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A central Christchurch street after the February quake - Source: ONE News -
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I think I was driving when I saw it.
From memory, the road was a bit rutty and bunged up so I didn't pay too much attention at first glance. But the ruts and bung-ness (yeah, of course it's a word...) slowed the traffic to a creep and my eyes wandered up.
Above the lanes and the lights was a generic advertisement on a generic billboard for a car which Audi will try to convince you is anything but
generic.
"Nothing is more inspirational than a blank piece of paper," the ad said.
That's a bit pretentious, I thought.
And frankly, in any normal circumstance, I would've thought little more about it. I wouldn't have re-considered those words or the shiny black car parked above them. In any normal circumstance I wouldn't have given a toss.
But the folk at Audi will be pleased to hear, something about their billboard stuck with me.
Those words. That sentence. Written by some enormously wealthy advertising man who rides a segway to a fancy office with a barista and a fussball table and a retro Pacman arcade game.
As I drove on past crumpled homes and rubble, those words really stuck with me.
In Christchurch, devastation has brought with it incredible opportunity. This place and its people have paid an enormous toll.
It's a toll which, given the option, no person or city would ever agree to meet. But on February 22, good old Mother Nature gave Christchurch no choice. And along with all the pain and hurt and the horrible effects, the earthquake has brought with it a truly remarkable by-product.
A blank piece of paper.
The CBD is a right mess. I still don't think people outside of Christchurch, and even some people who live here, can truly appreciate the level of damage inside the city. Where many of our iconic buildings once stood there is nothing left.
But this is New Zealand. We can whinge about the sluggish economy and the rising price of milk, but when all is said and done we're actually pretty well off.
I mean it's hardly as though Christchurch is some forgotten crumpled town in the back blocks of a desperate Third World country, overrun by sweeping disease and herds of malnourished goats.
We've got money, we've got an educated and resourced society. We even have the EQC.
And honestly, when else, anywhere, has a populated Western city like Christchurch had the chance to completely re-design itself? I mean COMPLETELY redesign itself.
Yeah sure, I know houses in some areas are fine, I know some neighbourhoods are still standing. But it's the core, the central streets and squares of Christchurch that truly represent this city, and there we have the opportunity to make whatever we want.
We can build our dream city. One that reflects our people and our history, that is beautiful and inspiring as well. I don't know anything about town planning. I don't know anything about arcitechture, or urban design.
But I do know Christchurch has a unique opportunity. Complete control over its fresh start.
It excites me!
Because after all, nothing is more inspirational than a blank piece of paper.
Read more Jack Tame commentary here or comment on the messageboard below.
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Post new commentHolmy said on 2011-04-02 @ 17:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
Brilliant :)
SampleSam said on 2011-04-02 @ 09:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
Let's get inspirational about our rebuild. This piece from Jack Tame may help some to realize the blank canvas we have to work with. I picture reinforced and rebuilt heritage buildings are already on that canvas as well as a few robust survivors. But plenty of space for new innovative designs that will not only be green and quake safe but also attract attention around the world and in 10 years time Christchurch will evolve into an exciting tourist hub for our popular south island attractions.