1 / 3Ravenscar House Museum
π Christchurch Central City, Canterbury
Ravenscar House Museum is a curated private collection of art, furniture, and sculpture in a base-isolated house in central Christchurch, near the Arts Centre and Botanical Gardens.
5 stars if youβre an architect or into architecture. For everyone else, this would most likely be a 3 star as itβs a paid entry and your visit would take 15-30min. I would call this less of a museum and more of a house. The form and details of this house is stunning. From the heavy sloped roof to the underground air delivery, Patterson did an excellent job incorporating the ideas of the original house into this contemporary one (figuratively and literally). The aggregates of the exterior concrete holds a story on their own. Overall itβs a simple looking piece of architecture; and all architects know, the simpler something looks, the more complex the design.
π Family Action Verdict
Families with older children interested in art, design, or architecture will find the collection genuinely engaging β reviewers note you can spend hours taking it all in. The base-isolated architecture adds a point of interest, and the central location makes it straightforward to combine with the Botanical Gardens or Arts Centre.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β99 Google reviews
George βGeologicalβ Lin
a year ago
β5 stars if youβre an architect or into architecture. For everyone else, this would most likely be a 3 star as itβs a paid entry and your visit would take 15-30min. I would call this less of a museum and more of a house. The form and details of this house is stunning. From the heavy sloped roof to the underground air delivery, Patterson did an excellent job incorporating the ideas of the original house into this contemporary one (figuratively and literally). The aggregates of the exterior concrete holds a story on their own. Overall itβs a simple looking piece of architecture; and all architects know, the simpler something looks, the more complex the design.β
Robyn Prinsep
5 months ago
βGo for the architecture and admire the art. Beautifully positioned near the Arts Centre, Museum, Botanical Gardens and Christs College. Ravenscar House is stunning opportunity to appreciate the generosity of The Wakefields and their love of art and Christchurch. Quietly referencing the impact of the Christchurch Earthquakes in the building material of the museum.β
Renee Berrisford
2 months ago
βA beautiful & thoughtfully curated exhibition (house) collected by two art & design lovers, offered to the public. We need more people willing to share their love of art/ collections like Susan & Jim Wakefield.β
N N (Pom)
4 months ago
βThis museum house, built with a base-isolated foundation to handle future earthquakes, is easy to get toβjust hop on the tram and youβre there!β
Reviews from Google
Overview
Ravenscar House Museum in Christchurch Central City is a thoughtfully curated private collection shared with the public by its owners, Susan and Jim. The house is built on a base-isolated foundation designed to withstand future earthquakes, and the architecture itself is considered part of the experience. The collection spans rare paintings, sculpture, furniture, and decorative objects, presented throughout the rooms of the house.
