Pictured: Bedford Apartments (Architectus, 2021), photo by Sarah Rowlands.

Housing is personal. Yet on the collective scale, it has the potential to transform neighbourhoods, bringing vitality to urban areas, creating communities and doing so in a way that is kind to the planet.

From affordability and wellbeing to sustainability and economic prosperity, multiple factors indicate that apartments are the type of urban housing that we should be prioritising.

So why aren’t we building more apartments?

Join us for this Christchurch Conversation as we explore the case for higher-density housing and its perceived barriers. Find out what good apartment development and design looks like and how we might achieve this.

Hear from experts, developers and people already living in apartments on Tuesday 20 August as we put this type of housing under the microscope:

  • Ekin Sakin – Urban Design Principal, Christchurch City Council.
  • Tania Wong – Head of Architecture, Ockham Residential.
  • Bradley Nicolson – Developer and managing landlord, Oxford Terrace Baptist Church Housing.
  • Mark Darbyshire – Apartment resident and Body Corp Chair.
  • Jane Rooney – Principal and Delivery Lead, Architectus.

First, we serve up some quick-fire presentations. Then, we move to a panel discussion and Q&A – so bring your questions.

The Christchurch Conversations 2024 programme is supported by the Christchurch City Council through the Sustainability Fund and has the curatorial support of Amanda Yates from AUT He Puna Ora Regenerative Action Lab. Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Canterbury Branch is the Event Partner for ‘Cities need apartments’.