TheChristchurch Town Hall,since 2007 formally known as theChristchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts,opened in 1972, isChristchurch,New Zealand's premierperforming artscentre. It is located in thecentral cityon the banks of theAvon RiveroverlookingVictoria Square,opposite the former location of the demolishedChristchurch Convention Centre.Due to significant damage sustained during the February2011 Christchurch earthquake,it was closed until 2019.[1]Council staff initially recommended demolition of all but the main auditorium, but at a meeting in November 2012, councillors voted to rebuild the entire hall.[2]In 2020, the town hall was registered as a Category I heritage building.
| Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts | |
|---|---|
 Main entrance of the Christchurch Town Hall on Kilmore Street | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Coordinates | 43°31′37.02″S172°38′7.78″E/ 43.5269500°S 172.6354944°E |
| Current tenants | Christchurch Symphony Orchestra |
| Inaugurated | 1972 |
| Renovated | 2015-2019 |
| Owner | Christchurch City Council |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Warren and Mahoney |
| Main contractor | C S Luney Ltd |
| Awards and prizes | NZIA Gold Medal1973 |
| Designated | 9 September 2020 |
| Reference no. | 9817 |
History
editThe first Town Hall in Christchurch was built on the corner of Hereford Street and Cathedral Square, from where one would look down Sumner Road (since renamed High Street). The verandah was used ashustingsfor elections.[3]
In 1920, there were discussions in Christchurch about a suitable site for a town hall. The Canterbury Progress League considered the options and a site between Colombo Street, Kilmore Street, and the Avon River was favoured. The city's leading architects were asked for their opinion and they all concurred that of the various options, this site was superior.[4]The architectCecil Woodfollowed up in writing with the then-mayor,Henry Thacker,suggesting that the site under consideration should be extended to the north by closing Kilmore Street. This is the site that was eventually chosen for the town hall (south of Kilmore) and theChristchurch Convention Centre(north of Kilmore), but with the street kept open.[a][5]
The current building was part of an envisaged civic centre for Christchurch. Part I, the Christchurch Town Hall, was opened on 30 September 1972 by theGovernor General,SirDenis Blundell.The project was carried out by the then six metropolitan territorial local authorities, i.e.Christchurch City Council,Paparua andHeathcote CountyCouncils, Riccarton and Lyttelton Borough Councils, and Waimairi District Council.[6]Five of these local authorities were amalgamated in the1989 local government reforms,and Lyttelton became part of Christchurch in March 2006, hence Christchurch City Council has sole responsibility for the venue these days.
Part II, new civic offices as a replacement for theCivicin Manchester Street, to be built on the corner of Kilmore and Durham Streets, cutting Victoria Street off from going through Victoria Square, was not built. Instead, theChristchurch City Councilpurchased Miller's Department Store in Tuam Street in 1978 and fitted this building out as the new civic offices, occupying the building in 1980.[7]A hotel stood in the place that was set aside for the civic offices across Victoria Street.
Description
edit
The Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts was designed for the presentation of a wide range of activities including orchestral concerts and recitals, opera, ballet and dramatic productions, musical comedy, variety, folk, rock andjazzconcerts, conventions and conferences. It was designed by SirMiles WarrenandMaurice Mahoneyof Warren and Mahoney Architects with acoustic assistance from ProfessorHarold Marshall.[8]
It hosts many civic functions, local cultural and commercial events, shows, and concerts. It is home to theChristchurch Symphony Orchestra,theChristchurch City Choirand several theatrical amateur groups.
Acoustic qualities
editMarshall designed the main hall to have reflection panels on the sides of the auditorium.[9]Acoustic design at the time was typified by an extended rectangular shape to achieve the desired sound quality, but none of the competition entries that Marshall saw were that shape; the final entry by Warren and Mahoney being elliptical. Therefore, he took inspiration from theRoyal Festival Hall,devising the usage of panels to direct sound around the hall.[10]This innovative feature formed the basis for modern concert hall design across the world; Marshall went on to advise on thePhilharmonie de Parisand theGuangzhou Opera House.[9]
In 2015, acoustics professorTrevor Coxcalled it one of the top 10 concert halls in the world.[11]It has also been praised byPierre BoulezandLeonard Bernstein,the former of which described it as "exceptional".[8]
Layout and functionality
editIt has a 2,250-seat auditorium known for its acoustics and the 750 seat James Hay Theatre.[12]The Town Hall has several rooms that complemented theChristchurch Convention Centre,but the venue on the opposite side of Kilmore Street was demolished in March / April 2012.
