I missed the limited cinema screening of this, was good to see on DocPlay. A timely and intimate look at one of NZ's greatest architectural partnerships. It also documents the unnecessarily destructive aspects of the Christchurch quake recovery, which almost claimed one of their finest works: The Christchurch Town Hall.
The fragile legacy of a unique architectural partnership.Throughout the 60s and 70s an architectural revolution took place in New Zealand, largely led by two young Christchurch architects. Their partnership, which spanned 37 years, gave rise to a uniquely New Zealand modernist movement that was to influence a generation of architects.The fruits of this remarkable partnership, their approach to design, their signature use of materials and the influence they had on their architectural peers, transformed the face of Christchurch.Within a short decade it was to shrug off its reputation for somewhat stuffy Georgian and neo-gothic architecture for a distinctive ‘brutalist’ style that was bold, modern and often controversial. Through rare archival footage and exclusive interviews, including their final conversation together, the film reflects on their remarkable legacy, the community impact of their bold architectural vision, and the enduring importance of architecture in shaping and enriching our lives.