The crappy photos don’t do this house justice. Currently occupied by the University of Canterbury’s ‘Publications Team’, this former home seems remarkably intact. Inside, the fittings and layout are all there and the living, dining and bedrooms simply occupied by regulation office furniture. It wouldn’t take much to return it to what it should be.
…continue reading 118 Ilam Rd. Redpath House. Minson, Henning-Hansen.
Despite some over-zealous painting, there’s no mistaking the modernist lines of this Don D. ‘Hollywood Hills’ pad. Those extended concrete roof beams are visible from the moon and the views over the ocean and alps are epic.
…continue reading 105 Panorama Rd. Don Donnithorne.
Original, unmolested modernist homes of the 1940s are pretty hard to come by in Christchurch which makes this Stewart Minson design a real find. The combination of the L-shape, flat-roof, weatherboard, and flagstone are a fine mix and the way the roofline steps down the slope is super sharp.
…continue reading 71 Te Awakura Tce. Stewart Minson.
This original 60s house, designed by architect Joseph Moffat for his retirement, is hidden behind a solid concrete block wall and arranged around a swimming pool. The North facing full-height sliding glass wall of the living area is a sweet design touch and the type of feature that gave birth to the nauseating term ‘indoor-outdoor flow’.
…continue reading 56 Greers Rd. Moffat House. Grifiths, Moffat & Partners.
If we had a dollar for every ugly aluminium conservatory / sun room added to a Christchurch Modern home we’d have at least $64. The house is guilty - $65 - but the original unpainted concrete blockwork outside and stunning timber detailing inside leaves all forgiven. The fireplace in the living room is a bohemoth and a thing of beauty.
…continue reading 29 Cannon Hill Cr. Minson, Henning-Hansen.
Here’s a story we like. Diedre read about the Maling House and noticed the design similarities to her own modernist home. After contacting a number of people around town she found architect Simon Pascoe, son of Paul, who was able to confirm her house was indeed a Pascoe & Hall design, drawn by Humphrey Hall around 1950. Sadly Diedre has to move on, but the good news for Modern lovers - it’s for sale.
A very tidy design that mixes various shapes particularly well. The main building at the rear is a typical Christchurch modern two-storey barn, but becomes extra interesting with the addition of the low, garage box and the mono pitch, wedge-of-cheese living area.
…continue reading 49 Parklands Dr. Architect Unknown.
Aside from an unfortunate 20-year love affair with red brick, Don seemed to prefer timber for his houses, but he did occasionally build in concrete block and the results were almost always good. The wide, low pitched roof was popular with architects at the time, but the crows nest bedroom and chunky chimney set this house apart.
…continue reading 8 Sulby Rd. Don Donnithorne.
Karn Henning-Hansen remembers her late father in an article written for the local NZIA journal. It’s a good read about a quiet modernist whose architecture focused on the principles of the movement and never the style
Houses like this very early S’Miles design are an interesting case. A large L-shaped addition and some silly alterations have it poised precariously awaiting either restoration or obliteration. It would have originally been a beautifully proportioned, small house, but are there people willing to spend the time and money to restore the building to the way it should be? Please raise your hands.
…continue reading 19 Cannon Hill Cr. J R Tye House. Warren & Mahoney.
Sometimes it’s the little known houses and designers that make for the happy surprises. This is sweet little, original 60s house set off the street in a beautiful rambling native garden. The mix of weatherboard and concrete block is a bit Foot in Each Camp, but overall the design stands up very well.
…continue reading 46 Hawford Rd. Architect’s House. Peter Whiteside.
Arguably the city’s craziest house, a stray shuttlecock, dropped from the sky amidst a street of brick and tile sameness. The level changes are many and it’s a fair assumption that the same architect(s) had a hand in the nearby St Martins Adventist church which displays similar Corbusian flair.
…continue reading 29 Parklands Dr. James Hanna.