The Re:START Mall, also known as the 'container mall' was was a unique and innovative retail precinct established in the aftermath of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. So many of the central city traditional brick-and-mortar stores were rendered unsafe or unusable so in response to this situation, the Re:START Mall was created as a temporary shopping area using brightly painted shipping containers.
Showcasing the city's innovative spirit, shipping containers were repurposed, stacked and retrofitted to house various retail shops, cafes, and boutiques. The idea behind the Re:START Mall was to provide a safe and functional space for businesses to continue operating while the city's infrastructure was being assessed and rebuilt. This temporary solution became a symbol of Christchurch's resilience and determination to rebuild after the earthquake.
The mall hosted a diverse range of businesses, including clothing stores, souvenir shops, cafes, art galleries, and more. Now completely gone, it will always be remembered for providing unique shopping experience in a setting unlike anything else, at a time when the city needed a sense of normalcy and hope.
https://www.discovercontainers.com/projects/restart-container-mall/
PHOTO: Pear285 at English Wikipedia