The festival will be returning for its fifth edition from 2 – 4 May to shine the light on Christchurch’s buildings and landscapes of architectural, cultural and historical significance.
Washington Reserve Skatepark at Open Christchurch 2024 (1998; Convic, 2014). Photo by Peanut Productions.
Te Pūtahi director Jessica Halliday encourages those who have a building they’d like included in the 2025 festival to make a nomination.
“Every year the public nominations process results in us opening up new and surprising works of architecture for public access over the Open Christchurch weekend,” Ms Halliday says.
“So, if there’s a building that you think is special, and hasn’t been included in Open Christchurch before – please tell us about it.”
Open Christchurch offers the chance to experience great design first-hand and access buildings or parts of buildings that are normally off limits.
The final selection of buildings and sites will be decided by Te Pūtahi’s Building Council, who will consider the ways buildings can be exceptional, including design excellence, rarity, contribution to the city’s history and sense of place, significance to Māori architecture and history, innovation, sustainability and heritage significance.
Nominations requires permission from the building owner and occupier. Being nominated is not a commitment to participate in Open Christchurch 2025.
The nominations form and the complete list of building criteria can be found on the Open Christchurch website. Nominations close on 11 September 2024.
Image: New Brighton Surf Life Saving Club (South by Southeast Architects with Snøhetta, 2021), photo by Sarah Rowlands.