Opening the doors of Christchurch's architectural gems
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 26th March 2025
Take a peek behind the doors of Ōtautahi Christchurch’s most exceptional architecture and design during Open Christchurch 2025.
This year’s festival runs from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th May with 51 buildings, two designed landscapes, five guided walks and over forty activities making the biggest programme to date.
From the largest building, One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, to the tiniest treasure, Bull O’Sullivan Architecture’s Chapel of St Thérèse of Lisieux, the Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and City-Making programme spans a variety of buildings, landscapes and experiences.
Open Christchurch 2025’s themes include design excellence in performance spaces and the works of pre-eminent local Gothic Revival architect, Benjamin Mountfort - in commemoration of the bicentenary of his birth.
Special architectural encounters include being among the first to experience the latest addition to the city’s culturescape, The Court Theatre, youth-led tours of the mixed-use centre, the Youth Hub, being hosted by whānau at Rāpaki School, Church and the Korako Whānau Papakāinga and exploring the iconic Peter Beavan design, Chateau on the Park, with an architectural historian.
The festival is also serving up several special access experiences, such as the chance to get behind the hoardings during construction on a tour of the Stadium, heading into the archives at the Macmillan Brown Library to view Mounfort’s original drawings and getting behind closed doors at the Former Wellington Woollen Mills Manufacturing Company, now the stunning hybrid hotel, The Drifter Christchurch.
There are more than 40 activities being held over the weekend, such as talks, tours, exhibitions and workshops, provide additional ways to learn about the city’s architecture.
Te Pūtahi director Jessica Halliday said: “Open Christchurch is a simple invitation: come and explore these great buildings, you don’t need a special reason or a personal invitation - doors are open, please come on in."
"It’s an annual celebration of free access to Ōtautahi’s best buildings, aiming to make Christchurch more open, accessible and inclusive. Our city has so many fascinating buildings - so be nosy, satisfy your curiosity and feel welcome to explore your city through architecture over Open Christchurch weekend.”
Buildings are open at different times across the weekend, bookable activities are timetabled and a handful of buildings require advance bookings.
Find out more about Open Christchurch 2025, including how to book and building-specific accessibility.