Landscape award won before completion

Press, 6 October 1989, Page 16

Landscape award won before completion

Perhaps the best recommendation the new Victoria Square has is that it won a prestigious landscaping award before it was completed.

This year, the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects awarded the George Malcolm Award of Excellence to the entry, “The Redevelopment of Victoria Square," submitted by the Christchurch City Council’s landscape architecture division.

Commenting on the winning entry, the selection panel said Victoria Square was “more of a park than a square, the completed project is an excellent example of city reconstruction.”

Mr Gary Bateman, the senior landscape architect with the Christchurch City Council, has been involved with the Victoria Square project since 1983 when a preliminary concept plan was drawn up. “The plan created considerable interest when we released the document. Then, in 1985, submissions were called for and 42 were received. “It seemed that our basic concept was acceptable, but we havd intended to shift the floral clock and Bowker Fountain from Victoria Square. Christchurch people obviously wanted them to stay,” Mr Bateman said.

Before the final plan was drawn an advisory committee was set up with representatives from the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, the New Zealand Institute of Architects, Christchurch Civic Trust, New Zealand Planning Institute, Historic Places Trust and the North of the Square Business Association.

“The redevelopment would have started earlier, but in 1986 the proposal to build a tower in Victoria Square held us up. When the proposal was finally dropped we were able to get back to detailing the plans/’ The amphitheatre in front of the new Parkroyal Hotel and Town Hall became stage one of the redevelopment. Being an enclosed “architectural” space, the area was designed as a formal gathering place with the main focus being a central civic court in the form of- a sunken paved amphitheatre.

The floral clock was resited and has created a stronger visual link with Chester Street West, the Law Court and the river. Stage one was completed last October to coincide with the Parkroyal opening.

“Since it was completed, the amphitheatre has been used for a variety of outdoor activities such as carols by candlelight and other musical events,” Mr Bateman says.

Stage two, incorporating the original Victoria Square was started in

February. It was designed as a green open space to contrast with the hard surfaces of Cathedral Square and the City Mall.

Full advantage has been made of the river setting. Part of the work involved grading the river bank to make the river a stronger visual feature.

The two statues, Queen Victoria and Captain Scott, have been relocated to more prominent positions on the north-west axis.

The completed area with its attractive paving and seating, along with a meandering river walk is designed to be a “people's place,” offering a range of passive activities to Christchurch people as well as visitors.

Mr Bateman says that stage three, involving the old Victoria Street traffic bridge, was brought forward to be completed with stage two. “The bridge links the two main components of the redevelopment,” Mr Bateman says. “But the bridge was out of scale as a pedestrian way. We therefore removed a portion from the centre reducing the 20 metre road to two four-metre pedestrian walkways which also allow for the passage of a horse and cart and a marching band.”

The central cut-out is bordered by attractive handrailing and lattice work. This was manufactured by an aluminium firm which used a special mould to match the new work with the existing

balustrading. A feature of the bridge is the view of the girders which have supported the bridge since the 1880 s. The bridge was once on the main tram route to Papanui. At the south-east end two sections of tram tracks have been installed to recall the day when trams rumbled through Victoria Square. “One of our aims has been to build in some of the square’s historic elements,” Mr Bateman says. “Victoria Square was once the civic and commercial centre of Christchurch. It had a public station, post office, immigration barracks and a public works office. The square was also known for its market stalls. “Another feature was a Maori Pa which was situated across the river on the Law Courts site. “An old horse ramp dating back to 1874 has been retained and we will be erecting a flagpole similar to the. one which was placed in Victoria Square in 1913, “Other historic features will be remembered with special plaques placed throughout the area. More information will be available on an interpretive bollard. “At present, the council is seeking sponsorships for the historic plaqiies as well as for some of the seating and trees.” The square has been considerably enhanced by the lighting installed by Southpower. This has involved lighting the statues, trees and bollard lighting.