Architecture guide

Push play when you are across the street from 65 Cambridge Tce to understand the beginnings of the Christchurch Modern with former Warren & Mahoney architect Barry Dacombe, who worked here with Sir Miles Warren in the 1960s.

Architects: Warren & Mahoney, 1962

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Listen to colourful memories from a former Warren & Mahoney architect as he shares the stories of a few famous parties related to this building once owned the late Sir Miles Warren.

Architects: Warren & Mahoney, 1962

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Stand outside Cuningham House and push play to hear Kate Russell from the Christchurch City Council Parks Unit tell the story of a family rift that resulted in the construction of this classic English orangery.

Architects: Collins & Harman, 1923

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Tour the tropical house with Botanic Gardens director Wolfgang Bopp.

Push play just inside the main entrance to join Botanic Gardens director Wolfgang Bopp and discover banana palms, coffee trees and (if you are lucky) the rare corpse flower.

Architects: Collins & Harman, 1923

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Learn the story of the world's only purpose-built hospital chapel which commemorates nurses who died in WW1.

When the chapel is open (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1.00pm - 3.00pm) you can step inside to hear the story of the 10 South Island nurses who lost their lives on a troop ship in the Aegean Sea.

Architects: Collins and Harman, 1927

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Explore the treasures of the museum that commemorates the World War 1 nurses who were killed in a torpedo strike in the Aegean Sea. 

When the chapel is open (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1pm - 3pm), you can explore the treasures of the museum with former nurse and chair the of Nurses Memorial Chapel Trust, Robyn Bisset. 

Architects: Collins and Harman, 1927 

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Learn about the history of this theatre, built in 1908, and its post-quake restoration.

Stand opposite the theatre on Gloucester Street to hear heritage expert and theatre board member Dame Anna Crighton describe some of the features of the building facade and why its restoration meant so much to the city.

Architects: Sidney and Alfred Luttrell, 1908

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Discover an original chandelier and learn about the theatre's new approach to the "cheap seats". 

Look inside when the box office is open (Tuesday – Friday from 10.00am – 5.00pm), you can head into the foyer and then up the stairs and the lift to discover an original chandelier and learn about the theatre's new approach to the "cheap seats". 

Architects: Sidney and Alfred Luttrell, 1908 

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Meet Judy Mackenzie, who started work at the Isaac Theatre Royal in 1948 when she was just 14. She worked there for more than 50 years, becoming the manager and living in the flat above the theatre.

Architects: Sidney and Alfred Luttrell, 1908

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Hear haunting stories from former theatre manager Judy Mackenzie and long-time employee Lianne Hawthorne.

Architects: Sidney and Alfred Luttrell, 1908

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Mountfort's twist on Gothic Revival

Stand on Worcester Boulevard and push play to learn about how colonial values are reflected in this - the first purpose-built university building designed in New Zealand - from architectural historian Ian Lochhead.

Architect: Benjamin Mountfort, 1881-82

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Rutherford and other change makers.

Start in the quad to hear about some of the people who studied or taught in these buildings and went on to change the world.

Architect: Benjamin Mountfort, 1881-82

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Spot the pounamu.

Stand on the opposite side of Gloucester Street to discover exterior details of this modernist, purpose-built art gallery with Pippin Wright-Stow, who managed the restoration of the building post-quake.

Architects: Minson, Henning Hansen & Dines, 1968

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An artwork in itself.

Head up the stairs into the Ō Raki Mair Gallery and push play to learn about this modernist, purpose-built gallery with Pippin Wright-Stow, who worked on the restoration of the building post-quake.

Architects: Minson, Henning Hansen & Dines, 1968

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Nurturing arts since 1880.

Stand outside the gallery to hear about the Canterbury Society of Arts and its role in supporting arts in Christchurch for more than 140 years.

Architects: Minson, Henning Hansen & Dines, 1968

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An unexpected space.

Head to the ground floor lifts to get up close to the raw concrete shear walls that strengthen the building with Pippin Wright-Stow, who worked on the restoration of the building post-quake.

Architects: Minson, Henning Hansen & Dines, 1968

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Discover the details of this timber Gothic church.

Push play outside the church near the bell tower to hear about the significance of this early Christchurch building and some teenage mischief associated with the bell tower in the 1850s.

Architects: William Fitzjohn Crisp, Frederick Strouts, 1872

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A look inside the timber Gothic interior.

Immerse yourself in a forest of native matai timber posts.

When the church is open you can step inside the north door and push play to join architectural historian Jenny May and discover the details of this stunning Gothic timber interior.

Architects: William Fitzjohn Crisp, Frederick Strouts, 1872

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Is this New Zealand's best example of Italian Renaissance Revival Architecture?

Stand on the OGB bar side the Old Government Buildings and push play to learn about how this building marked a turning point for colonial Christchurch with architectural historian and building conservator Jenny May.

Architect: Joseph Maddison, 1913

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Find the "thief resisting" strong room doors.

Stand at the base of the Grand Staircase and push play to discover the details of this Italian Renaissance Revival building and learn about the people who worked here with architectural historian Jenny May.

Architect: Joseph Maddison, 1913

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Designing for Christchurch's identity

Stand on the Cathedral side of Tūranga to hear how this building was designed in partnership with mana whenua to reflect the cultural heritage of Ōtautahi Christchurch with Joseph Hullen of Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Carsten Auer of Architectus.

Architects: Architectus & Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects with Ngāi Tūāhuriri & Matapopore, 2018

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A study in concrete .

Start at the rear of the Town Hall on The Commons to hear about this iconic and first-of-its kind building, which became the living room of the city, with architectural historian Dr Jessica Halliday.

Architects: Warren & Mahoney, 1972

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