Open Christchurch: Christ's College Memorial Dining Hall

Christ’s College Memorial Hall: Discover a stunning heritage building.

Open Christchurch invites the public to discover their city through architecture with free, one-off access to special buildings, and a range of themed walking tours.

Step back in time when Christ’s College opens its Memorial Dining Hall for the public of all ages to discover for one day only on Sunday 4 August.

Designed by Cecil Wood, this stunning heritage building is steeped in tradition - complete with intricate wood panelling, long shared tables and a dramatic timber roof supported on hammerbeam trusses. With carvings by noted artisan Frederick Gurnsey that embellish the interior, and the richly modelled stone exterior, the building echoes the style of English medieval manor halls.

This wonderfully atmospheric hall has been a central gathering place for students for close to one hundred years and is the centrepiece at one of New Zealand’s oldest schools.

Come along and enjoy the behind-the-scenes access between 10am and 4pm, when you can encounter this special building on your own terms and at your own pace. See first-hand how school architecture shapes the experience for the students who attend it.

Two very different inner-city school buildings also open as part of the Open Christchurch programme: The Cathedral Grammar Junior School, a Japanese influenced timber building, on Sunday 30 June; and Ao Tawhiti, Christchurch’s only ‘vertical’ school, on Saturday 7 September.

Experience the impact of good design in our city and how well-designed places can improve people’s lives.

Open Christchurch runs from 30 June–7 September, with one event per week for eleven weeks.

Visit our website (teputahi.org.nz) for further details.