ICOMOS New Zealand NEWS Te kawerongo hiko o te mana o nga pouwhenua o te ao
June 2012 ISSN 0113-2237 www.icomos.org.nz
Photograph: David James Aldersley courtesy of Tony Rackstraw
Part 1 of the eight part panorama of central Christchurch made by David James Aldersley in 1911 from Christ Church Cathedral. The former Express Company building dominates the mid foreground; the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is in the distant right.
From the Board New Zealand Charter 2010 Heritage New Zealand Pouhere The Maori translation of the charter Taonga Bill
Welcome to New Members has been received and is currently ICOMOS is currently preparing its being cross checked against a back submission on the Heritage New t the May Board meeting we translation from Maori to ensure Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill. welcomed new members compatibility with the English text The Bill, which can be found at Joan McKenzie, and Carolyn A and consistency with terminology http://tinyurl.com/cd4vy3m replaces O’Neil. and definitions in the 1993 NZ the Historic Places Act 1993, and Charter translation. renames the Trust as Heritage New Joan is registration researcher at
NZHPT’s Northern Regional Office, Zealand Pouhere Taonga. It aims to and has a background in history and 2012 AGM planning reform its governance structure and town planning. She has been a This year’s AGM the archaeological authority professional heritage registration will be held in (consent) processes established researcher for the Trust for 15 years. Auckland under the 1993 Act, and introduces celebrating 25 emergency authorities to apply in Carolyn is a Devonport based years since our the event of serious natural disasters. heritage consultant at The Heritage establishment in It was introduced on 4 October Studio Ltd . With a qualification in 1987 and centering on the launch of 2011. Architectural and Building the NZ Charter. Associated Cabinet papers can be Conservation she has 10 years accessed on the MCH website at experience as a built heritage Reserve these dates: Saturday 3 http://www.mch.govt.nz/what-we- specialist in both the UK and New November and Sunday 4 November. do/our-projects/current/review- Zealand. historic-places-act-1993
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Formation of ICOMOS There are also two petitions on Shared Built Heritage (ISCSBH) Change.org asking Spike TV and New Zealand National National Geographic to cancel Scientific committees Stained Glass (ISCV) these programs which put heritage at risk. Please lend your support! Stone (ISCS) ollowing on from the Dubrovnik- Download the full letter.
Valetta principles, the Board is icahm protest.pdf 65.88 KB
Theory and Philosophy of reviewing the roles of members F Conservation and Restoration currently having corresponding member status with International International Training Australian Heritage Scientific Committees (ISCs) as it Committee (CIF) now has an obligation to encourage Strategy development establishment of national scientific Underwater Cultural Heritage committees relating to the ISCs. (ICUCH)
Members will be asked shortly to Vernacular Architecture (CIAV) indicate their interest in networking at the local level on scientific Wood (IWC) committee matters.
n 2010 the Australian Government 20th Century Heritage (ISC20C) decided to develop the Australian For the record, the 26 ISCs currently I Heritage Strategy. The aim of the established by ICOMOS are; Strategy will be to highlight the If you want to find out more about importance of heritage to all Analysis and Restoration of the scope and work of any of these Australians and provide a common Structures of Architectural committees Ctrl+Click on its name to follow the link to its site. direction for the recognition, Heritage (ISCARSAH) protection, commemoration and
celebration of heritage across Archaeological Heritage Australia over the next decade. Management (ICAHM) ICAHM Protests The Strategy will seek to coordinate Cultural Landscapes ICOMOS- Television Programs the significant efforts of government IFLA (ISCCL) That Encourage and the private sector in order to build upon achievements over the Cultural Routes (CIIC) Destruction of past few decades. The Strategy is being prepared in consultation with Archaeological Heritage all state and territory governments, Cultural Tourism (ICTC) and key stakeholder groups and has Earthen Architectural Heritage An open letter the support of the Australian (ISCEAH) from the ICOMOS Heritage Council, the Heritage Scientific Chairs and Officials of Australia and Economics of Conservation Committee on New Zealand and the Australian Council of National Trusts. (ISEC) Archaeological Heritage A public consultation paper has Fortifications and Military Management been released which outlines some Heritage (IcoFort) (ICAHM) to Spike of the current challenges and TV and the National Geographic opportunities in the heritage sector. Heritage Documentation (CIPA) Channel Public comment has been invited from the community on how Historic Towns and Villages The ICOMOS International Scientific Australians can best recognise, (CIVVIH) Committee on Archaeological manage, and interpret their Heritage Management (ICAHM) heritage. Comments received will Interpretation and Presentation joins with the Society for American help guide the development of the of Cultural Heritage Sites (ICIP) Archaeology (SAA), the Register of Australian Heritage Strategy. Professional Archaeologists (RPA), Intangible Cultural Heritage and other organizations that As part of the process to develop (ICICH) represent the concerns of the Strategy, the department professional archaeologists in commissioned nine essays to help Legal, Administrative and expressing our dismay and deep identify key issues facing the Financial Issues (ICLAFI) concern at the airing of television heritage sector. These essays, programs that will encourage located at Mural (Wall) Painting (ISCWP) destruction of our common http://www.environment.gov.au/her archaeological heritage. We call itage/strategy/documents.html aim International Polar Heritage upon the two channels, Spike TV to provoke thought and encourage Committee (IPHC) and the National Geographic discussion amongst the community Channel, to stop broadcasting these about what should be addressed Risk Preparedness (ICORP) programs, which celebrate and in through the development of the that way encourage looting artifacts Strategy. Rock Art (CAR) from battlefields and historic sites.