TheRiegerpipe organis also in the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts Auditorium and the curator is international concert organistMartin Setchell.[13]
It also has the Limes Room and two Conference Rooms which are used for various functions and conferences.[12]
On the ground floor of the complex was previously The Boaters Restaurant, which is run by theAra Institute of Canterburyas a training venue for the hospitality industry. However following the rebuild is now the Avon room adding to the other function rooms.[12]
Earthquake damage
editThe Town Hall was closed as a result of significant damage caused by the February2011 Christchurch earthquakefromliquefactionand the related lateral spreading of the ground towards the Avon River. In June 2011, an assessment of the building was underway to determine the extent of the damage.[14]In October 2012, a staff report recommended that only the main auditorium be saved, with the rest of the building to be demolished.
On 22 November 2012,Christchurchcouncillors voted unanimously to rebuild it at a cost of $127.5 million, only $68.9 million of which would be covered by insurance. Earthquake MinisterGerry Brownleecould still however veto the plan.[15]In August 2013, council staff presented four options to city councillors that would all retain the building, at a cost of around NZ$125m.[16][17]
Restoration
editOn 11 June 2015 confirmation was given by the Christchurch City Council on the decision for the repairs of the Christchurch town hall to go forward. Work started in November 2015 with the foundations, which were replaced; new concrete columns will be installed into the ground to help support and stabilise the building. The project also added improvements to the town hall's design – for instance, the James Hay theatre, main auditorium, and restaurant was modified to fix issues present in the original layout.[18][8]
The restoration was initially expected to be completed mid-2018,[19]but the first part did not officially open until February 2019.[20]
Heritage registration
editOn 4 September 2020, the town hall was designated a Category I Historic Place byHeritage New Zealand,reflecting the building's "outstanding international and national significance". Since the early 2000s, there has been an effort to recognise modernist architecture and the town hall is an exemplar of a brutalist building.[21]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^"Christchurch Town Hall for the Performing Arts".Vbase.Retrieved1 December2018.
- ^"Christchurch City Council votes to save Town Hall".3 News NZ.22 November 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2014.Retrieved21 November2012.
- ^Mosley, M. (1885). "Historical".Illustrated Guide to Christchurch and Neighbourhood.J. T. Smith & Co. pp. 26–27.Retrieved14 February2012.
- ^"City Hall site: opinion of architects".Sun.Vol. VII, no. 1942. 6 May 1920. p. 7.Retrieved5 February2022.
- ^abHelms, Ruth (1996).The architecture of Cecil Wood(PDF)(PhD).University of Canterbury.p. 97.
- ^"The Christchurch Town Hall".Christchurch City Libraries.Retrieved21 April2011.
- ^"Christchurch City Council: Civic Offices"(PDF).Christchurch City Libraries.Retrieved21 April2011.
- ^abcLochhead, Ian."Distinguished, with X-ray clarity sound: Christchurch Town Hall".Architecture Now.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^abRadich, Eva (1 March 2019)."The story behind the sound of the rebuilt Christchurch Town Hall".RNZ.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^Marshall, Harold (2014)."The acoustical design of the Christchurch town hall"(PDF).Journal of Building Acoustics.21(1).Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^Cox, Trevor (5 March 2015)."10 of the world's best concert halls".The Guardian.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^abc"Christchurch Town Hall".Venues Ōtautahi.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^"Martin Setchell brings the magnificent Christchurch Town Hall organ back to life".RNZ.5 March 2019.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^"Christchurch town hall, convention centre could be demolished".The New Zealand Herald.17 May 2011.Retrieved6 June2011.
- ^"Christchurch City Council votes to save Town Hall".3 News NZ.22 November 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2014.Retrieved21 November2012.
- ^Young, Rachel; Cairns, Louis (13 August 2013)."Town Hall restoration takes 4 years".The Press.Retrieved14 August2013.
- ^Cairns, Louis; Young, Rachel (14 August 2013). "Council staff firmly behind restoration of Town Hall".The Press.p. A2.
- ^Marshall, Peter (August 2013)."Christchurch Town Hall for Performing Arts: CCC Workshop Final Design Report"(PDF).Warren and Mahoney.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 6 April 2015.Retrieved9 July2016.
- ^"Town Hall repair a third of the way through"Scoop, 13 June 2016.
- ^Hayward, Michael (24 February 2019)."Public gets first taste of $167m Christchurch Town Hall restoration".The Press.Retrieved4 March2019.
- ^Kenny, Lee (4 September 2020)."Christchurch Town Hall granted top national heritage status".Stuff.Retrieved4 September2020.
External links
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