CityUps, Christchurch, 2014

At the Festival of Transitional in Christchurch, more than 10,000 people came into the centre to regenerate the post earthquake landscape via a free, urban-scale event. The crowds eagerly explored and interacted with the luminous, large-scale installations (prepared by a number of student teams from around the country) which were supported by twelve metre high scaffolding. The students’ elevated, futuristic city comprised thirteen spectacular designs made with a variety of materials – from road cones to diaphanous materials. The creative transformation of vacant space with temporary architecture included a labyrinthine structure, a twelve metre walk-in kaleidoscope where new patterns were created by the public’s movement; towering sheets of lit up bottles, a canopy of floating light shards; a hanging wall of luminous and colourful ducting tubes; a multitude of interconnected, glowing strings and an undulating cascade of blue-glowing orbs.