaps those who wish to save the heritage buildings could offer to buy them and pay for the upgrade to modern safety standards.