KING EDWARD BARRACKS
Project description.
The Christchurch riverside site where the King Edward Barracks were once located has a long and rich history of habitation and use, making the site an area of cultural significance. The development consists of commercial, residential and parking buildings arranged to frame urban spaces.
The design of the landscape and buildings expresses and celebrates the strong cultural and historical bond of Ngāi Tahu (the principal Māori iwi or people of New Zealand’s southern region) to the site, and the subsequent use by Europeans.
The gardens and open urban spaces on the site are intended to be public spaces with a strong pedestrian focus. The central garden in particular is intended to be a ‘people place’, ensuring an area for safe pedestrian movement and space for informal gathering.
Up to 1500 workers will eventually occupy the site, including 350 public servants. With four commercial buildings, walkways, a car park building and row of apartments, the development takes up the entire riverside block.
To reduce capital costs for Ngāi Tahu, simple low energy strategies of form, fabric and orientation were augmented by a centralised servicing strategy. These include central plant with ground source aquifer heating and shared reticulation.
SINCE THE 1930S THERE HAVE BEEN TWO POLICE HEADQUARTERS ON THE SITE, THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH IMPLODED AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES.
KEB Commercial Buildings.
The brief from Ngāi Tahu Property required the development to reflect the values of Ngāi Tahu and to record the varied Ngāi Tahu and European history of the site. Phase One of the $85 million development
