Open Christchurch 2021

Discover your city through architecture.

Open Christchurch is a one-weekend-only festival of exceptional architecture. It’s for everyone in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

On 15 and 16 May, building owners/kaitiaki of 46 of Christchurch's best buildings will throw open their doors so you can experience great design from the inside, for free.

With behind-the-scenes access and unique experiences or activities on offer, this is a chance to connect with Christchurch’s story as you uncover its special places.

There are dozens of free activities on offer also, so that you can delve a little deeper into these spaces: expert talks, children's workshops, behind-the-scenes tours and exhibitions.

Encounter new spaces or get up close to the buildings you love. You’ll discover your city in a new way.

(Photo of Tūranga by Adam Mørk.)

Buildings included in the programme:
Public
1.Old Government Building (28 Cathedral Square)
2. Botanic Gardens – Cuningham House (Rolleston Ave)
3. Botanic Gardens - Visitor Centre (Rolleston Ave)
4. Te Hononga Christchurch Civic Building (58 Worcester Blvd)
5. Tūranga Central Library (60 Cathedral Square)
6. Christchurch Town Hall (86 Kilmore St)
7. CSO Centre (86 Kilmore St)

Commercial
8. Canterbury Building Society / Muse Art Hotel (159 Manchester St)
9. 65 Cambridge Terrace (65 Cambridge Terrace)
10. Stranges & Glendenning Hill (Corner of Lichfield and High streets)
11. Lyttelton Studio Monastery (23B Walker Rd, Lyttelton)
12. Lane Neave (141 Cambridge Terrace)

Educational

13. Christ’s College – Big School (33 Rolleston Ave)
14. Christ’s College – Hare Memorial Library (33 Rolleston Ave)
15. Christ’s College – Memorial Dining Hall (33 Rolleston Ave)
16. St Andrew’s College – Strowan House (347 Papanui Rd)
17. St Andrew’s College – Centennial Chapel (347 Papanui Rd)
18. Christchurch Boys’ High – Deans Buildings (51A Strowan Rd)
19. Christchurch Boys’ High – Caddick Classroom Block (Strowan/Kahu roads)
20. College House (University of Canterbury Hall of Residence) – 100 Waimari Rd
21. University of Canterbury – Puaka-James Hight (Central Library) Building (University Drive, Central Ilam Campus)
22. University of Canterbury – Jack Erskine Building (Engineering Rd, Central Ilam Campus)
23. University of Canterbury – Ernest Rutherford Building (Central Ilam Campus)
24. The Arts Centre – Clock Tower/Rutherford’s Den (2 Worcester Blvd)
25. The Arts Centre – Christchurch Girls’ High (2 Worcester Blvd)
26. The Arts Centre – Christchurch Boys’ High (2 Worcester Blvd)
27. The Arts Centre – Great Hall (2 Worcester Blvd)
28. The Arts Centre – Chemistry Building–UC Arts (Teece Museum/Classics/Music) (2 Worcester Blvd)
29. The Arts Centre – Library (The Central Art Gallery) (2 Worcester Blvd)

Sacred Spaces

30. Rāpaki Church (1 Kina Rd)
31. St Michael and All Angels (90 Oxford Terrace and Durham St South)
32. St Paul’s Anglican Church, Papanui (1 Harewood Rd, Papanui)
33. Nurses’ Memorial Chapel (2 Riccarton Ave)
34. Our Lady of Victories Church (106 Main South Rd, Sockburn)
35. First Church of Christ the Scientist (66 Carlton Mill Rd, Merivale)
36. Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple (2 Harakeke Street, Riccarton)
37. Transitional Cathedral (234 Hereford Street)
38. Oxford Terrace Baptist (288 Oxford Terrace)

Arts and Culture
39. Isaac Theatre Royal (145 Gloucester St)
40. CoCA Gallery (66 Gloucester St)

Residential
41. Mona Vale Homestead (Mona Vale Ave, Fendalton)
42. Millstream Apartments (booking essential)
43. Madras Street Townhouses (bookings essential)
44. Chen Anselmi Units (booking essential)
45. Peterborough Co-operative (booking essential)
46. Green Family Home (booking essential)

Ngāi Tahu Identity in the City
47. Guided walk: Te Papa Ōtākaro (booking essential)
48. Guided walk: Ngāi Tahu Arts, Architecture & Values (booking essential)