A fortress of over 3000 recycled wooden pallets has delivered a community-focused events centre for Christchurch this summer.

The Pallet Pavilion was stacked by more than 250 volunteers over almost 3000 hours and opened to the public last Friday.

The temporary events venue is on the corner of Kilmore St and Durham St, on the former Crowne Plaza Hotel site.

With a seating capacity of 200, the Gap Filler initiative will be open daily as a public space and host organised events at night from Thursday to Sunday.

The Gap Filler group has transformed the city's vacant sites into community spaces since the February 2011 earthquake and the summer pavilion is one of its most ambitious projects.

Four-metre-high walls made from blue pallets enclose a "secret garden" with stepped seating, a small, triangular stage and a video projector and screen.

The "family friendly" pavilion was designed to replace the city's lost live-music venues. It is equipped with a basic sound system and has been designed by emerging Christchurch designers and built from loaned, reused and donated materials. It will be run by a local father and daughter team, Glen and Amy Jansen, and will host live music, outdoor cinema and other events. Community organisations, individuals and corporate entities can also hire the pavilion for private events.

"We really want to see the space used by the community all summer long to draw some life back into the area," Amy Jansen said.

The pallet pavilion will remain intact until April.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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