Christchurch Modern » Don Donnithorne http://www.christchurchmodern.co.nz A collection of modern houses in Christchurch, New Zealand. Tue, 24 Nov 2020 05:47:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Don Donnithorne http://www.christchurchmodern.co.nz/2008/02/don-donnithorne/ http://www.christchurchmodern.co.nz/2008/02/don-donnithorne/#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:15:05 +0000 admin http://www.christchurchmodern.co.nz/?p=149 Don believes his work gives people “relaxation and contentment, not drastic hallucinations”. The aim is to achieve privacy away from the outside world, creating special spaces within the home, which lend to the feeling of a retreat. Don is now well into his 80s, but is happily working and drives around in a Lancia Fulvia Zagato. Respect.

Don’s buildings are predominantly timber and brick, built in the Scandinavian style. He won the NZIA national award in 1979 for the Romeni House in Cashmere.

Richard Dalman, Chairman, Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects says that in the 1950s and 1960s Christchurch architects were leading New Zealand into modernism.  “In 1952 Don Donnithorne’s own house brought a simple Scandinavian modern style to Christchurch with a clean lines gable form. This approach was then developed further by Donnithorne, Warren and Mahoney, Peter Beaven, Don Cowie and many others to form a model that has been much copied throughout the city.”

See Don’s houses.

Photo by John Doogan
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