City Mall designers appointed
Isthmus Group has been appointed by the City Council as the lead consultants to develop options and concepts for the proposed new City Mall.
The Isthmus Group was one of nine which submitted a design proposal to the Council late last year for a proposed City Mall redevelopment.
Its urban design and landscape architecture work in cities such as Wellington, Hastings and New Plymouth has won national awards in recent years.
Over the coming months the Isthmus Group, in conjunction with the council, will be undertaking a consultation process to determine desires and aspirations for the area.
"Renewing the City Mall is an essential part of the bigger picture," says Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore. "It is linked to traffic management changes, public transport planning and Central City revitalisation. As the central city is vital to Christchurch's well-being, this is an important project."
The consultation process will run parallel with the design process to produce several big-picture ideas, from which the main design will be drawn.
"We are aware that this project is about much more than creating an attractive area," Garth Falconer, of Isthmus Group says. "The facility is at the heart of the city and it is essential that it works as a public space and a retail and business centre.
The Council is keen to engage with all the users and stakeholders over this process to develop exciting concepts and options for the City Mall, says Ian Hay, the Council's General Manager of Strategic Development.
"We believe it will be a catalyst for renewed energy and vitality in the central city and the impact will be positive for the city as a whole." |
