Dean sent in these pics of his new flat. A late 60s design in classic early W&M style: concrete block with rimu and meranti timber detailing. Dean has done a nice job inside and needs to club the body corporate like baby seals until they return the exterior to crisp white.

…continue reading 104 Rossall St. John Brown Flats. Warren & Mahoney.

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.

Designed to give maximum sun to as many rooms as possible, this concrete block and weatherboard design featured in the Christchurch Art Gallery Group Show, November 1963. Originally the blocks were painted white, but on the whole the home is well-preserved and still looks smart.

…continue reading 19 McDougall Ave. Hobbs House. Lawry and Sellars.

Keith Mackenzie’s own home built in 1961, showing the delicate skills of this much underrated firm. Hall & Mackenzie were former partners of Paul Pascoe and lead designers of the University of Canterbury’s formidable Registry building.

…continue reading 23 Desmond St. Mackenzie House. Hall & Mackenzie.

Very precise set of four townhouses in unpainted concrete block and 45 degree pitched roofs. Amazingly, they seem relatively unmolested and have a striking street presence.

…continue reading 59 Cox St. R C Webb Flats. Warren & Mahoney.

There’s a lot to like about this submission in Fendalton with its crisp graphic lines and startled panda-eye windows.

Nice pyramid roof forms, a departure from the earlier Pixies. We’ll take it, sans Subaru.

…continue reading 19 Jacksons Rd. R W Smart House. Warren & Mahoney.

Guy Sellars’ own home designed in 1954. Guy and his wife still live here and he continues to practice as an architect into his 80th year. In 2008 won a local NZIA award for this house designed for his son.

…continue reading 20 Webb St. Sellars House. Lawry and Sellars.

Built in 1961, this small block of four flats is looking sad and defeated, but behind the trees and faded paint are the remnants of great architecture. Nice big deep concrete beams and a great chimney. Dear owner, please sort it out.

…continue reading 63 Papanui Rd. J J Connor flats. Warren & Mahoney.

An unusual Warren & Mahoney design in red brick for the enigmatically named Mr Blank. This early 60s home is one of the rare Miles Warren ‘woolsheds’ before he latched on to the more distinctive ’stable’ form. Curiously the rear of the house is elevated for no apparent reason.

…continue reading 19 Poynder Ave. A R Blank House. Warren & Mahoney.

Don typically favoured gently mono-pitched roofs for his hillside homes, but on this flat site he went for a taller roof style - later appropriated by the Pizza Hut family restaurant chain. It enables a mezzanine level accessed via a neat, integrated brick stairway above the fireplace and sunken ’sitting well’.

…continue reading 35 Leinster Rd. Mclauchlan House. Don Cowey.

Peter Beaven’s 1974 attempt at ‘village living’ is a good one and still looks tight. He avoids the repetition and uniformity of typical townhouses by varying the design of each home. Porthole windows and intersecting rooflines add some fun.

…continue reading Tonbridge Mews. Peter Beaven.

Hello 1961. This has to be one of Christchurch’s nicest houses and departed from the trademark steep pitch Warren & Mahoney gables in response to the Hill site. Split levels separate living and sleeping areas using king-size double chimneys and a central staircase to great effect.

…continue reading 2 Hilltop Ln. M J W Davis House. Warren & Mahoney.