RESHAPING NAPIER
On February 3, 1931, New Zealand experienced its worst civil disaster when a devastating earthquake struck.
In minutes the 7.8 earthquake had changed everything, from the topography to architecture and lifestyle. It deformed the surface of the land in the surrounding area, pushing up a long dome running northeast-southwest that was 17 km wide and over 90 km long.
Sea water draining from Ahuriri Lagoon created more than 2,000 hectares of new land – now the site of Hawke’s Bay Airport.
In all, 356 people were killed and 400 required hospital care for injuries. Many of the deaths were caused by collapsed masonry buildings, fallen parapets and ornamental features.
While utterly devastating, the work carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) was a major factor in preventing the situation from becoming worse as the organisation’s resources were directed towards reconstructing the region. This included restoring water supplies, replacing sewers, and repairing and inspecting houses before they could be reoccupied. Local survey plans and land titles had been destroyed, so all properties were resurveyed, and interim titles were issued.
The earthquake prompted a thorough review of New Zealand building codes, which were found to be totally inadequate and in 1935 earthquake design standards for buildings were introduced for the first time.
It also resulted in a significant change in emphasis within the PWD. Where previously public buildings had been the almost exclusive concern of the architects, after the earthquake the role of engineers in structural design became increasingly important.
This knowledge reshaped Napier and presented new design challenges. There are few buildings in Hawke's Bay taller than five stories and verandas above shop fronts — a distinctive feature of New Zealand cities — were no longer to be supported from below by posts but instead were suspended from above. Projecting ornamental features were also prohibited.
Due to the failure of traditional load-bearing masonry buildings of brick and plaster during the earthquake, modern construction methods were adopted that employed reinforced concrete for all new buildings.
As most of Napier's rebuilding took place in the 1930s when Art Deco was fashionable, Napier architecture is regarded today as being one of the finest collections in the world.
In fact, Napier and Hastings became the only cities in the world to be built during the Depression.
Thomas Mair, the second Government Architect who led the Architectural Division of the Public Works Department from 1922 to 1942, designed the iconic Former Ministry of Works building and post office in Napier. His tenure also included the building of Rotorua’s Blue Baths.
From then to now
One of our more recent projects in Napier, the award-winning Kuaka Gateway, acknowledged the impact the earthquake had on the landscape.
Crucial to success was ensuring minimal impact to the surrounding Ahuriri Estuary and Westshore Wildlife Reserve, a wetland of national and ecological significance.
The project provided an opportunity to honour the ecology, history and aspirations of the people of Te-Matau-a Māui, the region known today as Hawke’s Bay.
WSP designers wanted the pou artwork to represent the people of the place, referencing the five historic pā sites once located around the Ahuriri Estuary. The existing lagoon is a tiny fraction of what was there pre-earthquake when the lagoon had five islands in it and yacht races used to happen.
OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Rugged and stunningly beautiful, Aotearoa has been shaped by powerful forces that still cause dramatic impact. The earthquakes, eruptions, landslides, floods and storms that have formed our landscape demand respect, and custodians of the built environment are consistently challenged to design in recognition of this.
OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Rugged and stunningly beautiful, Aotearoa has been shaped by powerful forces that still cause dramatic impact. The earthquakes, eruptions, landslides, floods and storms that have formed our landscape demand respect, and custodians of the built environment are consistently challenged to design in recognition of this.
RESHAPING NAPIER
On February 3, 1931, New Zealand experienced its worst civil disaster when a devastating earthquake struck.
In minutes the 7.8 earthquake had changed everything, from the topography to architecture and lifestyle. It deformed the surface of the land in the surrounding area, pushing up a long dome running northeast-southwest that was 17 km wide and over 90 km long.
Sea water draining from Ahuriri Lagoon created more than 2,000 hectares of new land – now the site of Hawke’s Bay Airport.
In all, 356 people were killed and 400 required hospital care for injuries. Many of the deaths were caused by collapsed masonry buildings, fallen parapets and ornamental features.
While utterly devastating, the work carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) was a major factor in preventing the situation from becoming worse as the organisation’s resources were directed towards reconstructing the region. This included restoring water supplies, replacing sewers, and repairing and inspecting houses before they could be reoccupied. Local survey plans and land titles had been destroyed, so all properties were resurveyed, and interim titles were issued.
The earthquake prompted a thorough review of New Zealand building codes, which were found to be totally inadequate and in 1935 earthquake design standards for buildings were introduced for the first time.
It also resulted in a significant change in emphasis within the PWD. Where previously public buildings had been the almost exclusive concern of the architects, after the earthquake the role of engineers in structural design became increasingly important.
This knowledge reshaped Napier and presented new design challenges. There are few buildings in Hawke's Bay taller than five stories and verandas above shop fronts — a distinctive feature of New Zealand cities — were no longer to be supported from below by posts but instead were suspended from above. Projecting ornamental features were also prohibited.
Due to the failure of traditional load-bearing masonry buildings of brick and plaster during the earthquake, modern construction methods were adopted that employed reinforced concrete for all new buildings.
As most of Napier's rebuilding took place in the 1930s when Art Deco was fashionable, Napier architecture is regarded today as being one of the finest collections in the world.
In fact, Napier and Hastings became the only cities in the world to be built during the Depression.
Thomas Mair, the second Government Architect who led the Architectural Division of the Public Works Department from 1922 to 1942, designed the iconic Former Ministry of Works building and post office in Napier. His tenure also included the building of Rotorua’s Blue Baths.
From then to now
One of our more recent projects in Napier, the award-winning Kuaka Gateway, acknowledged the impact the earthquake had on the landscape.
Crucial to success was ensuring minimal impact to the surrounding Ahuriri Estuary and Westshore Wildlife Reserve, a wetland of national and ecological significance.
The project provided an opportunity to honour the ecology, history and aspirations of the people of Te-Matau-a Māui, the region known today as Hawke’s Bay.
WSP designers wanted the pou artwork to represent the people of the place, referencing the five historic pā sites once located around the Ahuriri Estuary. The existing lagoon is a tiny fraction of what was there pre-earthquake when the lagoon had five islands in it and yacht races used to happen.