NZ's Architecture van Brandenburg in China

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In our current issue, we feature the remarkable story of architect Fred van Brandenburg and his son Damien of Architecture van Brandenburg, who are designing the new Shenzhen headquarters of Marisfrolg, one of China's biggest fashion labels. Below is a shot of the first stage of the building under construction. (It's expected to be completed in three years). </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYv8jvI5XbRRSXbEiegej_c4K5Wj2dNf6t10AVm82VqIQwTLbtoHwqTWOSYORzTGfY63ejzjfck-TmIs7Kh91VTsUExzDtkkDA-oo-MpA91OwFsEZ59mcj99LQm36k9dlx_fdv9wQo7ql/s1600/6R3A0857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYv8jvI5XbRRSXbEiegej_c4K5Wj2dNf6t10AVm82VqIQwTLbtoHwqTWOSYORzTGfY63ejzjfck-TmIs7Kh91VTsUExzDtkkDA-oo-MpA91OwFsEZ59mcj99LQm36k9dlx_fdv9wQo7ql/s640/6R3A0857.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The inspiration for the building's organic forms come from none other than the late Antoni Gaudi, designer of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia cathedral. Fred, who has designed luxury lodges including Huka Lodge and Wharekauhau, decided after seeing Gaudi's buildings that he wanted to make a complete change in the way he designed buildings. "I decided I was going to do sculptural architecture by adapting philosophies [Gaudi] espoused and applying them to contemporary architecture," he says. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHmQPutlsDOwli16HJzdLj7n0qyAc9V4iilL2dFUxFgF3NR_c_XfE3fBesK6l6-88QGmPnjK9Mzm2gRwQ6rOhMXjHv81tKTlR1cuLbxlEBfj_41LejjzmAa2XMjatjls_ybRdfdQp9L7L/s1600/_SN7D8~N.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHmQPutlsDOwli16HJzdLj7n0qyAc9V4iilL2dFUxFgF3NR_c_XfE3fBesK6l6-88QGmPnjK9Mzm2gRwQ6rOhMXjHv81tKTlR1cuLbxlEBfj_41LejjzmAa2XMjatjls_ybRdfdQp9L7L/s640/_SN7D8~N.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Above: An image from a recent advertising campaign by Marisfrolg, using the headquarters' partially completed structure as a backdrop.</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The Marisfrolg headquarters job came about after the company's owners visited Fred's office in Lake Hayes, Central Otago, after staying in some of his lodge designs. He told them he was no longer interested in designing that type of building, and they said they would be in touch. About a year and a half later they did so, asking him to come and see their site in Shenzhen in southern China. Fred couldn't remember them, but their seriousness and the scale of the project got his attention: 75,000 square metres, including a catwalk and function area for launching collections, design offices, manufacturing and warehousing and a 50-room boutique hotel for the label's clients. Through their intepreter, Marisfrolg's owners asked for the building to be soaring but unostentatious. "I then realised this was going to be big" said Fred. The final direction was "Design first, budget second."</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-sI5FJ6SQPpGGI6COUn5tHVuXvcEqlNDjIPxF2e8co8IOHcuxRg1lBFZ2Hy09IaOrQafa2Uh2gvVrjzV2tywfMJxWGyU6gmpg4w5pRaQP88JQeysZiN49AIZQZ2YRWmZDTFhYS-YF3LI/s1600/1-500+model+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-sI5FJ6SQPpGGI6COUn5tHVuXvcEqlNDjIPxF2e8co8IOHcuxRg1lBFZ2Hy09IaOrQafa2Uh2gvVrjzV2tywfMJxWGyU6gmpg4w5pRaQP88JQeysZiN49AIZQZ2YRWmZDTFhYS-YF3LI/s640/1-500+model+.jpg" width="474" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qls3DJmD4CzTLBMBk8uGEUepmFx8zTtpMVn2UIzAp8mmal40s4J-PJmj-KtvbElbUytndHYoZFhFX6Np4PFO0LMKI_zo2_MLSDKb3xLBscZAalr8YKdmAvsdnH5KUCbqKB6-MpxDjqh-/s1600/MSF+HQ+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qls3DJmD4CzTLBMBk8uGEUepmFx8zTtpMVn2UIzAp8mmal40s4J-PJmj-KtvbElbUytndHYoZFhFX6Np4PFO0LMKI_zo2_MLSDKb3xLBscZAalr8YKdmAvsdnH5KUCbqKB6-MpxDjqh-/s640/MSF+HQ+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Above and below: Conceptual models of the Marisfrolg building, inspired by Fred's newfound love of organic forms.</span></i></div><div style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">As part of their (very loose) brief, Marisfrolg's owners showed Fred a video of a recent Marisfrolg collection with images of birds in flight and autumnal scenes. "I explained that I was inspired by forms found in nature and it all gelled very quickly," Fred says. Damien had just graduated in architecture from Auckland's Unitec, and moved to Dunedin to work on the project full-time (the duo set up an office there because of its proximity to the "brains trust" of 3D-modelling experts at Otago Polytechnic). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuWIqeUoN0SXXVW4UDrmyCj0kQz5LMi1tB7IcQ3zkOh7SC4-SUPBvDwQqyWIAKwUnL0IQzynm4e2pBK0u7STcVd8g7kTKaEkK0ssstTkT0YkGaSkPofOI_pM8uRfSasD0YLqg30AW1MJO/s1600/IMG_3543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuWIqeUoN0SXXVW4UDrmyCj0kQz5LMi1tB7IcQ3zkOh7SC4-SUPBvDwQqyWIAKwUnL0IQzynm4e2pBK0u7STcVd8g7kTKaEkK0ssstTkT0YkGaSkPofOI_pM8uRfSasD0YLqg30AW1MJO/s640/IMG_3543.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX1nh3s2ac8MritlK5HQxWtcOfOzhK8tKM1KX8h6VP8FWjr3wBkh3ggljBTyvdAsa7tDtK2GLFVOzDXxySjavVD8WwmzJNqEdxbkWO28LJmFiTuLny0j44jMrrr_VFUNZhV40TkJQFsT2/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX1nh3s2ac8MritlK5HQxWtcOfOzhK8tKM1KX8h6VP8FWjr3wBkh3ggljBTyvdAsa7tDtK2GLFVOzDXxySjavVD8WwmzJNqEdxbkWO28LJmFiTuLny0j44jMrrr_VFUNZhV40TkJQFsT2/s640/IMG_3523.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIGxriZWviKNI9TvnSEuQGb4yquqQhVG2DdYiY2Fcsz7gHHJjZArKMUuMbHez-GigN0J3TiVgCutv7ftM-RM1Clu0dL7NK8cZj6bgxcpDkevkP00G2Gv0YXuLriZlLyDTiHnMOcLB2ONv/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIGxriZWviKNI9TvnSEuQGb4yquqQhVG2DdYiY2Fcsz7gHHJjZArKMUuMbHez-GigN0J3TiVgCutv7ftM-RM1Clu0dL7NK8cZj6bgxcpDkevkP00G2Gv0YXuLriZlLyDTiHnMOcLB2ONv/s640/photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Above: More views of models of the complex in Architecture van Brandenburg's Dunedin office, </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">the two colour images photographed by Graham Warman. Damien van Brandenburg is in the shot above. </span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Fred and Damien have never been told the budget of the project, but nor have their clients ever wavered in their commitment to fulfilling their architect's vision. They're already talking about potential projects with other Chinese developers, but for the moment, Fred says the main focus is on successfully completing the Marisfrolg headquarters. "There are people who are interested in us in China but you can imagine they're reticent and seeing how things pan out [with this project] he says. Once it is, you can easily imagine plenty more attention coming the van Brandenburgs' way.</div>

