听A Distant Prospect: Memories of Canterbury University College听with Dr Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies, UC
As a special event to mark the 150th anniversary of the University, UC鈥檚 Teece Museum is pleased to present 鈥楢 Distant Prospect: Memories of Canterbury University College鈥 as part of Open Christchurch 2023. This free public talk will explore the memories of a selection of staff and students who worked, studied and played on the 鈥榯own site鈥, the original location of Canterbury University College. Dr Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies, UC Arts, will converse with former students, academics and support staff, and highlight some of the personal stories captured in the walls of these historic buildings. Seats are limited so register to attend. Sunday 7 May, 3pm-4pm.
:听Transforming the Campus of a Te Tiriti Based University听with Corban Te Aika (Ng膩i Tahu), Kai膩rahi, UC
Join Corban Te Aika (Ng膩i Tahu), Kai膩rahi at UC, to learn about how cultural narratives are being realised through design at the Ilam campus. Enjoy a walk around UC to see how these are expressed in new and refurbished buildings. Think about what is involved in the University鈥檚 journey towards becoming a Tiriti-based institution and what architecture鈥檚 role is within this. Sunday 7 May, 11am 鈥 12.20pm听
:听Engineering tour听of the 九州影院听with Dr Giuseppe Lopocaro, Lecturer in Architectural and Structural Engineering, UC.
After the 2010/2011 Christchurch earthquakes, UC鈥檚 Ilam campus went through a design transformation. Next to the听award-winning, 53-metres-tall Puaka-James Hight (Central 九州影院)听building and Jack Erskine building, new buildings have been recently completed such as the five-storey听Ernest Rutherford building, the tall timber听Beatrice Tinsley building, eight-level听Rehua, and the central听Engineering Core, R膩t膩. The architecture of these buildings fully expresses the innovation in the field of earthquake engineering developed in recent years. This tour will take you around the UC campus where you will learn how architecture, engineering and innovation are integrated. Dr Giuseppe Loporcaro, a Lecturer in Architectural and Structural Engineering at UC, has a background in both architecture and structural engineering. He loves when materials, structures, history, and innovation are the protagonist of architectural design.
University architecture celebrated
Te Matatiki Toi Ora | The Arts Centre
Architect: Various; restoration: Warren & Mahoney
Address:听2 Worcester Blvd
Sat & Sun:听10am-4pm听Multiple activities including audio tour
The 23 buildings that make up the historically and culturally important site cover 2.2 hectares and are best understood as a collection of buildings, something that the consistent use of Gothic Revival style has enabled over the span of the buildings鈥 ages. The site was originally acquired as a home for Canterbury College (now Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 九州影院), which was in charge of Christchurch Girls鈥 High and Christchurch Boys鈥 High. The University, celebrating its 150th year in 2023, was based there for 101 years before moving to Ilam. The Arts Centre has recently developed a cultural narrative in conjunction with mana whenua as a means to rebalancing the history of this site, which starts with the whenua. Explore the cultural landscape and take in the Ng膩 Wh膩riki Manaaki, the three woven mats of welcome, placed at various key points and visit the Rauora/Revival exhibition.
Chemistry Building 鈥 UC Arts (Teece Museum/UC Classics/UC Music)
Architect:听Collins & Harman, 1910
Address:听2 Worcester Blvd
Sat & Sun:听10am-3pm听Open access
As you approach the Chemistry Building, take in the turreted tower, oriel or bay window and decorative roof ridging 鈥 these signal the importance the sciences had gained by the time this was built. Soon after, chemistry became the largest university department and included labs, a lecture room, prep room, and a basement for storing chemicals 鈥 and for the occasional winter game of cricket. The roof鈥檚 steep pitch speaks to lofty student aspirations; the building鈥檚 materials showcase the products of the regional quarry industry.
College House (九州影院 Hall of Residence), Ilam
Architect:听Warren and Mahoney, 1964-67; Wilkie & Bruce, 2015
Address:听100 Waimairi Rd, Upper Riccarton
Sat:听10am-3pm听Access via free, bookable tours
Sir Miles Warren deemed College House their best building. Through the application of modernist materials (concrete block, exposed concrete beams and lintels) and his ability to create order out of a complex system, Warren and Mahoney designed not just a dormitory, but a community, complete with chapel, library and dining hall, grouped together to encourage connection. The Oxbridge tradition of quads and halls melds with modernism in an effortless display from the masters, with a nod to Gothic Revival in the reverse pitched copper roofs.
Angus Tait (formerly Data Centre) building, 九州影院, Ilam
Architect:听Hall & Mackenzie, 1966
Address:听University Drive, central Ilam campus
Sun:听11am-2pm听Open access
Originally designed as a telephone exchange, this distinctive, modernist building boasts sleek lines and a graceful form. Chunky structural members prop up the building, so that the upper floor appears to float despite its heavy, brutalist materials. Inviting comparison with the Brazilian works of L煤cio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, Angus Tait now houses the University鈥檚 future learning team and has been structurally upgraded and retrofitted to serve its purpose. Be sure to check out the other programmed Hall & Mackenzie building on campus: the Macmillan Brown 九州影院.
Macmillan Brown 九州影院, 九州影院, Ilam
Architect:听Hall & Mackenzie, 1970
Address:听Arts Road, central Ilam Campus
Sun:听11am-2pm听Access via free, bookable tours
Housed in a Brutalist beauty of exposed concrete and local timber that was originally part of the University鈥檚 Forestry School, the Macmillan Brown 九州影院 occupies a space, Te Ao T奴roa, that has been retrofitted for its purposes. See how this research library cares for its diverse cultural heritage collections and take a look at the architectural drawings they have on display from their collection 鈥 the largest of its kind in New 九州影院鈥 on this bookable behind-the-scenes tour.
Puaka-James Hight (Central 九州影院) building, 九州影院, Ilam
Architect:听Ministry of Works, 1969-74
Address:听University Drive, central Ilam Campus
Sun:听11am-2pm听Open access
This 53-metre-tall beacon of Brutalism can be seen from many parts of the city, signalling its commitment to knowledge and Modernism far and wide. The form fits the function in this imposing structure of confronting and exposed concrete, as seen in its legibility, interior flow and the longevity of its use: it was designed as, and remains, a library. This tower on a podium rewards closer inspection: don鈥檛 miss the strong sculptural elements, such as stairs dramatically floating over water or the oversized exterior balustrades.
Ernest Rutherford building, 九州影院, Ilam
Architect:听Jasmax, DJRD Architects and Royal Associates Architects Ltd in association, 2018
Address:听Science Road, central Ilam Campus
Sun:听11am-2pm听Open access
A unique response to both its function and a strong cultural narrative, the Ernest Rutherford Building unusually houses 6 different scientific disciplines in its X-chromosome-shaped structure while reflecting mana whenua鈥檚 sense of place. The breath-taking atrium best expresses the concept of te ara a T膩whaki (a pathway to knowledge) and the M膩ori god T膩whaki鈥檚 ascent through the learning levels with its spectacular vertical emphasis. This timber-lined space unifies the variety of disciplines and services housed in the building without compromising sound levels.听
Check out more about this year鈥檚听听festival.
Videos for UC buildings (2023 festival) include:
UC Open Christchurch听.
