Described by Christchurch mayor Bob Parker as “another little ray of sunshine into the heart of Christchurch” it was apt that the brightly coloured converted shipping containers of the Cashel Street pop-up mall opened their doors to the people of Christchurch on a sun-drenched Saturday at the end of October. Those that came would have done so with mixed emotions, and for a variety of reasons. The energy and bustle of opening day and of the days since, has breathed much-needed life into the voids that are now common to this part of our city.

In combination with Ballantynes and the housing of Kathmandu in a temporary concrete tilt slab building, 60-odd shipping containers have been arranged to create two temporary shopping precincts to either side of Cashel Mall. The project has transformed the rubble that was formerly Whitcoulls to the north side of the mall, and the Guthrey Centre to the south in one of the first steps in engaging the people of Christchurch with their city centre again.

A transformed container for the purpose of retail is one thing, providing a spatial experience that is inviting, comfortable, engaging and memorable is a social imperative. Working alongside the Buchan Group and Leighs Construction, Rough and Milne Landscape Architects donated our services in landscape design with the intention of injecting life, cheerfulness and colour into the external space of the two precincts.  

It soon became apparent that in order to meet the tight timeframe, and the non-existent budget for landscape, we would have to be involved in the implementation as well. Using our network of resources and relationships, we were able to collaborate with a significant number of people who helped us source a huge portion of donated and reduced price landscape materials to contribute to the project.  

The realisation of the vision relied heavily upon the munificence of the Colour me Christchurch group, Wai-ora Nursery, Greening the Rubble and in particular Lincoln University landscape architecture student volunteers and friends who helped shovel, plant and water during the 48 hours prior to opening. Given the impediments of scaffolding, welding rigs, scissor lifts, cherry pickers and an army of construction workers to negotiate this was a challenging and at times frustrating logistical exercise. 

John Suckling chair of the Re:START Trust was quoted as saying he hoped the project would be “funky and interesting”. I think it is and further to this it provides an interesting and thought-provoking portal to the form of a future inner city Christchurch. The-off-the-grid spatial arrangement provides for sheltered spaces with the built form allowing the sun to permeate.  People are enjoying this, as do the petunias, sunflowers and wildflowers, and it is extremely rewarding to see this in the place we helped create. Temporary is a word that has taken on a new definition in Christchurch post earthquakes, in this case the longer the better, as our city needs it.