It’s a lot of brown, but if you don’t mind the colour this is a very original 1960s home from the never-dull Peter Beaven, arguably still one of Christchurch’s best young architects.

…continue reading 264A Waimairi Rd. Peter Beaven.

This particular house is noteworthy more for it’s owner than architect. Professor Roy Kerr commissioned this house after returning to New Zealand in 1972. Kerr is a super-scientist, recipient of the Rutherford Medal and the subject of the semi-biographical book Cracking the Einstein Code. That aside, he had a pretty sweet house that’s subsequently been furnished like a cheap motel.

…continue reading 68B Creyke Rd. Prof. Kerr House. Warren & Mahoney.

We don’t normally do real estate listings, but why not?
This townhouse is particularly good; designed around ’66 and renovated nicely in the noughties by Warren & Mahoney’s Richard McGowan (please contact Richard directly with any questions regarding the chequer plate stair treads). The building feels like the perfect prototype (and archetype) of the modern Christchurch inner-city home: beautiful and efficient in materials and design. At the open home make sure to say loudly, “mmm, very Miles”.

Brutalists don’t cry, but after this weeks shaking we’re not happy. These little bachelor flats are one of New Zealand’s most important post-war buildings and surely face the possibility of demolition. Next door, the lovely and underrated Dorset Towers are abandoned and round the corner the new kids Park Terrace & Establishment Apartments are also red-stickered. Save Ferris Dorset.

…continue reading Poor Dorset Street.

The fine people at Home magazine have published some killer shots of the MJ Foster house on their blog. Miles, Maurice and the team really excelled themselves on this job. As they did on the Don Forbes house, also currently for sale.

…continue reading For sale. Warren & Mahoney’s best.

Since that bastard earthquake local architect Justin has photographed pretty much all of the pre-1980 Christchurch W&M houses. He tells us the missing ones are RC Ballantyne (back section on Glandovey Rd), Hyslop flats, Fox House, Dorset Flats, Dorset Towers and Weston Flats (within the restricted CBD cordon). Quite an effort!

…continue reading The (almost) definitive W&M pics.

These are the facts: many of Christchurch’s post-war modernist buildings are badly damaged and will be demolished. Warren & Mahoney’s 1960s houses defined the Christchurch Style and a lot of them are poked:

…continue reading W&M earthquake casualties

We were asked by the Dominion Post for some information on Don. Here’s what I wrote.

I met him just the once. He invited me and my friend Tim to his home. We had a cup of tea and he talked about his career and the houses he designed. He was modest, but proud of his achievements. He spoke kindly about his contemporaries and reverently about Peter Beaven whom he called “the master of space”.

…continue reading Don Cowey.

Our thoughts are with everyone in Christchurch affected by the February 22 Earthquake. We’re particularly saddened by the death of Don Cowey, legendary Christchurch architect and all round good guy, who was killed as a result of falling rocks at his Redcliffs home.

This one is going to take a while to get over.

…continue reading Earthquakes, we hate you.

Two houses overlooking the Estuary. The brief was for “two bedroom apartments suitable for retired couples”. Not wildly exciting, but the architects did a pretty good job in comparison to the vomitous ‘over 60s’ duplex buildings scattered all over Christchurch.

…continue reading 235 Mount Pleasant Rd. Boulton House. Pascoe, Linton.

A little winner at the end of a suburban culdesac by the most excellent Hall & Mackenzie. Tricky to photograph (on a phone, under some bushes), but rest-assured this an original condition, stream-side gem.

…continue reading 31 Joyce Cr. GL Nicoll House. Hall & Mackenzie.

Young Miles was on the telly last Sunday. Artsville ran a profile on the architect and his work. It’s no action thriller, but there’s some great shots of College House and early Christchurch work. Miles himself remains coy.

Watch it on TVNZ while the link lasts.