Christchurch Central City Revitalisation Plan: accommodating 30,000 residents into Christchurch's four avenues

Abstract

Over the past few years Christchurch’s Central City has fallen into a decaying state. Many key retailers, commercial, industry and residential dwellers have moved to the outer suburbs. Creating multiple sub-centres and leaving Christchurch with a broken heart. The Christchurch City Council is committed to revitalising the Central City in order to create a world class city with a vibrant heart (Christchurch City Council, 2006). One of the key goals of the Central City revitalisation is to increase the residential population to 30,000 by 2026. This dissertation takes a critical look at this goal and investigates whether this goal is achievable and if so, what the limitations or tradeoffs that need to be made to achieve it and demonstrates what the city may look like. The method of research through design has been used to investigate this research question and to test the 30,000 residents’ goal. This has been done though modelling, density testing and establishing three landscape focused scenarios to test this goal within the current Central City infrastructure. Through testing the current and predicted densities of the Central City, it is apparent that the current density of the Central City is exceptionally low by international standards. It has also been established that the current zonings and development patterns are not suitable to encourage development and the residential population increase like that the City Council is aiming for. The target goal of 30,000 is achievable. The challenge is, how this residential development is is going to be implemented, in order to create a central city that is an appealing and desirable place to visit and live. As well as keeping the current character and creating an identity that is unique to Christchurch. This dissertation is not intended to be a final solution to the Central City revitalisation but more a stepping stone in the process of regenerating and establishing a vibrant city centre. The creation of a successful city centre is not solely through the introduction of more residential population but through may parallel projects and initiatives working towards the same goal.