Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s Rebuild
Imagined landscapes find their form in utopian dreaming. As ideal places, utopias are set up according to the ideals of their designers. Inevitably, utopias become compromised when they move from the imaginary into the actual. Opportunities to create utopias rely largely on a blank slate, a landscap...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Lincoln University
2015-11-01
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| Series: | Landscape Review |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lincoln.ac.nz/index.php/lr/article/view/862 |
| _version_ | 1797285254604521472 |
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| author | Jacky Bowring |
| author_facet | Jacky Bowring |
| author_sort | Jacky Bowring |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Imagined landscapes find their form in utopian dreaming. As ideal places, utopias are set up according to the ideals of their designers. Inevitably, utopias become compromised when they move from the imaginary into the actual. Opportunities to create utopias rely largely on a blank slate, a landscape unimpeded by the inconveniences of existing occupation – or even topography. Christchurch has seen two utopian moments. The first was at the time of European settlement in the mid-nineteenth century, when imported ideals provided a model for a new city. The earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 provided a second point at which utopian dreaming spurred visions for the city. Christchurch’s earthquakes have provided a unique opportunity for a city to re-imagine itself. Yet, as is the fate for all imaginary places, reality got in the way. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T18:00:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c4365f17b1f492faadfbecbe739da24 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1173-3853 2253-1440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T18:00:29Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | Lincoln University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Landscape Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c4365f17b1f492faadfbecbe739da242024-03-02T10:53:14ZengLincoln UniversityLandscape Review1173-38532253-14402015-11-01161730Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s RebuildJacky BowringImagined landscapes find their form in utopian dreaming. As ideal places, utopias are set up according to the ideals of their designers. Inevitably, utopias become compromised when they move from the imaginary into the actual. Opportunities to create utopias rely largely on a blank slate, a landscape unimpeded by the inconveniences of existing occupation – or even topography. Christchurch has seen two utopian moments. The first was at the time of European settlement in the mid-nineteenth century, when imported ideals provided a model for a new city. The earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 provided a second point at which utopian dreaming spurred visions for the city. Christchurch’s earthquakes have provided a unique opportunity for a city to re-imagine itself. Yet, as is the fate for all imaginary places, reality got in the way.https://journals.lincoln.ac.nz/index.php/lr/article/view/862 |
| spellingShingle | Jacky Bowring Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s Rebuild Landscape Review |
| title | Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s Rebuild |
| title_full | Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s Rebuild |
| title_fullStr | Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s Rebuild |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s Rebuild |
| title_short | Revisiting Utopia: How a Legacy of Idealistic Plans Resonates with Christchurch’s Rebuild |
| title_sort | revisiting utopia how a legacy of idealistic plans resonates with christchurch s rebuild |
| url | https://journals.lincoln.ac.nz/index.php/lr/article/view/862 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jackybowring revisitingutopiahowalegacyofidealisticplansresonateswithchristchurchsrebuild |