Open Christchurch

Fill in our survey and go into the draw to win. Did you attend Open Christchurch 2026 on 1-3 May? We want to hear from you! Fill in our survey by 12pm Wednesday 13 May and go into the draw to win a night at the gorgeous Observatory Hotel. See the link in our bio.

Have you heard? Our Open Christchurch 2026 Programme is live! Most buildings do not require bookings. Plan your weekend at openchch.nz Thanks to our Champion @christchurchcc ; our Event Partner @nziarchitects : our Principal Sponsors @gib.co.nz and NZ Steel (@colorsteelnz ); our Supporting Sponsors @resenecolour , @vidaspace @eccnewzealand & @blumnewzealand ; and our Core Sponsors @_kendons_ and @Works_nz ; our Funders The Warren Trust, Rātā Foundation, and @pubcharityltd . Much gratitude to our Mega Fans: @architectus.nz , @field_studio_architecture and @holmes.anz Big shout out to our Super Fans: @pocket_eng and @threesixtyarchitecture And to our Fans: | @athfieldarchitects | @awarchitects.nz | @bmconsults | @studiobotanic.nz | @bosarchitecture | @chaplincrooksarchitects_ | @constructure_chch | @fabric.architecture.design |@sheppardandrout | @teamarchitects_chch | @warrenmahoney | @wilson.hill.architects To our Special event partners @76smallrooms & @heritage_nz Pouhere Taonga @pocketsofawesome | @whatsonchch | @homestylemag | @christchurchnz | @architecture.nz @homemagazine.nz | @03_magazine

Our 2026 programme is now live! 52 buildings, 40+ activities, 1 weekend. Free, apart from a handful of limited-entry experiences ($7 + BFs). Head to our website to find out more: openchch.nz A massive thank you to all who have made Open Christchurch 2026 possible. Thanks to our Champion @christchurchcc ; our Event Partner @nziarchitects ; our Principal Sponsors @gib.co.nz and NZ Steel (@colorsteelnz ); our Supporting Sponsors @resenecolour , @vidaspace @eccnewzealand & @blumnewzealand ; and our Core Sponsors @_kendons_ and @Works_nz ; our Funders The Warren Trust, Rātā Foundation, and @pubcharityltd . Much gratitude to our Mega Fans: @architectus.nz , @field_studio_architecture and @holmes.anz Big shout out to our Super Fans: @pocket_eng and @threesixtyarchitecture And to our Fans: | @athfieldarchitects | @awarchitects.nz | @bmconsults | @studiobotanic.nz | @bosarchitecture | @chaplincrooksarchitects_ | @constructure_chch | @fabric.architecture.design |@sheppardandrout | @teamarchitects_chch | @warrenmahoney | @wilson.hill.architects To our Special event partners @76smallrooms & @heritage_nz Pouhere Taonga @pocketsofawesome | @whatsonchch | @homestylemag | @christchurchnz | @architecture.nz @homemagazine.nz | @03_magazine

We’re very excited to launch this episode: our special live recording with an audience at the Harewood Crematorium as part of the amazing Open Christchurch architecture festival. We were joined at this 1963 Warren & Mahoney masterpiece by a panel of four fantastic architectural thinkers from Ōtautahi who responded to a theme inspired by our venue: the buildings we’d like to see before we die. Our panel included: ✨ Festival director Jessica Halliday @blessed_n_cursed ✨ Performer and writer Juanita Hepi @juanthefool ✨ Founder of @field_studio_architecture Andrew Just ✨ Architectural photographer @sarahrowlandsphotography Our topic also led us to discuss buildings that we’d not only like to see, but that seemed to offer the right kind of space for contemplation of the immensity of existence. It was a really enjoyable evening full of insight, humour and brilliant buildings, and we’re very grateful to all the audience members who turned up, as well as @openchch for inviting us to be part of it, and sound engineer Arran Eley. The event was also weighted with sadness, not only because so many people there had farewelled loved ones at the Harewood Crematorium before, but because one of our panellists, Matt Arnold, had died in April after a bicycle crash. We pay tribute to Matt in the recording and wish he could have been there with us.

From the brand new stadium to the heritage Lyttelton Timeball Station, from learning about the central city’s designed cultural and living landscapes to the delight of lego scale models of iconic Christchurch buildings, Open Christchurch 2026 has served up a range of architectural delights. The city has been alive with thousands out and about experiencing Ōtautahi Christchurch’s best buildings and designed spaces this weekend. A massive thank you to all our building partners, experts, tour guides and speakers for helping us get to know the city better through architecture; to the funders and sponsors for making the festival possible; to the incredible volunteers - you are the welcoming face of the festival. And to you, the attendees, for coming along to celebrate Ōtautahi Christchurch. We'll be back on 30 April to 2 May 2027 put it in your calendars! In the meantime, fill out our festival survey, link in our bio, and be in with a chance to win! 1 & 2. Sugarloaf Transmission Tower (Ministry of Works, 1965), photo by @sarahrowlandsphotography 3. Geordie Shaw (@shawandshawarchitects ) leading tour of Princess Margaret Hospital (Manson, Seward & Stanton, 1959), photo by @peanutprod 4. Nurses’ Memorial Chapel (Collins and Harman, 1927; restoration: Tony Ussher Architect, 2018), photo by Sarah Rowlands 5. Norris Strawbale House (Elizabeth Guthrey, Design & Make Architects, 2026), photo by Sarah Rowlands 6. LUG 4 x 2’s Ōtautahi in Bricks at Tūranga, photo by Peanut Productions 7. Dr Ann McEwan speaking at Style-ish, photo by Peanut Productions 8. Cartwright Family Home (Bull O’Sullivan Architects, 2019), photo by Peanut Productions 9 & 10. @onenewzealandstadium (@warrenmahoney and @wearepopulous , 2026), photo by Sarah Rowlands

