Maurice and I

A feature-length documentary celebrating Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney’s hugely influential architectural partnership, and their legacy that was all but lost in the devastating Christchurch earthquakes.

Their approach to design and their signature use of materials transformed the face of Christchurch in 60s and 70s and influenced their architectural peers throughout New Zealand. Within a short decade Christchurch was to shrug off its reputation for somewhat stuffy Georgian and neo-gothic architecture for a distinctive ‘brutalist’ style that was bold, modern and often controversial.

Then in 2011, almost the entire built legacy of Warren and Mahoney was destroyed. Among the buildings which suffered major damage was the Christchurch Town Hall, regarded by many, including the architects themselves, as their finest work. Internationally renowned for its elegant, brutalist form and sophisticated interiors, the Christchurch Town Hall revolutionised the design approach to performance spaces and acoustic engineering.

As the Christchurch Town Hall’s fate hangs in the balance, Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney reflect on their remarkable partnership. Maurice & I combines rare archival footage alongside exclusive interviews with Sir Miles and Maurice Mahoney, including their final interview together.