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Victoria’s
Secret
ost people with a basic churches drew understanding of seismic relatively few visitors MM engineering will be and enjoyed relatively wondering just what has propelled little sponsorship the Anglican Diocese to play its support. Over the cards so close to its chest in the past 4 decades this argument over the future of the country’s heritage has Christ Church Cathedral. been well and truly discovered and And those with the slightest grasp of celebrated. Christ media relations will wonder how it is Church Cathedral, that Bishop Victoria Matthews' like many other fine media advisors haven’t given her Canterbury churches, the simple advice that when an has gained a new informed professional community is recognition as cultural breathing down your neck, and the patrimony, and as a other side has either released or result has attracted leaked most of the significant the support of correspondence and technical significant Lottery reports, that it might now be a good Grants, Council, time to play straight with everyone. private and charitable trust The Bishop, along with quite a few sponsorship. other public figures in Christchurch, has played the safety card many ...the times of late, and this message, not surprisingly, seems to have a growing more we currency with Cantabrians if The learn to live the Weekend Press can be believed. Christian life, the
more the Significantly, in her Easter message entitled Death and Resurrection, unchurched population will Bishop Matthews has flipped out her understand we are not a for the Cathedral to be safely trump card saying “The death and repaired, rebuilt and restored and resurrection of Christ gives us our museum or meet all earthquake code and identity as the children of God, and heritage society. public safety requirements. the more we learn to live the Christian life, the more the The Bishop’s Easter message might Christchurch City Council, NZ Historic unchurched population will still be plausible were it not the case Places Trust and ICOMOS NZ have all sought a pause in the demolition to understand we are not a museum or that Christ Church cathedral facilitate a more open consideration heritage society.” This is little more received $8 million in private and institutional support for its repair of possible restoration. than a reworking of the prevailing programme in 2006, and has more view of Anglican Church recently been pledged $4 million It’s now time for the bishop to openly administrators back in the 1970s towards restoration, by British discuss her engineering advice and which simply put was “Don’t tell us businessman Hamish Ogston. reveal how the Diocese has come to how to look after our property.” its demolition decision. A bit of In recent weeks, the New Zealand openness may just clear the air, and Back then, before many churches Society for Earthquake Engineering even encourage community had found recognition as significant made its views known with a petition commitment to funding the heritage items in district plan signed by 100 seismic engineers, cathedral’s restoration. schedules and in the NZHPT register, who believe it is technically feasible - David Reynolds
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sections of the complex have also high point on the banks of the Heritage @ Risk suffered some damage from falling Otakaro (Avon) River within the masonry and ground spread but, in Puaari Pa site. They are the only general, remain intact. remaining purpose built Provincial Canterbury Provincial Government Buildings nationally. Council Buildings A careful programme of Christchurch deconstruction to make safe and
retrieve material is being Jenny May undertaken. This work is being supervised and undertaken by a n 22 February 2011 the 1865 team experienced in heritage work Stone Chamber of the and spread over a number of O Canterbury Provincial disciplines including archaeologists, Council Buildings collapsed. This historians, a conservation architect, earthquake and the subsequent engineers, stone masons and year of seismic activity have severely construction workers. damaged other parts of the As has been the case with the complex. The Armagh Street stone deconstruction and make safe works tower collapsed; the Bellamy’s wing of all Christchurch’s major heritage and the Durham street stone tower buildings damaged or destroyed by have been considerably damaged; the earthquakes, the retrieval of chimneys have fallen or had to be significant features and materials for removed. later reconstruction or interpretation
has been undertaken in a manner to The former provincial councillors’ The Canterbury Provincial Council ensure that all material is refreshments rooms of 1865, Buildings were designed by Victorian photographed, accurately Bellamys, though strengthened, has Gothic Revival architect Benjamin recorded, conserved and suffered considerable damage due Woolfield Mountfort and built in appropriately stored. to both shaking and lateral ground three stages between 1858 and spread toward the river. The timber 1865. The complex is situated on a At the Provincial Buildings the
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principal focus to date has been on the stone chamber, the area of the most catastrophic collapse and undoubtedly the area of the greatest architectural, craftsmanship and technological significance.
The site has been marked off into numbered grids. Material from each grid is identified and numbered, Interior photos: Jenny May recorded and crated before being placed into storage. Little has remained intact of the wall also remain. chamber’s stained glass windows Large sections of the ridge and however every found fragment is Major items retrieved have included furrow ceiling have been retrieved. carefully collected, recorded and some of the furniture (designed by Stone corbels in part and some stored for examination by a stained the architect of the complex, B W almost complete have been found glass conservator. Mountfort), and the rare double within the rubble and where possible faced clock that graced the identified through existing The encaustic tiles on the east wall northern entrance to the stone photographic records as to their have remained largely intact in situ; chamber. exact position. large areas of the tiling on the west
Photo: David Reynolds
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This was confirmed in the opening session of the General Assembly. Paul Chaplin was the only other New Zealand member present and like me he carried 5 proxy votes.
