Architectural Style
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre designed in collaboration with the region’s iwi (Ngāi Tahu and hapū Ngāi Tūāhuriri). The construction was delayed, finally beginning in 2017. It was due to open in 2020 but the Covid-19 pandemic pushed it back, with it finally opening on 17 December 2021. Each tile was individually placed on 1605 panels using 43,000 herringbone tiles. The design was chosen to represent the Southern Alps and Christchurch’s braided rivers, the Heathcote, the Waimakariri and the Rakaia rivers. The whole design was intended to reflect the natural beauty of Christchurch’s mountains, rivers, and lands, as well as the unique culture of the Canterbury region.
History and Significance
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre was specifically placed in the dynamic and energetic centre of Christchurch, as it is an important part of what makes Te Pae connected to its community and environment. Te Pae sits on an important site for the tangata whenua (people of the land) as the local Māori lived, harvested and traded food here. Around 1000-1500 AD Te Pae’s site was home of Puari, an early Waitaha pā, an important resource of natural resources. The area later became the location of a market where Māori came to sell their produce. Te Pae has been a meeting place throughout New Zealand history and has now become a meeting place in current times.
Use of Space and Materials in the Building’s Design
Te Pae Convention Centre has a lot of rooms to accommodate many different needs including a 1400 seated tiered auditorium and 24 meeting rooms for 2-20 000 people. Te Pae was designed as Christchurch’s main gathering place. It was created to offer practical, engaging and beautiful spaces for locals and visitors alike. Te Pae’s rooms also have a lot of cool features. For example, the Exhibition Hall has movable walls for the flexiblity of events (2800m2 of floor space (expandable up to 3300m2)). The interior of the auditorium draws inspiration from Lake Ellesmere and the Exhibition Hall has woven acoustic wall paneling which helps with the acoustics and shows the traditional weaving techniques of Māori.
Referenceshttps://www.tepae.co.nz/
https://www.christchurchnz.com/meet/venues-event-services/venues/te-pae-christchurch-convention-centre
https://www.aurecongroup.com/projects/property/te-pae-christchurch-convention-centre\
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Pae_Christchurch_Convention_Centre#:~:text=Construction%20was%20further%20delayed%2C%20finally,project%20cost%20of%20NZ%24450%2C000%2C000