Vision and Options for the Christchurch Performing Arts Precinct
Client: Christchurch City Council
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Year: 2015-2016
Reviving Christchurch with culture
Brief
Following the devastating earthquakes of 2011, the reconstruction of Christchurch went into full swing. Building on the principles set by the Central City Recovery Plan, Christchurch City Council and the Crown jointly led the development of a proposal and masterplan for the city's Performing Arts Precinct.
Approach
Working closely with the Council and their various stakeholders, including the performing arts industry itself, Left Bank Co. was engaged to lead the process of developing a strategic vision for the Precinct, with the purpose of defining and communicating what kind of Precinct the city needed. The visioning process included in-depth qualitative research with key stakeholders, insights development and analysis, testing with the core team to establish the key aspects of the Precinct, testing of the vision with key stakeholders as well as the development and copywriting for the complete vision document.
Following the vision, Left Bank Co. led a week-long consultative design process to set in motion the development of a well-informed benchmark design for the precinct in collaboration with award-winning architects Haworth Tompkins from London. This process proved productive and set the strategy for developing and completing the benchmark design, development brief and business case.
Impact
Both the vision and the masterplan options enabled Council to proceed with securing funding and seeking a developer to transform the site. The Court Theatre was appointed as the resident company for the precinct in 2019.