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Hornby Community Care Centre Courtyard
Type of project: Community Co-Design Project
Collaborator: Hornby Community Care Centre Trust
Sponsors/Funders: Christchurch City Council, City Care, Thank You Charitable Trust, Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby
Location: 8 Goulding Ave, Hornby, Christchurch
Completed: July 2020
Status: Active
The Courtyard is a hidden gem – a peaceful space at Hornby Community Care Centre which we revitalised during 2020, utilising our Community Placemaking Approach in collaboration with the Hornby Community Care Centre Trust.
When we first arrived, the courtyard was a lush, self-seeded jungle; beautiful, but overgrown and under-utilised. Over the course of six months, we reached out to the surrounding community, inviting feedback and participation in the design and building of these new amenities. We installed a BBQ area, a platform that can be used for seating or as a stage and a grassed off area for picnicking. We fenced off the bins to make the space more user friendly, and created a community activation planter with games. Steppers through the garden and a kids balance activity space were also included. We incorporated a memorial seat for a significant community member, Lesley Keast, who recently passed away.
This project was completed against the odds. We had just moved our moveable workspace onto site ready to start construction when we all went into lockdown due to the COVID19 pandemic. The resulting delay and significant change in the economic environment could have scuppered this project, and all credit must be given to Linda Turner, Satali Auvae, and the board of the Hornby Community Centre for their vision and commitment to seeing the project through. They believed in the design the community had co-created and trusted that spaces for community connection will be important in the coming months and years as we face uncertainties together. They did everything in their capacity to make it happen.
Our thanks to Christchurch City Council for their ongoing support of our mahi, to City Care for their help in shifting our Moveable Workspace, to Thank You Charitable Trust and Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby for supporting the project. A huge thanks also to the incredible community of folk who volunteered to help complete the design, reclamation, and build. They were exceptionally dedicated; showing up despite the build being the middle of winter, instead of early autumn, committing significant hours each week.
“It was important for us to align ourselves with an organisation who shares similar goals, to activate an under-utilised space and provide opportunities for our community to connect. We love that The Green Lab listened to the ideas from our community and designed a beautiful space in what we are calling Hornby’s Hidden Gem – The Courtyard. The transformation has been amazing, from a once overgrown garden to an open and inviting space for all groups and ages to enjoy. Ka pai.”
“This proves what can be done with a group of people and a clear idea. We didn’t know what to expect at the start, but with the drive of the community and The Green Lab’s leadership, it’s a fantastic outcome. Now [The Courtyard]’s there and you see it, it opens up a whole world of new opportunities.”
The garden space is a quiet and small space which I think is a nice place to enjoy and relax for people coming from the library, the post shop or the community centre. Being part of the project has given me a sense of self worth as I know that in my own little way I was able to contribute to something that would benefit the community. I learnt lots of skills - things that were not usually done by women in our country (Philippines) like using the power tools. Thanks to The Green Lab for the opportunity, as I didn’t only learn new skills but gained new friends.
I liked helping the community. Coming helped me to talk to different people and be friends. It helped me to talk in general, helped me find my voice. I’m not afraid to speak up now.
It’s really good for mental health to have a place to come and be helpful and make a useful contribution. The end result is bigger than just me and I am feeling proud. It was really helpful that there was a grand plan so I would fit into what’s happening... I could just turn up and come and do it!
I like that the Courtyard is now a secure place with lots of potential. I’d like to see Art projects happening here. We had enthusiastic camaraderie and a shared experience. And it’s something that’s lasting another generation, for the grandchildren. I learnt how to use an angle grinder!