Issues and activities
Regeneration of ICOMOS membership
For at least the last two triennia, ICOMOS has recognised that it has an ageing membership and that it needs to recruit younger members to its ranks. To summarise the institutional response, ICOMOS through the advisory committee has:
• Limited the duration of holding of offices to a maximum of 9 years (see Dubrovnik Valetta principles for details http://www.icomos.si/documen ts/dubrovnik-valletta.pdf ) • Introduced a standard range of membership classes including a new “young professional” category • Determined that all ICOMOS Ceiling of the 19th-century chapel at Chantilly, part of the half-day field trip conducted as part of the national committees must be assembly. The paint and workmanship is similar to that of the now-fallen Provincial Government incorporated societies Buildings in Christchurch. All photos Kevin Jones • Determined that all ICOMOS national committees must ICOMOS XVIIth General Assembly provide annual reports to Paris and pay the Paris subvention Paris, November 25-December 2, 2012 • Determined that all scientific • International Scientific committees must report likewise Kevin L. Jones Committees (ISCs) (includes and maintain liaison with national committees, and elect Introduction many topics such as tourism, the scientific council fortifications, polar, risk- • Culled non-performing national I am grateful to the New Zealand preparedness, legal and committees (i.e. non-paying National Commission for UNESCO for ICOMOS Pasifika) and non-communicating supporting my travel to the General • The Advisory Committee (all committees) which has led to a Assembly. national committee chairs and situation where there are scientific committee chairs, virtually no Middle East or ICOMOS was founded in 1964 and total about 110 members, African national committees remains the principal international, meets annually) • Issued strict guidance on national and subject-based • The Scientific Council (all chairs committee statutory rules and organisation for heritage of ISCs) approval of use of the ICOMOS logo. professionals throughout the world. • The General Assembly Its key functions are developing Committees (appointed to run Unfortunately, these measures have approaches to heritage philosophy the business of the triennial led to an apparent rift within and practice, the promotion of the General Assemblies) ICOMOS, basically between value of the heritage to government • There is a Paris secretariat, 4 Germany (a large wealthy and business, and advice to the salaried officers based in Paris. committee) and the non-European World Heritage Committee. committees. This is partly rooted in As chairman of the NZ national personalities and partly based in It has several tiers or streams of committee I am a member of the certain disagreements about organisation: advisory committee. It was the first heritage conservation doctrines • The principal officers, President, such committee meeting I have centring around fabric-based on the Secretary General, Treasurer attended. Along with the other one hand and values-driven General and 5 Vice-Presidents officers of the XVIIth General approaches on the other. • Executive Committee (12 Assembly, I was nominated to be Within Europe it might be said there members) head teller, i.e. to run the elections is an unstated community of values, • National Committees for officers for the next triennium. whereas divergence in recognised
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were accepted by the voters and the balance of the 1,000 participants. It was a good result with a good balance between Europe, Asia and the Americas and with Germany/Austria well represented.
My public remarks to the candidates who had not succeeded were well received.
Theme papers The papers part of the conference was in four streams or themes: heritage and regional development, development and the return to the art of building (i.e. traditional trades), tourism and development, and economics of development. I was International Scientific Committee (ISC) speakers at one of the sessions in the cultural tourism able to attend one day of the theme. Second from left, Dr Henry Cleere, and to his right, Richard McKay of Godden McKay Logan, the Australian consulting firm. tourism and development. On the second day of papers I was voters who also carried about 400 attending to the voting and telling value is accepted in the rest of the proxies. No committee may process. world. I am pleased that these have more than 18 votes and no There were some good technical divisions have been effectively voter may carry more than 5 proxies. papers on for example the basis for sealed over by the election process management of Petra (Jordan carried out at the General Assembly. New Zealand with 2 members World Heritage). Visitor numbers present had 12 votes while Australia there have skyrocketed following Membership and revenue with 40+ members present had the some recent Hollywood movies, and Philippe La Hause de la Louviere limit of 18 votes. Following the the site has many woes. Numbers (Mauritius) Treasurer General in the wisdom of the secretariat, we had a need to be restricted and flooding past triennium noted that, following practice vote which produced 60% of the river/gorge which runs two triennia under President Gustavo invalid votes, a second practice run through the most famous parts of Araoz (USA), there had been a produced only about 5% invalid the site needs to be ameliorated. reduction in the number of non- votes so we proceeded to the full financial and non-reporting national vote. There were a number of reflective committees (from120 + to 90 +), a Thankfully, given the rifts within the papers: (1) by Henry Cleere (formerly continued increase in overall ICOMOS community, the results doyen of the World Heritage system) membership within national committees and a concomitant increase in subscription income (from € 250,000 p.a. to € 350,000 p.a.). The total annual income of ICOMOS is about €1,200,000 p.a. (includes grants for programmes such as World Heritage advice). There is an industrial case before the French courts taken by the secretariat staff claiming some € 290,000 for unpaid overtime.
Elections As noted, at the Advisory Committee I was nominated to run the elections. This has been a controversial role in the past, and there have even been legal reviews of the election process. Almost one and a half days of my time at the assembly was consumed by the process. Both the voting procedure and the voting machine (a radio device like a remote control called ‘le boite’) were new to the 400+ Bénedicte Selfslagh (former Secretary-General), Mounir Bouchenaki (Director-General, ICCROM) and President Gustavo Araoz signing an ICCROM/ICOMOS agreement on cooperation.
