Christchurch Modern

118 Ilam Rd. Redpath House. Minson, Henning-Hansen.

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:43:42 +0000

The crappy photos don’t do this house justice. Currently occupied by the University of Canterbury’s ‘Publications Team’, this former home seems remarkably intact. Inside, the fittings and layout are all there and the living, dining and bedrooms simply occupied by regulation office furniture. It wouldn’t take much to return it to what it should be.

105 Panorama Rd. Don Donnithorne.

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 03:24:26 +0000

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.

71 Te Awakura Tce. Stewart Minson.

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 23:57:55 +0000

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.

56 Greers Rd. Moffat House. Grifiths, Moffat & Partners.

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 09:02:57 +0000

This original 60s house, designed by architect Joseph Moffat for his retirement, is hidden behind a solid concrete block wall and arranged around a swimming pool. The North facing full-height sliding glass wall of the living area is a sweet design touch and the type of feature that gave birth to the nauseating term ‘indoor-outdoor flow’.

29 Cannon Hill Cr. Minson, Henning-Hansen.

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 08:40:33 +0000

If we had a dollar for every ugly aluminium conservatory / sun room added to a Christchurch Modern home we’d have at least $64. The house is guilty - $65 - but the original unpainted concrete blockwork outside and stunning timber detailing inside leaves all forgiven. The fireplace in the living room is a bohemoth and a thing of beauty.

43 Aylesford St. Pascoe & Hall.

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:24:34 +0000

Here’s a story we like. Diedre read about the Maling House and noticed the design similarities to her own modernist home. After contacting a number of people around town she found architect Simon Pascoe, son of Paul, who was able to confirm her house was indeed a Pascoe & Hall design, drawn by Humphrey Hall around 1950. Sadly Diedre has to move on, but the good news for Modern lovers - it’s for sale.

49 Parklands Dr. Architect Unknown.

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 06:02:10 +0000

A very tidy design that mixes various shapes particularly well. The main building at the rear is a typical Christchurch modern two-storey barn, but becomes extra interesting with the addition of the low, garage box and the mono pitch, wedge-of-cheese living area.

8 Sulby Rd. Don Donnithorne.

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 05:53:16 +0000

Aside from an unfortunate 20-year love affair with red brick, Don seemed to prefer timber for his houses, but he did occasionally build in concrete block and the results were almost always good. The wide, low pitched roof was popular with architects at the time, but the crows nest bedroom and chunky chimney set this house apart.

No doubt Don, an avid Lancia collector, would not approve of the crap cars out front. They do certainly lower the tone.

Holger Henning-Hansen. A profile.

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:13:03 +0000

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

19 Cannon Hill Cr. J R Tye House. Warren & Mahoney.

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:03:39 +0000

Houses like this very early S’Miles design are an interesting case. A large L-shaped addition and some silly alterations have it poised precariously awaiting either restoration or obliteration. It would have originally been a beautifully proportioned, small house, but are there people willing to spend the time and money to restore the building to the way it should be? Please raise your hands.