Now heavily disguised as a shit house and hiding right under our noses is this very early Athfield design, sketched for his brother in 1963 whilst Ath was studying in Auckland. To see it today, painted yellow with a second storey and portico, causes acute intestinal gas.
…continue reading 216 Centaurus Rd. Tony Athfield House. Ian Athfield.
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”.
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.
Interesting to see Don’s take on the ‘Big Fendalton House’ – there are so many today the suburb has ate itself. Instead of the exposed blocks and concrete of W&M we get more modest proportions and softer, cedar cladding. Minor updates and alterations since 1971 have added to the charm of what is still a very nice, modern manor.
…continue reading 46 Wroxton Tce. Don Cowey.
On the flat, the W&M roofs were steep and the chimneys monumentally tall. Here on the hillside, this 1965 house is low, boxy and clad in timber. The full width concrete balustrade is pretty tasty and a nice link to W&Ms more brutalist, commercial work..
…continue reading 17 Michael Ave. Langley House. Warren & Mahoney.
A well hidden gem up on the Cashmere hills designed for a Lincoln University Professor and his wife. It’s a killer house and unusual for Christchurch with it’s extensive use of glass and steel influenced by the American Case Study Houses. Excellent stuff.
…continue reading 843 Cashmere Rd. Walker House. Cowey & McGregor.
Underneath the pergola, rooftop solar panels and various TV aerials might just be a very nicely designed home sitting up on top of Mount Pleasant. It would be interesting to see it without the ‘flair’, but it feels much like the work of Minson, Henning Hansen.
…continue reading 297 Cannon Hill Cr. Architect Unknown.
The story goes that Mrs Thomson participated in a ‘House and Garden’ course in 1966. One of the speakers was a young Miles Warren who made quite an impression and two years later designed this ‘English cottage’ for the young couple. Inside it’s by far the best preserved of the 1960s W&M houses and features pyramidal timber ceilings; split level living and a great fairface concrete fireplace. The nice garage studio was later added by David Brocherie.
…continue reading 5 Karitane Pl. Thomson House. Warren & Mahoney.
Great weather over the weekend, perfect for peeking over fences and spotting this T-shape beauty up on the Cashmere Hills. The solid garage door doesn’t feel right, but it’s a remarkably intact, well cared for original home.
…continue reading 9 Cracroft Tce. Poore House. Minson, Henning-Hansen.
