Style: December 01, 2017

30 STYLE | rebuild
Stranges building, Melissa Rogers
These projects show how
adaptable architects must be
in dealing with the varying
requirements of different
building types.
St Andrew’s College Chapel, Jane Rooney
Transpower offices in Hornby, Jennie Lee
Isaac Theatre Royal
For example, the project architect for
the new St Andrew’s College Chapel was
Jane Rooney of Architectus. Interestingly,
the architect for the original chapel on the
site, which was completed in 1955 and
demolished after the earthquakes, was one of
New Zealand’s first full-time female architects,
Margaret Munro. I have been in both chapels
over the years. While the Munro chapel had
a simple traditional elegance to it – inside and
out – the new chapel is more dynamic with
its twin-gabled form and, unlike the original,
opens out with a folded glass wall to the river.
The red brick “heritage” wall facing Normans
Road not only incorporates bricks from
the former chapel but a number of iconic
memorabilia pieces and the original stainedglass
window.
Another female architect who is
contributing to the changing face of the
Christchurch post-earthquake landscape is
Jennie Lee of Dalman Architects. Lee has
completed a variety of buildings including the
Transpower office building in Hornby, the
Russley Retirement Village community centre
– incorporating its main reception, dining and
bar, commercial kitchen, billiard room, cinema,
hairdresser and offices – and the award
winning Acland House boarding hostel for
Christchurch Girls’ High School.
These projects show how adaptable
architects must be in dealing with the varying
requirements of different building types.
Styles for each building differ considerably,
from the rational glazed Transpower
office building, to the softer timber-gabled
community centre for the retiree residents
(opened last year by Sir John Key), to the
historic Acland House re-planning, extension
and refurbishment.
Compared with Auckland, Christchurch has
been a bit slow in promoting the talents of
our female architects. Is there another Zaha
Hadid awaiting within our profession locally
and are we doing enough to promote our
city’s female architects?
SOME OF CHRISTCHURCH’S OTHER TOP
FEMALE ARCHITECTS
Vanessa Carswell
A principal architect at Warren and Mahoney,
Vanessa Carswell has worked on many
major Christchurch projects, including the
Isaac Theatre Royal redevelopment, King
Edward Barracks, Metro Sports Centre and
the Christchurch Transport Interchange. She
previously worked for six years in London,
where she was involved in projects like the
renovation of the Great Northern Hotel and
King’s Cross London.
Melissa Rogers
An associate at Sheppard & Rout, Melissa
Rogers has worked on major projects
including the Stranges building and the
Burwood Hospital redevelopment. She
studied in Christchurch and spent three
years working in London before returning to
Canterbury.
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