ICOMOS NZ News June 2012 Page 7 calling for a review of the World convicts sent from their home the Australian national committee Heritage guidelines and (2) by Celia country to New Caledonia. The members. Also, the participation in Martinez Yanez of Granada on the modern Arab/Algerian community is the advisory committee and more pressures on the Alhambra. based in Bourail, New Caledonia, importantly directly in the election and there was a very large turn-out process was a good opportunity to Among the latter’s conclusions were and gift-giving as part of the meet the principal officers of that (1) historic sites cannot be ceremony. ICOMOS (both the past and future made profitable in their own right triennium) and to be assured that but they add to the mix of Christophe is descended from an the financial side of the organisation attractions in an area and (2) she Algerian convict and curated the has been secured. wished it were otherwise, but tourism exhibition. In 2009 he along with Dr was essential to the sustainability of Aidan Challis (N.Z.) carried out the I remain of the view that chairs of historic sites and (3) tourism should ICOMOS external assessment of the ICOMOS New Zealand would be be through the agency of local successful Australian nomination of wise to keep attendance at the people and their activities and their convict sites for inscription on advisory committee in conjunction festivals and accommodation but the World Heritage list, so it was a with the General Assemblies. not pushed by tourism agencies. good working through of ICOMOS connections, influence and However, the main international I had a number of interesting authority. benefit for New Zealand, apart from conversations in the course of the the World Heritage advisory role, is to conference. One with Danish Silje Next General Assembly attempt to achieve a good level of Eroy Solien a PhD student working on This will be held in Florence in 2014 participation in a selected range of the conservation of heritage macuti and will have the theme of ISCs. We already have good (wood and mud) structures in the “Heritage and Landscape as Human contacts and participation and ‘slums’ of Mozambique (blog at Rights”. This is an interesting and ICOMOS New Zealand policy is to http://macuti.wordpress.com). potentially controversial subject to support in a modest financial way large nations with minority issues and some travel for ISC members from Meeting with ICOMOS Pasifika even to issues such as the demolition New Zealand to go to key ISC ICOMOS Pasifika was set up about 3 programme in Christchurch. conferences. years ago as a form of International Conclusions Executive Committee 2011-2014 Scientific Committee (ISC). I met with As noted, I believe there has been secretary Suzie Yee based in Fiji and some healing of divisions within President: Gustavo Araoz (U.S.A.) chairman Dr Christophe Sand. ICOMOS between some European ICOMOS Pasifika had been based in committees and the wider Secretary General: Kirsti Kovanen Vanuatu with the Pacific Islands organisation. Fundamentally, the (Finland) Museums Association (PIMA) but has issues were about how to approach now spun off with a separate the future programme of ICOMOS Treasurer General: Laura Robinson secretary role. (South Africa) and the need to secure younger
Helen Wilson secretary Australia members and also membership in Vice-presidents: ICOMOS, Suzie and I attended a Africa and the Middle East. Kristal Buckley (Australia) moving ceremony at the Institut du My main contacts at the Alfredo Conti (Argentine) Monde Arabe, the opening of an conference were with the Polar Gideon Koren (Israel) exhibition on the life of the Algerian Heritage and the Pasifika ISCs and Benjamin Mouton (France) Guo Zhan (China)
Executive Committee Members: Sofia Avgerinou-Kolonias (Greece) Stefan Belishki (Bulgaria) Dinu Bumbaru (Canada) Francesco Caruso (Italy) Rohit Jigyasu (India) Toshiyuki Kono (Japan) Philippe la Hausse de Lalouvière (Mauritius) Wilfried Lipp (Austria) Christoph Machat (Germany) Olga Orive (Mexico) Hae-Un Rii (Republic of Korea) Grellan Rourke (Ireland) Consultative Committee Chairman M. John Hurd (United Kingdom) Coordinator of Scientific Council: Pamela Jerome (U.S.A.)
