Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Joint award for central-city design guide

A collaboration between Christchurch City Council, CERA and the Matapopore Charitable Trust (Matapopore) on behalf of Ngāi Tūāhuriri has been recognised with a prestigious award from the New Zealand Planning Institute.

The jointly produced Streets and Spaces Design Guide, a 197-page benchmark document for urban regeneration in Christchurch, won the award for the 2016 "Strategic Planning and Guidance" category.

The award was presented in Dunedin as part of the New Zealand Planning Institute's Annual Conference held last week.

Richard Osborne, the Council's Head of Planning and Strategic Transport, says the award reflects the special collaborative approach to the project.

"In producing the Streets and Spaces Design Guide, the Council, CERA and Matapopore needed to step across the traditional boundaries created by organisations, statutes and disciplines to create a single source of design reference.

"The guide translates complex concepts into information that is useable by a broad range of people and professions, with a focus on improving people's everyday experience of the central city," says Mr Osborne.

"It's wonderful to have the hard work recognised with an award from the New Zealand Planning Institute," he adds.

Matapopore is the organisation established by Ngāi Tūāhuriri to provide cultural advice to the central-city rebuild.

Nigel Harris, Matapopore trustee, says the valuable lessons learned through the guide's collaborative process will be long lasting.

"The Streets and Spaces Design Guide is a special example of how local organisations, encompassing a range of different disciplines and decision-makers, can come together and create something that will deliver positive and lasting change for the city.

“Matapopore and Ngāi Tūāhuriri are looking forward to an ongoing role with the new entities within the rebuild of Ōtautahi and wider areas," says Mr Harris.

The Streets and Spaces Design Guide supports the implementation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, including the plan's transport chapter, An Accessible City. The guide promotes the creation of a network of people-focused gathering places and streets which enhance accessibility and people's enjoyment of central-city life.

– Ends –

© Scoop Media