Public pick Spire for Christchurch’s city centre

An interactive lighting display that features nine spires which change colour as people move around them will be installed in central Christchurch.

The Spire proposal was one of three designs the public were asked to vote on as part of the Light Up the City initiative organised by Christchurch City Council’s Enliven Places programme.

Spire will help light up Christchurch's city centre this weekend.

Lighting designers Carl Pavletich and Julieanne Eason, of Shades Arcade, submitted the design for Spire in response to the Council’s call for design ideas for an interactive lighting display to brighten up Christchurch’s city centre over the winter months.

“We asked people to pick their favourite from three short-listed lighting designs and Spire came out on top,’’ says Council Head of Urban Regeneration, Design and Heritage Carolyn Ingles.

“The installation is made up of nine spires and it is going to be interactive in a variety of ways. Motion sensors will be installed in each spire and when people are detected on the outer edge of the spire, the light will switch to a completely different colour.

“If people run around the installation, they will change all the lights as they go, creating a stunning effect,’’ Ms Ingles says.

“Spire will be a fun addition to the central city and will be something people can enjoy in all sorts of weather and all hours of the day and night.’’

Carl Pavletich and Julieanne Eason, who will receive a prize of $2000, as well as budget to deliver their design, are delighted the public picked their proposal.

"We're super pleased to have won - massive thanks to our supporters! With Spire we've been inspired to create something both ephemeral and monumental, like a contemporary Stonehenge. We hope the public will enjoy interacting with it,'' Ms Eason says.

Spire will be installed in either Cathedral Square or at a location along the Promenade in early July.