Honorary Presidents ICOMOS Pasifika chairman Dr Christophe Sand and secretary Suzie Yee at the opening of the Michael Petzet (Germany); M. exhibition on Algerian convicts in New Caledonia at the Institut du Monde Arabe. Roland Silva (Sri Lanka)
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APT NYC 2013 Training Preserving the Metropolis October 12–15, 2013 New York Marriot Marquis New York City
For more information, contact Conference Manager Dana Saal
ICCROM course Short courses For other training opportunities, check announcements out the Training page on the ICOMOS NZ website at
2012 http://www.icomos.org.nz/docs/Internati ATHAR Programme - Management and onal-shortcourses%20-2011-2012.pdf
Conservation of Cultural Heritage: Sites Photo: Ross Becker and Museum Collections Former Trinity Congregational Church Web weirdness (Octagon Live) in February 2012 5 November – 13 December 2012. Doha, Qatar; Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Last week a Christchurch specialist in Application deadline: 31 August 2012 he past couple of months in the lightweight stone cladding came up with http://www.iccrom.org/eng/01train_en/annou garden city seem stranger than a novel solution to the problems nce_en/2012_11AtharDoha-Sharjah_en.shtml T fiction: April saw the leaking of presented by gravity, lack of cash and cathedral papers continuing wobbles to Mountfort’s first Cultural Heritage Protection in the Asia - followed by Gerry stone church in Christchurch, the 1875 Pacific Region 2012: research, analysis Brownlee’s ‘Big Dump’, former Trinity Congregational church on and preservation of archaeological sites (documents that is). the corner of Worcester and Manchester and remains Meanwhile the country’s Streets. Put simply the (as yet untried) biggest stockpile of solution, according to the Christchurch 4 September – 4 October 2012. Nara, Marmite, 900 jars, Mail is to build a steel frame attached to Japan remained marooned in the exterior, remove the walls, build a Application deadline: 20 June 2012 a Merivale market. steel frame to support walls from the inside, then slice a 25-30 mm veneer from http://www.iccrom.org/eng/01train_en/annou May saw Bob Jones launch his lakeside each stone which will then be glued to nce_en/2012_09archaeological-sites- concept for the central area in the fibre cement board cladding with high Nara_en.shtml Listener, to the delight of everyone but, it performance glue. No hints are given as seems, most of the citizens of to what happens to the interior. International Course on Paper Christchurch and a cardboard bishop Conservation in Latin America was deconstructed by The Wizard and Want more? 17 - 30 October 2012. Mexico City, largely ignored by media. The Ngai Tahu- Bob Jones’ lakeside concept: Mexico owned and Justice Ministry tenanted http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/lake- district-christchurchs-cbd-rebuilding-prospects/ former Durham Street Art Gallery aka the http://www.iccrom.org/eng/01train_en/annou Environment Court, was bowled nce_en/2012_10latam_jpc_MEX_en.shtml because, in ministry speak retaining it Document Dump: The Cathedral file “offers no additional service to the (how to use up your broadband allocation really quickly) Heritage Impact Assessments people of Christchurch”. http://cera.govt.nz/the-cathedral-file 15 - 24 October 2012. Shanghai, China How to make your own Marmite: http://www.iccrom.org/eng/01train_en/annou (not for the faint hearted) nce_en/2012_10ImpactCHN_en.shtml http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-
wine/6603992/DIY-Marmite-only-for-the-brave
2013 Trinity Church veneer proposal: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the- press/news/christchurch-mail/7050517/Trinity- SC13 - Stone Conservation Church-to-be-saved 10 April – 28 June 2013. Rome, Italy Application deadline: 24 August 2012 Durham St Art Gallery/Environment Court: http://www.iccrom.org/eng/01train_en/annou http://www.stuff.co.nz/the- Photo: David Reynolds press/news/christchurch-earthquake- nce_en/2013_04StoneRome_en.shtml Durham St Art Gallery April 2012: “No additional 2011/6590240/Repair-cost-dooms-old-building service...”
Cornerstones: Collaborative Brick saving silliness: If that in itself wasn’t bizarre enough, http://www.nickywagner.co.nz/index.php?/arc Approaches to Preservation Christchurch Central MP Nicky Wagner hives/499-Special-brick-rescued-from- celebrated the recovery of one brick demolition.html APT Charleston 2012 and the from the building, admittedly one 16th annual International vandalised by a bobby, Patrick Preservation Trades Dougherty back in 1922, commenting Workshop ‐ IPTW 2012 30 when returning it to the bobby’s family Acknowledgement: September– 4 October, 2012 “It’s great to hear stories like these to The graphic on page three is from
reinforce the links between the old and Dusk Gallery’s “Christchurch Sure to http://asoft913.securesites.net/secure/apti/clie the new in our city’s rebuild.” Rise” 100% cotton tea towel. Visit ntuploads/conference_pubs/APT12%20agend them at a%20at%20a%20glance%205.15.12.pdf Apparently that’s one brick not bound http://www.duskgalleryandstore.co.nz
for fill at the Port of Lyttelton.
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Cathedral, to cope with further shakes. The novel proposal, called for a Mt. Somers stone steeple (later changed to fire-brick) surmounted by a lightweight hinged copper cross, attached by a 38 ft. iron chain to a series of weights to hold it down. (see below)
Bishop of Christchurch at the time, the Rt. Rev. Churchill Julius wasn’t one to let the steeplemaster have all the fun and allowed himself to be hoisted aloft in a chair on a wire rope, to lay the last brick in the new spire on 5 August 1891.
The Press had this to say about Bishop Julius’s eccentric notoriety:
“If we are to believe some The English papers Christchurch has enjoyed during recent years a vicarious celebrity in England through the fame of the
Picture: Lost Christchurch Above: The Illustrated Australian News records the 1888 earthquake damage which left the cross and its counterweights dangling down the side of the spire.
