The 2019 re-opening of the Christchurch Town Hall is celebrated in this
richly illustrated volume. Threatened with demolition following
earthquake damage in 2011, the building has been renewed through seismic
strengthening, restoration and repair. With contributions from those who
shaped its original design, along with accounts of the renewal project
and the story of the hall's Rieger organ, this book explains why the
Christchurch Town Hall is of both national and international
significance. It will appeal to a diverse range of readers, from
architects and acousticians, to musicians and those who seek a better
understanding of what makes it such an outstanding performance venue, as
well as to citizens who take pride in their town hall. Opened in 1972,
the Christchurch Town Hall was acclaimed for its architectural
excellence and established the national reputation of its designers,
Warren & Mahoney. Harold Marshall's acoustic design brought
international recognition and helped to transform the way concert halls
were designed around the world. Serving as the city's leading concert
venue for almost forty years, the Christchurch Town Hall has been
acclaimed by performers as diverse as Leonard Bernstein, Kiri Te Kanawa
and Carlos Santana. Yet it was always more than just a performance
venue, becoming the focus for many of the city's civic, social, cultural
and educational rituals. In 2019 the renewed town hall became, once
more, Christchurch's 'public living room'.
