Undergraduate students from Lincoln University’s School of Landscape Architecture are bringing their concepts for the development of Christchurch’s red zone to the public at a display in The Palms this week.
The students are in their third year of a four year degree and have spent the last semester focusing on issues around environmental and social sustainability. Specifically they have been designing sustainable landscapes for housing and recreation in the hardest-hit parts of Christchurch.
On display from 6th-13th November will be a range of alternative scenarios for rehousing red zone residents and for the way the red zone could be used.
“One of the aspects of the degree courses at Lincoln University that we are very strong on is real-world application of what the students are learning. The earthquakes in Canterbury – while unfortunate in so many ways – have given the students plenty of opportunity to work on projects that are worthwhile and can have an impact on the local community. The students have had to consider not just the physical landscape but also social needs of the community they are designing for. It has challenged them and visitors to The Palms will see some well-thought out results,” says Head of School, Neil Challenger.
“The skills the students are learning here at this time will serve them and the communities they end up working in, extremely well in the future”.
The School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University is New Zealand’s oldest and is playing a significant part in the recovery work in Canterbury. Students and staff have been involved with the red zone project, the CBD Restart project and Greening the Rubble sites around the city.
Pictured: Ksenia Aleksandrova's design idea for Horseshoe Lake