The festival, presented by Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and City Making, takes a closer look at the city’s coastal identity through its architecture.
Among the 50 buildings to feature in the programme are New Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, South Brighton
Surf Life Saving Club, He Puna Taimoana and St Faith’s Church.
This selection prompts attendees to consider the different approaches – historical and contemporary – to the demands of the seaside environment, in terms of design and materials.
Each building has a unique story to tell. St Faith’s encapsulates the growth of the area as its congregation numbers swelled, leading to the construction of the current church, while He Puna Taimoana is a key post-quake catalyst building set to rejuvenate the area and connect it to both the coastal margin and the city around it.
There are also activities running at each site that allow attendees to delve deeper into the spaces they are visiting. Free architectural tours are available at the surf clubs and the hot pools, in addition to team tours at the latter.
In an effort to open the city to more people during the festival, Te Pūtahi has worked with partners in the disability sector and appointed an accessibility advisor.
The 2023 programme features activities such as a guided walk through three New Brighton buildings, as well as improved accessibility information for all 50 buildings.
Festival organisers invite one and all to come out and celebrate Greater Brighton’s architecture and the role these buildings play in the culture and life of the area.
Apart from a handful of limited entry buildings and guided walks (which are $5 plus booking fees), Open Christchurch is free.
The programme includes more than 30 activities – talks, tours and exhibitions.
• For the full programme, timetable of activities and accessibility information, visit openchch.nz.