On the art of Scaling The Graphic records Bishop Julius’ ascension. Spires
hristchurch has an especially Bishop, Dr. Julius. No relaxed way of looking at life, other colonial prelate has we are assured, at times, and what could be C been so extensively more casual than to clamber up paragraphed in the inside the Cathedral spire just British Press. And not minutes after the 1 September 1888 only paragraphed but quake had shaken off the upper illustrated. "Do we not eight metres leaving the cross and all remember," asks one writer, that large parts of the finial dangling from bloodcurdling picture in the Graphic and its chains? the News of Bishop Julius seated on a chair in mid-air in the act of being
hoisted up to an immense height to lay The Cathedral’s extraordinary the topmost brick of his restored steeplemaster, Mr Anderson, cathedral spire. It is declared that the described as ‘an old salt’ arrived not stories of the Bishop's eccentricities in the quite fully dressed, 5 or 6 minutes colonies are legion, in which case they after the main shock and promptly must be a good deal more common at ascended the tower, securing the Home than here. There seems to have cross with ropes and beams to been some curiosity as to whether his Lordship would supplement these prevent further dislodgement. He alleged eccentricities during his visit to worked away riding out numerous London but possibly, surmises the writer, aftershocks that followed that day. with evident regret, with the eyes of so The Cathedral Chapter later voted many episcopal brethren upon him he Anderson £5 for his bravery. will be careful, common-place, and conventional." We can only conclude, The steeple’s lack of flexibility was from the absence of any startling cable duly blamed for its collapse, and messages, that the surmise proved to be correct.” B.W. Mountfort and E. Dobson set Following the November 16th, 1901 about producing a new design, Cheviot earthquake, Samuel Hurst along the lines of that of Chichester
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Seager found himself inspecting the 2011. American Express is founding damaged spire some three quarters sponsor of the Watch program. of an hour after the event and while experiencing an aftershock had the The projects receiving funding are opportunity to observe the the Ruta de la Amistad in Mexico pendulum in action. There’s no City, Mexico; Salvador de Bahia, record of his receiving a reward. Brazil; Balaji Ghat in Varanasi, India; the Canterbury Provincial A lighter spire finally replaced the Government buildings in brick version; framed in timber using Christchurch, New Zealand; the ruins stringy bark and Oregon. Clad with of the former Cathedral of Saint interlocking copper tiles designed by Michael in Coventry, United Wunderlich Brothers of Sydney it was Kingdom; and the town of Sawara in funded by the families of William Japan. Barnard, George and Robert Heaton Rhodes “WMF is grateful to American Express
for its longstanding commitment to Photo: David Reynolds Our New Secretary the World Monuments Watch,” says Bonnie Burnham, President of World Portrait head of the Canterbury Provincial Government Buildings Stonemason, William Monuments Fund. “Over the years, Brassington, recovered from the collapsed the company’s steadfast support stone chamber. has helped to preserve 138 sites in 62 countries, benefiting both the local The American Express award will populations and the many people support efforts to restore salvaged from across the globe who visit them artifacts and to promote the future for their beauty and to learn about rebuilding of the Canterbury history and culture.” Provincial Government Buildings, helping to ensure that the buildings’ “American Express remains heritage lives on for generations to committed to preserving and come. sustaining historic and culturally significant sites,” says Ed Gilligan, Design leak? Vice Chairman of American Express. “These places serve to unite Morphing into the position of communities, and we are proud to ICOMOS Secretary this year is play a role in ensuring that they Auckland based heritage planner continue to be enjoyed far into the Becky Harfield pictured here with future.” one of Abstract Designs’ recently produced commemorative The citation for the Provincial cathedrals. Buildings reads:
Canterbury Provincial Government Buildings, Christchurch, New Zealand: Illustration: Jason Lilley
Appearing on Facebook late last Funding for Built in the mid-nineteenth century, week from the hand of designer Canterbury Provincial Government Jason Lilley is the’leaked design’ for conservation and Buildings have remained relatively the new Christ Church cathedral. unchanged through the twentieth display of Provincial century. The High Victorian Gothic Revival buildings were an important Council Chamber local destination and tourist attraction. The buildings were also artefacts used as an educational and event
space until earthquakes in May 14, 2012. . . Today, American September 2010 and February 2011 ICOMOS New Zealand News is published by Express and World Monuments Fund ICOMOS New Zealand (Inc.) / Te Mana O Nga reduced large sections of the announced $1 million in grant Pouwhenua O Te Ao - The New Zealand buildings to rubble. Disaster-response funding to six historic sites. This is the National Committee of the International efforts have understandably focused Council on Monuments and Sites first allocation from a $5 million, five- on the thousands of displaced year grant to the World Monuments Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Christchurch residents whose homes Fund to support the World the ICOMOS New Zealand Executive Board. were severely damaged, as well as Monuments Watch. Each of the six the rebuilding of critical © 2012 ICOMOS New Zealand locations was among the at-risk infrastructure. historical sites included on the 2012 Watch list, announced in October
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Viewpoints
Photo: Ian Lochhead/Wikimedia
“A great number of the buildings of that period of modernism are in trouble and being pulled down. The whole of Christchurch has been lost anyway. You can't isolate any particular work. "It is not just my buildings, it is the whole Christchurch city character. All those Victorian streets and buildings. It has been torn away from us."
Christchurch Architect and great advocate for the Gothic revival city Peter Beaven who died on June 4. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the- press/news/6521812/Architects- shattered-by-Christchurchs-loss Above: The Wizard of New Zealand’s “The sanctuary exists. It can be demolition order for the Bishop, apparently strengthened. There’s a roof sitting up "It is a horrendous mistake that will be deconstructed in effigy on May 20. there, which hasn’t dropped. There’s regretted for ever after if it is carried out." ______beautiful timber framing.”...
