Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has announced an architectural think tank to assist rebuilding the city in the aftermath of the recent earthquake.
Mr Parker told a media conference this afternoon that the council had received an offer from the Institute of Architects to provide free expertise and input.
He was accompanied by Ian Athfield who will convene a panel of eminent architects and building and construction advisers from the Canterbury region.
Mr Parker said the rebuilding process would also require rewriting the city plan. The council wanted to encourage retention of heritage buildings, he said.
But when queried about the financial effect of the council's new requirement to rebuild to higher levels of the Building Code, he said the decision had been made against fears of loss of life.
He acknowledged it might have financial implications on building owners trying to repair damaged buildings.
Another councillor, Sue Wells, indicated that the decision by council to require a higher standard of repair work might be reconsidered. When asked if financial assistance would be granted to building owners she said there was a possibility of government and council grants if there was a shortfall from insurers.
Mr Parker reiterated that the new $113 million civic building designed to consolidate all council operations had performed as it should.
The council had been forced to requisition the Art Gallery and retain staff in service centres in the days after the earthquake because of ongoing repairs required to fittings on several floors and stairwells.
All power had been lost immediately after the earthquake because the "smart" control systems had automatically shut down the tri-generation electricity and gas system.
"The smart building system was not quite smart enough in my view,"
A large number of staff remain in other offices as repair work continues.
