HEALTHY CHRISTCHURCH MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: 12 April 2012
SUBJECT: Greening the rubble with places of tranquility

An exciting new joint project will see vacant demolition sites in Christchurch’s Central Business District (CBD) transformed into green and tranquil spaces.

Continuing on from the success of the River of Flowers, Healthy Christchurch is now working with Lincoln University and Christchurch’s Maori, Pacific and culturally and linguistically diverse communities to create six serene gardens at demolition sites across Christchurch.

Michelle Whitaker, Healthy Christchurch coordinator, says 40 second-year landscape architecture students from Lincoln University will begin work on April 23 with Maori, Pacific and members of Christchurch’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities to create spaces designed to heal the spirits and enhance the wellbeing of Christchurch residents.

“Each ‘Place of Tranquility’ design will use different philosophies, religions, and kaupapa. The six winning student designs will be selected by the communities themselves and in spring the winning designs will be ‘brought to life’ around Christchurch’s CBD,” Michelle says.

“The project will allow Christchurch’s Maori, Pacific and culturally and linguistically diverse communities to contribute to the city’s recovery in a positive and creative way.”

Michelle says it is also an opportunity for different communities to share their culture and feel engaged in Christchurch’s rebuild and recovery.

“Vacant demolition sites will bloom into beautiful and peaceful settings that give people the chance to think, reflect and look to the future. People will leave feeling like their soul has had a big hug,” she says.

Mike Barthelmeh from Lincoln University says the Places of Tranquility project is a great opportunity for students to work with people from different cultures to explore concepts of spirituality and space.

“For their inspiration students will work together with people from other cultures and immerse themselves in philosophies such as Taoism and Buddhism. Although challenging, the results will be exciting, uplifting, and innovative,” Mike says.

“Each winning design will have access to mentoring from an established landscape architect. When it comes to building these gardens, volunteers from each community will be able to contribute to the construction with volunteers from other organisations.”

Rhys Taylor, from Greening the Rubble, says the project is great way to inject life and beauty into the rubble and greyness of the city centre.

“Imagine the tranquility of a Japanese garden, a Buddhist fountain meditation area, a walking meditation circle, or a green maze leading to an area of contemplation, amidst the emptiness and rubble of the CBD,” Rhys says.

“The completed spaces will initially be temporary but there is potential for them to become part of our city’s future. A possible option could be incorporating them into a suburban red zone river park.”

If you are Maori, Pacific or a member of a culturally and linguistically diverse community of Christchurch and are interested in becoming involved in this project please let Healthy Christchurch know before 19th April 2012. More information can be found on the Healthy Christchurch website: www.healthychristchurch.org.nz

The Places of Tranquility project is being led by Healthy Christchurch in collaboration with Lincoln University and Greening the Rubble. A project working group includes representatives from the Christchurch Multicultural Council, Christchurch Migrants Centre, Living Streets Aotearoa, Christchurch Garden Society, Festival of Flowers and Partnership Health Canterbury. Other supporting partners include Avon-Otakaro Network and the CDHB.

For more information go to www.healthychristchurch.org.nz

For more information on Greening the Rubble go to www.greeningtherubble.org.nz

ENDS

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