Christchurch Modern » Ian Athfield

Riverlaw Tce. Harland House. Ian Athfield.

admin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:20:29 +0000

Unfortunately never built, but designed in 1964 in the first year of Ian’s own practice. Gerald Melling, in his book Joyful Architecture, observes the design is clearly of the Christchurch Style and is “careful, conservative, tentative……the Architect looking over his shoulder. An uncompromisingly direct rectilineal gable hanging over a rigidly organised plan.”

32 Kiteroa Pl. Jones House. Ian Athfield.

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:09:58 +0000

This lovely 1980s home named Halcyon sits beautifully on the sloping Cashmere Hills overlooking the Canterbury plains. It shows Ian’s love of Modernist and Mediterranean architecture. In this case, hard geometric lines mixed with archways and…..it seems….timber window shutters.

71 Parklands Dr. David Allen.

admin — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 07:30:28 +0000

David Allen was a contemporary of Roger Walker and Ian Athfield at the Auckland Architecture School. This idiosyncratic design borrows from, yet rallies against the formal Christchurch style established in the 60s. It looks good.

Architect Athfield. 1977 Documentary Film.

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:26:24 +0000

“Before he achieved worldwide fame as an actor, Sam Neill directed this documentary for the National Film Unit about lively New Zealand architect Ian Athfield. It examines the philosophy, achievements and frustrations of one of this country’s most innovative architects, who won an international competition in 1975 to design housing for 140,000 squatters in Manila, in the Philippines, yet struggled to gain recognition back home. This film culminates in Athfield’s trip to the Philippines to pursue the project.”

Click here to watch Architect Athfield film at www.nzonscreen.com

35a St Martins Rd. Jones House. Ian Athfield.

admin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:59:58 +0000

This Ian Athfield 1968 house is a rare Christchurch example of his residential work, designed for his school rowing coach. Before Athfield came to prominence in Wellington, he’d spent time under the tutelage of Miles Warren and the influence in this early work is obvious.

The asymmetrical design also references the work of Peter Beaven, who admired the house greatly.

Ian Athfield built a little house in Opawa (sic). It was my favourite Christchurch house for many years. The Christchurch Style was extended into much more romantic forms without losing any of the discipline of that style.