Building the future

There's some amazing architecture changing the shape of the city of Christchurch in New Zealand, and the sustainable ethos behind many of the structures makes the emerging central landscape even more interesting and innovative.

The Kathmandu and Vodafone buildings are taking shape on Tuam Street, with both projects set to be finished early next year. Designed to a certified five star New Zealand Green Building Council rating, both new offices show a commitment to environmental responsibility.

Providing shelter is not all that the new Bus Exchange can do. The first anchor project to be competed in the city, the structure is an example of how using lighting, space and heating in a different ways can be friendlier to the environment.

With its wavy green glass, the Deloitte Building, stands out like ripples on a river running up Cambridge Terrace. The architects Jasmax used the coloured glass to evoke the nearby Avon River which runs opposite the building. Base isolators were used in the construction, and these ingenious pieces of design can be seen from the street in the lower car park level.