Professor David Alexander discussing the cathedral demolition at the New Zealand “What’s a real worry to me and many ” I can’t see someone building off two- or Society for Earthquake Engineering's other people is that the memory of the three metre stone walls and getting those annual conference on 15 April. past is being wiped from Christchurch. things that are important to people back http://www.stuff.co.nz/the- Every building that is demolished is into it. The spirit which was there has left press/news/christchurch-earthquake- crushed up. You’re lucky if a few weeds this place.” 2011/6745652/Expert-says-demolition-is-a- come up and then people park their cars horrendous-mistake for a long time while decisions are Ian Athfield talks to Diana Wichtel in the made...” 23 July Listener about post quake Among the best reasons for not wanting Christchurch and the awkwardness of his to let the cathedral go, the most “Heritage, “ he maintains enigmatically role as NZIA’s Architectural Ambassador. compelling might simply be that, in part, “starts with a good idea tomorrow. “ it defines us. Take the cathedral. “That’s really, really sad. The recommendation is you take it Sam Mahon’s opinion piece in The Press, down to two or three metres. What have 6 June. you got left? On the other hand you’ve http://www.stuff.co.nz/the- got the heritage-building huggers. They Thanks to Kevin Jones, Jenny May, Alan press/opinion/perspective/7056075/Connectio want it rebuilt stone by stone . “ ... Jolliffe, & Bryan Lintott for contributions to n-to-the-cathedral this News.
ICOMOS NZ News June 2012 Page 12
n 26 May The Press published a story titled ‘Christ Church O Cathedral Should Go’ based on a survey carried out by Opinions Market Research, citing it as ‘the first comprehensive, credible survey of public opinion on the future of Christchurch’ and claiming a statistical margin of error for the sample of ‘about 5.2 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level.’
ICOMOS News’ completely unscientific but roughly balanced selection below represents typical views of the Press’ survey respondents.
If all around the Cathedral is green it wouldn't fit in with the surroundings.. 18 - 29, Male
I don't like the idea of a church being the centre of the city. 30 - 59, Male
It is too old. 30 - 59, Male distance for worshippers to come. 60+, I thought it was an ugly dump before the Male earthquake. It's dangerous. Because it's pretty much munted. 60+ Male Nothing much heard about the Catholic It should not be demolished until it is
Cathedral, which is just as bad. No other going to be rebuilt. Hybrid or otherwise, It's no good, it's had it. I know it's an reason. 30 - 59, Female it's an icon of the city. 18 - 29, Male iconic building for Christchurch but it's a fluff really... 30 - 59, Male It's a nothing building, it's just a church. 30 It's quite cool, once its gone we cannot - 59, Male get it back. If it can be saved and be made safe, 18 - 29, Male then it shouldn't be demolished but if it's I thought it was a ugly dump before the not practical in any sense then it should earthquake. It's dangerous. I agree with It's an icon of Christchurch and without it be demolished. They should be asking the bishop that it is very badly damaged we're not really Christchurch anymore. the CHCH people to see what they say. If and dangerous. When you think about 18 - 29, Male it was able to be rebuilt then I would the centre of Christchurch, it's a long support it. 30 - 59, Male The Cathedral is Christchurch. There are options to save it. 18 - 29, Female
It should stay up, city was built around it. 18 - 29, Male
We need some memories of the old Christchurch. We are losing so much. The Catholic Cathedral should also be saved. 30 - 59, Female
We are called 'Christchurch.' It is our symbol of the city. There are ways to save it. Why have they just knocked down the church instead of numbering the stones like the Catholic Basilica? 60+, Female.
There was no transparency over the decision, it should be the people’s choice. 30 - 59, Female
The rest can be found at http://www.stuff.co.nz/the- press/news/christchurch-earthquake- 2011/our-rebuild-your- views/6988861/Christ-Church-Cathedral- readers-comments
Photos: David Reynolds
ICOMOS NZ News June 2012 Page 13
Czech Republic Imperial War Museum (all sites – Duxford, ICOMOS National Gallery, Prague HMAS Belfast, Cabinet War Rooms, IWM Prague Castle, Prague London, IWM North) International Card Spanish Synagogue (part of Prague National galleries and museums, Jewish Museum), Prague including special exhibitions at the Royal Opens Doors Academy of Art and the British Museum Denmark Some sites managed by English Heritage Free entry to most World Heritage places but not Historic Scotland properties.
