One day in 1964 a man called Duncan Winder from Wellington visited Christchurch and took some pictures of Warren & Mahoney residences. That’s pretty much the extent of the story, unless people know more?

…continue reading Warren & Mahoney by Duncan Winder.

Yeah, normally we do houses, but it’s a slow month and the University has put up some historical images of their world-class brutalist campus. The designs are mostly by the government Ministry of Works architects, but there’s also some sweeties from Warren & Mahoney, Charles Thomas, and the pick of the bunch, from Hall & Mackenzie. Check it.

…continue reading City’s Edge. University of Canterbury 1960 – 1975.

There aren’t too many TV shows about architecture (it’s boring) and even less about Christchurch (again, nodding off), but in 1984 David Mitchell made a show about both. And it’s excellent. Watch it online at NZ Onscreen, it’s a winner.

The fine people at Home magazine have published some killer shots (edit – by Paul McCredie) 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.

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.

Rover parking only in this 1970s mix of Japanese, Scandinavian and Christchurch influences on the Cashmere flats. And if you want a chimney that laughs in the face of earthquakes, here’s your guy.

…continue reading 155 Ashgrove Tce. Architect Unknown.

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

Download the PDF

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.

Download the guide.

Two fat ladies – Wobbly wobbly.

Hooray for Super Graphics.

This house was designed by Bruce during a brief period he practised on his own after leaving Warren & Mahoney in mid 60s. He left NZ for the UK in 1970.

Christchurch Art Gallery, 7 March – 14 June 2009.

Miles: a life in architecture will reveal Sir Miles’s contribution to modernist architecture as well as his success as a watercolourist and gardener.

Miles also turns 80 during the exhibition. Happy birthday Sir.

…continue reading Miles: a life in architecture

Like Britney’s mum, Sir Miles pens tell-all book:

“This book is not a solemn treatise on the art of architecture. It is about my life in architecture, about the process of designing and making of buildings, responding to clients and dealing with builders, the tos and fros and the ups and downs, the fun of being an architect.

…continue reading Miles Warren an Autobiography.

Designed in 1976 for a wealthy builder, the Forbes House is arguably the grandest of Warren & Mahoney’s residential buildings of the time. The house is formidable: raw, exposed concrete beams dominate, yet it’s elegant and totally cool.

…continue reading 5a Snowdon Rd. Forbes House. Warren & Mahoney.