Plenty of Scope for More Art and Enterprise

The disaster that reduced Christchurch to rubble has given rise to a spirit of art and enterprise, writes Tijana Jaksic for the Herald Sun, and the city is “embracing the change” she says.

The Re:START mall is just one of many projects popping up around the city to see it through this difficult transition. Christchurch’s funky new shopping quarter, the colourful precinct was created from shipping containers to address the retail shortage that followed the quake. Originally meant to operate for just six months, it’s still drawing in customers and tourists two years later.

Similarly, the Art Box Gallery was fashioned out of shipping containers in response to the disappearance of art venues. This innovative approach is seen everywhere.

Director of the Festival of Transitional Architecture (FESTA) Jessica Halliday believes this budding inventive approach to living in Christchurch is a cultural shift.

“There’s this flourishing rich culture that I don’t think they’ll get rid of,” Halliday says.

“And there’s all this vacant space – there’s plenty of scope for more.”