Finland Poland Numerous general museums and cultural The Royal Palace, Warsaw heritage sites (reported by ICOMOS Most heritage places and museums Finland) Portugal France The Castelo Sao Jorge, Lisbon (ICOMOS Free entry to all national free entry is printed on the notice at the museums/galleries (Musées Nationaux du ticket counter) Ministère de la Culture), including the Gulbenkian museum, Lisbon Musée D’Orsay, Musée du Louvre, Free entry to World Heritage sites, Belem elow is a list, submitted by members Château de Blois, Château de Free entry to all World Heritage places, all of US/ICOMOS, Australia ICOMOS Chambord, Palais de Versailles, and state-managed palaces, villas and and other ICOMOS National B Palais de Fontainebleau and all gardens, Sintra Committees, of sites and museums that departmental and city museums. (It also rewarded the ICOMOS card holder with gets free entry to the temporary / Spain free or discounted entry. blockbuster exhibitions in these The Royal Sites, including El Escorial and
institutions.) Aranjuez Please note that, while ICOMOS NZ ICOMOS Spain reports that presenting cannot guarantee these sites/museums An ICOMOS member can go straight the card works at numerous other sites will honour the card, members have through entries reserved for ticket holders and museums reported success gaining entry with the without lining up (e.g., in the Louvre, card in the past. We would ask you to Musee d’Orsay, etc and for the Turkey contact the Secretariat with any blockbusters). Hagia Sophia, Istanbul additions to or comments on this list. Topkapi Museum, Istanbul
In cases where staff do not recognize the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Australia card explain that ICOMOS is affiliated including the Archaeological Museum NSW Historic Houses Trust (all properties) with ICOM and that there is an (main building), Museum of the Ancient arrangement for the same concessions Orient and the Museum of Islamic Art Asia as ICOM members. (tiled Kiosk) China There is also very frequent acceptance X’ian (all cultural sites) of the card at almost all historic Iran monuments and cultural institutions, Numerous museums, sites and India including in Paris. monuments (reported by ICOMOS Iran) Vijayanagara (Hampi) World Heritage archaeological site, Karnataka Germany New Zealand Bauhaus Archiv, Berlin Waitangi National Trust Japan Potsdam World Heritage Site, including Most national museums and some World Sanssouci park, Neuer Garten, Heritage sites (reported by ICOMOS Babelsberg and Glienicke with their Your 15 minutes of Japan), though others report that palaces, Berlin-Brandenenburg acceptance of the card is low. Pillnitz Palace, Dresden fame is pretty much
United States Greece guaranteed when you Museum of Modern Art, New York National Archaeological Museum, contribute to the back Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Athens and archaeological sites, ‘Montecello’ – Charlottesville, Virginia including the Acropolis, Delphi, page! Historic New Harmony, Indiana Mycenae, Olympia, Ancient Corinth, and Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Epidauros Dredge your archives for the Massachusetts All cultural sites in Athens extraordinary, exotic, and bizarre (with a Museum of Fine Arts, Boston vaguely heritage flavour) and rush them Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Netherlands to David Reynolds, at Boston Van Gogh Museum [email protected] Museum Het Schip (Amsterdam School) Europe Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
NB: Most East European countries Hungary recognize the ICOMOS card as an Contact Us St. Mathias Cathedral, Budapest entitlement to at least a discounted entry to cultural sites and venues. Elsewhere it Italy can be hit and miss, but always worth a Uffizi gallery, Florence try. ICOMOS New Zealand Inc. Coliseum, Rome Austria PO Box 90 851 Most cultural sites in Rome Stefansdom, Vienna Auckland Mail Centre Majority of sites run by the Italian Ministry Albertina Museum, Vienna Auckland 1142 of Culture, including national galleries Lichtenstein Palace Museum, Vienna New Zealand and museums Belvedere Museum, Vienna
(Not – Fortress, Salzburg) Email: [email protected] United Kingdom Belgium Tate Modern, Tate Britain, London Most historic places recognize the card
ICOMOS NZ News June 2012 Page 14
Above: The site for Christchurch’s Basilica, recently dubbed by The Press as the “Cathedral of the Blessed Mystery” because of the secrecy surrounding the location of its disassembled parts, was cleared for Lord Concrete’s great new work back in 1900 (News October 2010. ) Our thanks to http://lostchristchurch.org.nz’s website for this Weekly Press picture showing how it was done.
Photo: Sherry Reynolds
Photo: David Reynolds
Above Left: Gracing the Brittan Street side of demolition operator Paddy Snowdon’s property, where the 1850s Category 2 Linwood House stood until its recent demolition, is the dome of the former Category 1 Regent Theatre building from Cathedral Square. Formerly the Royal Exchange building, the first Edwardian building erected on the square, it reopened in 1930 as a Spanish themed atmospheric picture palace. In more recent times it served as a cinema, offices and shops.
Above right: Drive across Christchurch these days and you’ll encounter many surprises, mostly elevated manhole covers, but occasionally there’s something to lift the soul: this one’s on the fence at 251 Salisbury Street.
Right: Despite starting to look like every other newspaper in New Zealand, the good old Press still has plenty to commend it, particularly in its farming section and its famous letters column. Occasionally the paper invites a bit of reader participation and this one appeared as the cathedral debate was warming up. As most of the captions submitted would seriously offend northern ICOMITES we’ll leave it up to you to fill in the speech balloon.
ICOMOS NZ News June 2012 Page 15
And finally (thanks to Jeremy Salmond) something for the Christ Church Cathedral Project Group. You can access its mission statement at http://blogs.anglicanlife.org.nz/cathedral/2012/05/14/cathedral-project-group/
This cartoon published in Fun magazine July 1877 was a response to the early and controversial activity of The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB ) during its first year of operation.
ICOMOS NZ News June 2012 Page 16
Lintott’s London
ICOMOS NZ News’ U.K. correspondent Bryan Lintott, captured these pictures of the Queen’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant from his vantage point, the MI6 building on the Albert Embankment on 3 June. The event involved up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the U.K. the commonwealth and around the world.
Later in the week our resident royal watcher was on hand at Whitehall as the Queen and members of the Royal Family travelled in a traditional carriage parade to attend a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral.
Photos: Bryan Lintott
ICOMOS NZ News June 2012 Page 17