It’s a lot of brown, but if you don’t mind the colour this is a very original 1960s home from the never-dull Peter Beaven, arguably still one of Christchurch’s best young architects.

…continue reading 264A Waimairi Rd. Peter Beaven.

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.

A little winner at the end of a suburban culdesac by the most excellent Hall & Mackenzie. Tricky to photograph (on a phone, under some bushes), but rest-assured this an original condition, stream-side gem.

…continue reading 31 Joyce Cr. GL Nicoll House. Hall & Mackenzie.

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.

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.

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.