October 2011

Popup Container Precinct for Christchurch

Posted by Nick - GM - 18/10/2011
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Container Precinct Christchurch

 

We're well impressed with our first glimpse of Christchurch's Restart the Heart project, which is being put together in City Mall in rapid fashion to meet the October 29 deadline for Cup and Show Week. Over 60 containers will house 27 temporary shops, many of which will no doubt be CBD retailers who have not yet been able to reopen a store in the city since February.

 

Looking at another retail container site at Dekalb Market New York, Christchurch might have benefitted from a little precinct like this prior to the earthquakes.

 

To quote the insight of The Wall Street Journal's Robbie Whelan on the Dekalb Market, one might find a distinct parallel to the role Restart the Heart could play in the rebuild of Christchurch's CBD:

 

"…aesthetically and practically, it [Dekalb Market] does more than make the most of a tough situation. If downtown Brooklyn residents must sweat out a few more years before the area finally assumes a degree of coherence, they now can do it at a piazza-like market in their midst that is funky, inviting, and from some angles, even beautiful, in a gritty, manufacturing-era sort of way."

 

Image: Kirk Heargraves/stuff.co.nz

 

Pixels For Christchurch

Posted by Alice - Art Director - 16/10/2011
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A team of family members have come up with a creative fundraising initiative for Christchurch. Shortland Street actor Kiel McNaughton wanted to create a fun way to connect kiwis and in the process fundraise $100,000 for the Christchurch earthquake appeal. He enlisted the help of his family who have pooled their creative and professional experience to created Pixels For Christchurch.

 

The artwork has been divided up into 100,00 pixels which you can purchase in blocks of 10 for $10. The pixels you donate reveal the artwork.

Carrying a message of support for those affected by the Christchurch earthquakes, the original artwork by Shane Hansen (Kiel's cousin) is entitled 'Arohanui Otautahi' is painted on pine in Canterbury colours with the word Arohanui nestled within the intricate swirls of colour. The original will be auctioned to raise further funds for the Pixels For Christchurch project.

 

Using facebook and twitter to spread the message and share your donations the project aims to bring kiwis together to raise $100,000 by by Christmas. And with over 10,000 pixels donated in the first week they are already well on their way. Click here to become part of this great project to help rebuild Christchurch.

 


Shane Hansen

 

The image so far