Another incredible day to wrap up our weekend at Open Christchurch (and our Insta takeover). Hard to sum up how great everything was – it is truly the stuff of dreams to see a festival like this welcoming thousands of people to engage with architecture and design and play their part in shaping the city around them. A huge mihi to the team for inviting us to be part of the festival, and thanks to all the volunteers and guides who make the festival so special. We can’t wait to come back! 💛 Some highlights from today to leave you with: 1-2 Baby House by Funtrik Pony, interiors by Forager. 3-4 Te Ara Taiao Living Landscapes Walk guided by the excellent @juanthefool , featuring the Ōtākaro and whāriki by Reihana Parata and Morehu Flutey-Henare 5-6 A swing by 65 Cambridge Terrace to @objectspace and Miles Warren’s former flat 7 LEGO at Tūranga featuring the Dorset St Flats by Miles Warren 8-9 Te Raekura Redcliffs School by @tennentbrown 10-11 NZ Refrigerating Company Building by Mason, Seward & Stanton, renovated by Context Architects 12-14 College House by @warrenmahoney , a dream ending to a terrific weekend.

Our first 24 hours of the amazing @openchch festival! What a time, what a city. We’re so lucky to be here on this very special weekend of celebrating Ōtautahi’s architecture. Watch the @openchch stories tomorrow for more of our Insta takeover, and enjoy our highlights so far in this post. 1. Us! 2. Our power aka media passes 3. Harewood Crematorium, Warren & Mahoney 1963, where we held our talk last night with @field_studio_architecture , @juanthefool , @blessed_n_cursed and @sarahrowlandsphotography 4. The terrific Te Kaha by @wearepopulous and @warrenmahoney 5. Our fantastic guide Dr Ann McEwan and volunteer Chris Pollard at the PoMo at the City’s Edge tour, outside the First Church of Christ, Scientist by @warrenmahoney 1991 6. Inside the First Church of Christ, Scientist 7. The Bath House (actually a conservatory, which contained a swimming pool at one point in the 1900s) at Mona Vale 8. Mona Vale, Joseph Clarkson Maddison, 1899 9. Nuli’s House by @field_studio_architecture 10. The gorgeous Dorset Street Flats by Miles Warren, 1956

We are thrilled to announce that the wonderful @76smallrooms team are at Open Christchurch this weekend and taking over our Instagram account. Nau mai, haere mai! The dynamic hosts of the podcast about architecture from Aotearoa New Zealand will be out and about exploring some of our finest buildings. Nau mai, haere mai, Jeremy Hansen, Natasha Markham, Mat Brown, and Richard Archbold (Arch)! See them tonight at our opening event ‘I’d die happy once I saw that’ - head to openchch.nz for details. Photo by Barry Tobin

It’s all coming together, brick by brick! Here’s a sneak peek of the 14 models on display at the Ōtautahi in Bricks Exhibition with LUG4x2, the NZ Lego User Group. Pop in to Tūranga, TSB Space Level 1, Saturday 2 - Sunday 3 May, 10am - 5pm. Take the whānau to visit and be sure to head nextdoor to the Activities Room while you are there: the Imagination Station is serving up all-ages, interactive LEGO based activities.

We’re thrilled that @onenewzealandstadium ’s first community open day is part of the Open Christchurch architecture festival this weekend. On Saturday 2 May, 10am-4pm, head along with the whānau and discover this significant landmark for the city from the inside, for free. Expect live music, fab food and great architecture. A massive thanks to @venuesotautahi and @christchurchcc for being part of this annual celebration of our city and its special buildings. One New Zealand Stadium (@warrenmahoney and @wearepopulous , 2026), photos courtesy of Venues Ōtautahi.

Ever wondered what’s inside Christchurch’s most iconic buildings? 👀 See inside these three iconic buildings & many more with @openchch 2026. Unlock rare behind-the-scenes to Ōtautahi Christchurch's standout architecture 😍 From heritage landmarks to contemporary design and hidden spaces usually closed to the public. This is your chance to explore the city in a whole new way. Perfect if you're looking for things to do in Christchurch or unique experiences this weekend ✨ Open Christchurch 2026 📅 1 - 3 May #ThingsToDoChristchurch #ChristchurchNZ #Ōtautahi #VisitChristchurch #ChristchurchArchitecture

Step into the iconic Victoria Street fixture, Santa Barbara (H. Francis Willis, c.1938), this Saturday 2 May, 11am-4pm. �Explore this Streamline Moderne beauty, originally designed as two flats – a new way of living at the time. From the outside, take in the rounded forms and flat roof (nodding to the Art Deco movement). Head inside to chat to experts from @southarchitectsnz to learn more. Free, just turn up.