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STYLE | rebuild 39<br />
AT LAST…<br />
I would prefer a conservation approach over a<br />
reinstatement approach, and perhaps this is what the<br />
Synod plans, but just haven’t articulated it very well to<br />
date.<br />
A conservation approach starts with a conservation<br />
plan that outlines the history and identifies all<br />
the values that the Cathedral possesses, such as<br />
architectural, cultural, urban design, historic, amenity,<br />
spiritual etc. These values will drive the approach as to<br />
how to repair and rebuild the building. They will also<br />
enable us to consider changes to the original building<br />
as well as possible new contemporary “interventions”.<br />
And what would we reinstate back to? Take the<br />
spire, for example: is it to be reinstated to Sir Gilbert<br />
Scott’s original design, or Benjamin Mountfort’s altered<br />
design (as built)? And if the latter, is it to the original<br />
that was built, or the firebricks and copper repair after<br />
the 1888 earthquake, or the timber and copper repair<br />
after the 1901 earthquake?<br />
If we accept a 1901 non-original spire design<br />
brought about by earthquake structural requirements,<br />
what similar structural changes could we accept now<br />
for the same reasons? And what changes would<br />
be accepted to allow for more modern liturgical<br />
approaches, or to allow for the tourists, or whatever<br />
becomes important in the future? There are many<br />
decisions that will require careful thought.<br />
Buildings need to change over time in order to<br />
remain relevant, even cathedrals (hence the addition<br />
of a visitor’s centre a number of years ago). What<br />
other changes need to be made at this stage and how<br />
can we take this opportunity to incorporate them in a<br />
clever, appropriate and perhaps contemporary way?<br />
I trust the synod and its architects will be looking<br />
at how the building can be conserved and not merely<br />
reinstated. I look forward to seeing the proposed<br />
drawings and final built result.<br />
ChristChurch Cathedral 1880s.<br />
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