The original owner had lived in Japan and was enthusiastic about Japanese architecture, gardens and planning. The home was therefore designed with all rooms opening on to individual courts via sliding doors, but used materials of the local style; concrete floors and block walls.
…continue reading 443b Ilam Rd. P Blaxall House. Griffiths, Moffat & Partners.
Andrew Barrie shas compiled another excellent architectural tour – this time it’s our favourite non-conformist, Peter Beaven. The guide features some of Peter’s key buildings from 1950-70 including a few of the houses featured right here on Christchurch Modern.
Created for a bachelor, well-known Christchurch florist Cliff Belworthy, his cat and two fox terriers. Cliff was adamant he wasn’t prepared to “live in a house like Mrs Jones on the corner” and asked for a house “that no sane person would copy”. His only practical request: “two bedrooms, as far apart as possible”.
…continue reading 49 Clifton Tce. Belworthy House. William Taurau Royal.
The lovely angled roofline must have been a relief from the symmetry of 1960s suburban Christchurch and a good example of Peter’s early Swedish-inspired forms. The house has been added to and modified to suit the current tenants, the University of Canterbury Child Care.
…continue reading 116 Ilam Rd. Peter Beaven.
Built in what was once a rural setting, this would have been a grand modern home, but is now unloved: sitting on a highly trafficked road, subdivided and painted the colour of a penguin pool. Originally white painted concrete block with fairface concrete and a striking red front door. The adjacent surgery is now a surveyors equipment company.
…continue reading 727 Main North Rd. Hunt House & Surgery. Allan Mitchener.
We love Pixie houses (almost as much as Justin) and it’s been a while since we featured one. The home was mentioned in Home & Building in 1963 saying, “how sensitively it is possible to unite home and garden”. Bafflingly, the garden has been replaced with a pool, which due to the Christchurch climate acts for the most part of the year as a hole full of water.
…continue reading 22 Garden Rd. R L Ronaldson House. Warren & Mahoney.
This little bach sits adjacent to the sandhills of Leithfield Beach and occupies the majority of the tiny section. Small sheltered courtyards make good use of the the minimal land and all rooms open to the outside to relieve their small size and enjoy the coastal environment.
…continue reading 9 Elizabeth Sq. Murray Cottage. Pascoe & Linton.