The Star: May 03, 2018

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Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday May 3 2018
Fire rages, homes at risk
PLEASANT: The South Frame’s Evolution Square
is proving a nice spot for people to soak up the
sun.
POPULAR: BNZ Centre’s Cashel Lobby, which is
accessed by various laneways, is another popular
courtyard that works well.
ORIGINAL: Strange’s Lane was the first post-quake
laneway to be established.
Laneways link central city
Christchurch is
becoming a city
of laneways and
courtyards, with
many developments
taking inspiration from
Melbourne. Bridget
Rutherford reports
PEOPLE SIT in the sun on the
benches eating their lunches and
chatting in the newly-finished
Evolution Square.
In the heart of the Innovation
Precinct, the new public space is
buzzing. Next door, Little High
Eatery is a hive of activity.
Nearby, the site where Poplar
Lane once stood is now home to
eateries, and Vanguard Square,
another courtyard for people to
relax in.
Over in Cashel Lobby in the
BNZ Centre, people wander in
through the different laneways to
buy their lunches and sit on seats
and beanbags – the courtyard
sheltered from the wind.
The Terrace development is
nearby. Oxford Lane, which runs
between two of the buildings,
provides a place for revellers to
enjoy a drink at the tables under
the glow of hanging lights.
This was the city council and
Government’s vision for the central
city – activating the spaces
in between the buildings, much
like Melbourne.
And now, it’s becoming reality.
Both Evolution and Vanguard
Squares are part of Government
anchor project the South Frame.
It will eventually join the Innovation
and Health Precincts.
It is made up of five pedestrian
lanes and eight vehicular access
lanes, which run from north to
south. It also has four gathering
spaces, while a spine known as
the Greenway would run right
through the middle from east to
west.
ACCESS: The architects behind The Crossing
visited Melbourne to take inspiration for the
laneways through the development. Right: Oxford
Lane in The Terrace will provide a place for people
to sit and socialise in between two buildings.
Otakaro South Frame project
manager Cameron Mclean said
Evolution Square was an example
of how well it had worked.
He said the project’s laneways
and gathering spaces were a
catalyst for further private development
in those blocks.
“Having these public spaces
on their doorstep encourages
developers to deliver the likes of
hospitality and retail ventures
that spill out onto the laneways
and make this an appealing part
of the city for people.”
Melbourne’s laneways were
inspiration for the South Frame’s
potential, but they tried to add
a unique layer to the design
through collaboration with
Matapopore, Mr Mclean said.
For example, the garden beds
were filled with plants traditionally
used by Ngai Tahu and
stones used for tools or trading
had been placed throughout the
frame, he said.
Otakaro would continue to divest
land adjoining the laneways
to parties to develop them to
attract people to the central city,
he said.
The concept of laneways
and courtyards was part of the
CONTRAST:
The once
popular Sol
Square is a
shadow of
its former
self.
PHOTOS:
MARTIN
HUNTER
central city blueprint, developed
after the quakes in 2012.
But the idea of enhancing
these spaces was around before
then.
The city council was in the
process of upgrading its existing
laneways before the February 22,
2011, earthquake.
The Central City Lanes Plan
identified lanes that had the
potential to be successful like the
popular Sol Square and Poplar
Lane.
But when the February 22,
2011, earthquake hit, that plan
was paused, and both Poplar
Lane and Sol Square were severely
damaged.
While new buildings have
popped up in Poplar Lane’s
place, Sol Square is a shadow of
its former self.
The red Mini Cooper teeters
above the square where weeds
grow up through the cracks in
the pavement, and graffiti covers
the buildings and windows.
Some evidence of its past remains
– the faded signs for once
popular The Fish and Chip Shop
and Toast and the large musical
notes on the side of one of the
buildings.
Sol Square is, however, rising
from the ashes, with developer
Dave Henderson’s plans to restore
the complex to its former
glory.
Since the quakes, other private
developments were also including
laneways and courtyards in
their designs.
Strange’s Lane was the first.
The lane which runs between
Lichfield and High Sts has a
similar feel to the old Sol Square
and Poplar Lane with brick
buildings, hanging lighting, bars
and eateries.
It was the brainchild of developer
Shaun Stockman.
He said Strange’s Lane took
inspiration from Melbourne
laneways – not too wide and
intimate.
“I had a break there just after
the quakes and it gave me the
idea.”
Mr Stockman said there was
an arcade on the site in the
1960s.
He said the work happening
now with laneways was a follow
on from the work the city council
had done before the quakes.
The Crossing opened last year.
It is made up of several buildings
which are all interconnected.
The man behind the development,
Philip Carter said while
there was a planning requirement
to incorporate laneways
within The Crossing, they were
happy to do it.
“The laneways create interest
and encourage discovery. We invested
in the architecture of the
development, and the laneways
gave us an opportunity to showcase
the architecture and make
the spaces interesting.”
Mr Carter said the architects
visited Melbourne early in the
design process and they used its
laneways as inspiration.
He said they created an “interesting
CBD” and spaces where
people would want to spend
time.
FAST FACTS
The South Frame will
consist of:
Pedestrian lanes:
Hauora Lane
Swamp Hen Lane
Cotters Lane
Little High Lane
Butchers Lane
Vehicular access lanes:
Waiora Lane
Mauri Ora Lane
Lava Lane
Te Pohue Lane
Sugarloaf Lane
Mata Lane
Memory Lane
Nurseryman Lane
Gathering spaces:
Kahikatea Common
Matai Common
Vanguard Square
Evolution Square
The Greenway will run
through the middle of
the South Frame
Richard Peebles has included
laneways in his McKenzie and
Willis complex which will
eventually link to the Duncan’s
Buildings he’s restoring.
He plans to connect his Riverside
development, due to open at
the end of the year, with a new
building to be constructed on
the former Guthrey Centre site,
to link it with Ballantynes.
Much of the South Frame is
expected to be finished by the
end of the year.
Land Information New Zealand
is working to acquire the
remaining land needed. Three
are still to be finalised.
The laneways are opening
progressively.
But while some of the city’s old
laneways are gone, some of the
new ones reflect on their history.
One of the lanes leading into
the BNZ Centre’s Cashel Lobby
is called Shades Lane, a reference
to the former Shades Arcade
which once stood there.
People moving through Evolution
Square have a chance to
literally walk down Memory
Lane, a tribute to the labyrinth of
past lanes in the area.