Reconnection to Cleared Site in Christchurch: Architecture for the Rememberer

Abstract

The loss of life and buildings due to the devastating and continuing earthquakes in Canterbury (since 9th September, 2010) have created a need to examine the issue of memory with concerns to architecture in a New Zealand context. This thesis was initiated with concern to addressing the cleared (destroyed, demolished) buildings of Christchurch and architecture's role in reconnecting Cantabrians mnemonically to the cleared sites in their city. This is an investigation of architecture's ability to trigger memories in order to specifically address the disorientation experienced by Cantabrians subsequent to the loss of built fabric in their city. The design intention is to propose an architectural method for reconnecting people's memories with site, which will have implications to other sites throughout the city of Christchurch. Consequently, two significant sites of destruction have been chosen, the Methodist Church site at 309 Durham St (community) and the house at 69 Sherborne St (domestic). With the only original material left on these cleared sites being the ground itself, two issues were made apparent. Firstly, that ground should play a significant role in substantiating the memory of the site(s), and secondly the necessary task of designing a mnemonic language without tangible links (other than ground). Collective memory is examined with regards to theory by Maurice Halbwachs, Piere Nora, and Peter Carrier. Design exploration of mnemonic language is developed with concern to issues of collective and individual memory. Individual memory theory of Gaston Barchelard, Marcel Proust and Frances Yates are discussed. This research resulted in two opposing design strategies, one that is Referential and conducive to collective memory through use of mass and surfaces, the second strategy Experiential, aligning with an idea of individual memory by use of layers and the cut as an analytical tool. These strategies, along with archetypes such as doors and staircases (as discussed later in relation to phenomenology and semiotics), became essential to the design process and final outcomes. As a result, Referential and Experiential moments have been designed to occur at looking through a window, entering through a door, or ascending up a stairway. The resulting architectural interventions are significant in addressing use of mnemonic language to reorientate Cantabrians to cleared site in their central city.