Temporary urbanism and urban sustainability after a natural disaster: transitional community-initiated open spaces in Christchurch, New Zealand

Urban Farm DB summary

In Christchurch, New Zealand — struck by a series of major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 — community gardens, urban agriculture, art installations, event venues, cafés and pocket parks emerged as temporary uses on vacant post-earthquake sites. Through a review and analysis of exemplary transitional community-initiated open spaces alongside related literature, this paper examines how the post-disaster urban context shaped particular aspects of temporary urbanism compared with case studies in non-disaster settings. Focusing on the anticipated benefits of community-initiated open spaces, it discusses their relevance to urban sustainability in relation to community resilience, while raising unresolved questions about their possible long-term value.