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Temporary shipping container mall to stimulate economic recovery in Christchurch, New Zealand

Re:START Village is temporary mall built with shipping containers on the site of a mall that was destroyed in February’s 6.3 magnitude earthquake in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. In September of 2010, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near the New Zealand city of Christchurch, devastating the people and economy of New Zealand. Since then, and throughout 2011, several large aftershocks have been felt, including a 6.3 aftershock in February of 2011 that destroyed the Cashel shopping mall. To provide a temporary space for retailers to do business in and the local people to meet and support each other with, a grant was provided to a group called ReSTART. ReSTART then created Re:START Village, a pop-up shopping center built with shipping containers.

From the website:

The mall is filled with some tenants from the old shopping center and some new ones. Tenants were given six month leases due to the temporary nature of the mall, but ReSTART indicated they hope tenants would be able to stay longer once a more permanent structure is built.

Project architect Anton Tritt, of the Buchan Group, said shipping containers had been chosen for the precinct because they were strong. They could also be reused at a new site if landowners decided to put up more permanent buildings.

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