Events Calendar

Conserving Architectural Heritage in Antarctica

Chris Cochran and Pip Cheshire

Monday April 15th 

City Gallery Wellington, Civic Square
Monday 15 APRIL - 6pm
Free entry

Against the most hostile conditions the will to protect a few lonely huts is unyeilding. This is what makes Antarctica unique. The huts of the heroic-era, left behind by Scott, Shackleton, and Borchgrevink, are internationally recocgnised as historically important. These huts are now protected by the Antarctic treaty and actively cared for by the Antarctic Heritage trust based in Christchurch. 

Architects Chris Cochran and Pip Cheshire have been closely involved in the conservation of all these buildings. They will discuss the legislative and philosophical basis behind the conservation of the buildings, and the hands-on challenges of remoteness, environment and logistics faced by the conservation teams that have been working over the last ten summer seasons to bring them back from the brink.

City Talks is an ongoing series initiated by the New Zealand Institute of Architects Wellington Branch and presented in partnership with City Gallery Wellington and WCC Venues Subsidy. Its purpose is to foster discussion about architecture for a broader audience in a city that cares to openly discuss ideas relevant to our future.

Chris Cochran is a Wellington architect specialising in heritage building conservation. His work ranges from buildings close to home — many in Thorndon including the Wedge, Rita Angus Cottage, Lilburn House, Katharine Mansfield Birthplace and Old St Pauls — to the ice of the far south; he has worked for the Antarctic Heritage Trust since its formation in 1988, and also for the British Antarctic Survey on the Antarctic Peninsula. He is on the Board of Heritage NZ and the Maori Building Council, and is Patron of the Futuna Chapel Trust.

Pip Cheshire is an Auckland architect and founder of Cheshire Architects in 2004. He and his team have worked across a wide range of building typologies and their firm has been recognised by the NZIA with many awards at Local and National level. Pip is a member of the Auckland City Urban Design Panel and has also served as adjunct professor at the University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning. Pip is also a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Architects and in 2013 Pip was awarded the NZIA Gold Medal, the NZIA’s premier individual honour, in recognition of an outstanding body of work. 

The talk will be followed by refreshments.