Authenticity and Change: A Framework for Examining Post-Earthquake Outcomes for the Christchurch Cathedral in Aotearoa New Zealand
Loading...
Files
Size: 15.49 MB, File format: Adobe PDF
Date
Authors
Vallis, Stacy
Ingham, Jason
Gatley, Julia
Supervisor
Item type
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Abstract
The Canterbury earthquake sequence (2010–2011) resulted in damage to historic unreinforced masonry cathedral and church precincts in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, where significant schemes of post-earthquake remediation have taken place. Public and church communities, government authorities, and conservation experts constitute decision-making stakeholders who are often, but not always, collectively motivated to retain historic architectural characteristics and religious traditions. International theories for conserving authenticity offer specialist guidance; however, there is a critical gap between institutional discourse and actual heritage outcomes shaped by the local decision-making. Using archival materials, local history records, and conservation planning documentation, we explore the construction of the city’s Anglican cathedral, known as Christ Church Cathedral, and post-earthquake proposals and interventions from the 19th century to the present day. The novelty of this study lies in investigating tensions between heritage values, material conservation, community engagement, and financial constraints, as demonstrated by the production of post-earthquake design responses, ranging from ruination and preservation through to reconstruction and complete redesign, presented using a thematic assessment framework. Analysing the site’s history of construction and conservation reveals a multidimensional authenticity, evolving from a focus on retaining materiality to a greater acceptance of change to heritage sites, consistent with global and local trends.
Description
Keywords
33 Built Environment and Design, 4302 Heritage, Archive and Museum Studies, 3301 Architecture, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology, 330103 Architectural heritage and conservation, 370903 Natural hazards, 330110 Sustainable architecture, 1201 Architecture, 1202 Building, 2102 Curatorial and Related Studies, 3301 Architecture, 4005 Civil engineering, 4302 Heritage, archive and museum studies, Authenticity, Cathedral, Christchurch, church, cultural heritage conservation, earthquakes, retrofit, SDG11: sustainable cities and communities, unreinforced masonry
Source
International Journal of Architectural Heritage, ISSN: 1558-3058 (Print); 1558-3066 (Online), Informa UK Limited, 1-21. doi: 10.1080/15583058.2026.2716404
Publisher's version
Rights statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Permanent link
Collections
Endorsement
Review
Supplemented By
Referenced By
Creative Commons license
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 4.0