LiVS Office
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Geof Wilson Download Original
Timber framed, off-grid, movable office built using earthquake demolition materials for the Life in Vacant Spaces Trust, Christchurch
CANDO worked in collaboration with Sustainable Habitat Challenge (SHAC) to orchestrate the design and build of a portable, off-grid office space for Life in Vacant Spaces Trust. The office was to be in the spirit of the charities mission, to help revitalise Christchurch’s many vacant sites following the wake of the 2011 earthquake.
The maximum permitted building area of 10m2 was made to feel bigger with a lofty roof and projecting window seat. Further space was delineated with a covered entrance veranda, solar panel awning and fenced off exterior deck.
A palette of largely reclaimed materials were sourced from earthquake damaged properties, skips and donors. The main bulk of the building was constructed within four long weekends with the help of volunteer labour.
Data
- Begun: Sep 2012
- Completed: Nov 2012
- Floor area: 8m2
- Sector: Office
- Total cost: £5,400
- Funding: Charity
- Tender date: Aug 2012
- Procurement: N/A
- Address: (Relocatable) Current location, 70 Kilmore Street, Christchurch, 8013, New Zealand
Professional Team 
- Architect: CANDO
- Client: Life in Vacant Spaces Trust
- Building services engineer: Sustainable Habitat Challenge
- Structural engineer: Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers
Suppliers
- Paint sponsors: Dulux, NZ
- Fixings sponsors: Steel and Tube, NZ