SoLA Symposium and the memories of what I have not seen
The relationship with a post-disaster environment is a strange and powerful one. I arrived in Christchurch on the 15th February 2011, exactly one week before the earthquake that would extensively damage the city and its CBD. Read more…
Christchurch four years after the February 2011 earthquake
The impact of the 2011 earthquake, and the many thousands which have followed, continue to effect [sic] the lives of everyone in Christchurch and its surrounding towns and regions. Conversations with friends in the pub or round the BBQ often turn to vexed issues of repairs, rebuilds and insurance. However, the first question Christchurch locals will ask those they meet for the first time is: ‘Where were you when the quake hit?’ (stuff.co.nz)
Adaptable ethnographic methodology in a post-disaster changing landscape
How adaptable has to be an ethnographic methodology when everything around it is quickly changing? Read more…
Present and past, or augmented reality in post-earthquake Christchurch
In May 2012, while I was still doing the field work of my research, there was one particular day in Cashel Mall – one of my case study sites – that was recorded on my field journal as “the researchers’ day”. Read more…
a city in between times
Christchurch is no longer what it was. Christchurch is not yet what it is meant to become. After the recent earthquakes, Christchurch lives now a ‘time in between times’. While buildings are demolished and empty sites wait for insurance payments, the city has to find a way of providing space and activity for ‘normal life’ to get back into place. Read more…
Shigeru Ban: Emergency shelters made from paper
Today I was listening to the TED podcasts and found this special one. Because I wrote about Christchurch Carboard Cathedral last week, I thought would be interesting to share this video as well. This was filmed on TEDx Tokyo, and has subtitles in 15 languages including Portuguese and Spanish.
An elegant Cardboard Cathedral
My latest post-earthquake passion is a world’s first of its kind. The new Christchurch Cardboard Cathedral opened to the public on 6 August. The Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is responsible for the beautiful, elegant and innovative design of this new ‘temporary’ architecture. Read more…
