The former site of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building, where 115 people lost their lives as the building collapsed in the earthquake of February 22, 2011, will be open to the public on February 22, after a private blessing.
The bereaved families, whose feedback played an important part in the design and landscaping the site, will attend the ceremony. Their wishes had been carefully incorporated into the design.
Led by the city's new Crown company - Otakaro Ltd, which began the landscaping work in October last year, the site of devastation has been transformed into a peaceful place to sit and reflect.
Otakaro Project Manager Cameron McLean said, “The landscaping work is a sensitive balancing act that aims to meet the needs of everyone involved. A large part of the original concrete slab foundation for the building has been retained on the eastern side of the site and left exposed as requested by some of the family members.
“But other areas of the foundations will be covered in the stone chip for those who do not want to walk over the slab. There is an area of lawn with stepping-stones through it and a central grove has been planted with 14 cherry trees flanked by seven kowhai trees along with a garden full of native and exotic plants to provide variety and seasonal colour.
“Water will trickle over a stone ‘bridge’ feature that connects to the lawn area. And visitors would be able to touch the water, which flows into the garden, to 'cleanse themselves' if they wished.”