NZ's Architecture van Brandenburg in China

In our current issue, we feature the remarkable story of architect Fred van Brandenburg and his son Damien of Architecture van Brandenburg, ...

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We like: Wellington's Six Barrel Soda Co.

<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In our current issue, we visit Six Barrel Soda Co in Wellington's Dixon Street. The cafe was also designed to sell delicious soda made on the spot, in a space masterminded by Matt Smith of Wellington design firm Common. Here's Juliette Wanty's interview with Matt and some more of Russell Kleyn's photographs of one of our favourite new spots in the capital.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj8cTDjJHP-laiZiimt6wi6O9hCm_J8EkIAu5rpMm-iogRNUqxSLhPB3O0h6XCep68hT0pzgjGkNf66F79MFadrD-2Mxa2pOMpjHf25rvRRenrxKmoYzPOv1vpo6vLY16Wggp5lpoWFQx/s1600/HOME_SBSC-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj8cTDjJHP-laiZiimt6wi6O9hCm_J8EkIAu5rpMm-iogRNUqxSLhPB3O0h6XCep68hT0pzgjGkNf66F79MFadrD-2Mxa2pOMpjHf25rvRRenrxKmoYzPOv1vpo6vLY16Wggp5lpoWFQx/s640/HOME_SBSC-15.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Designer Matt Smith of Common</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>HOME What was the brief for this job?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">MATT SMITH We wanted to create a space that could function primarily for the production of soda syrups and secondly as a cafe. The existing space [the former home of Eva Dixon's cafe] had a history of failed cafes and restaurants. We first gutted the space, removing any trace of past ventures, and unified the seating and kitchen areas by removing all internal walls and running the cork-tile floor through the entire space. We also ran a peg rail the length of the space to display items, hold customers' coats and bags, and hang utensils and baskets of fruit in the kitchen. The large central table was positioned so that customers look down the length of the table to the kitchen. A quarter of the table is utilised as the service area, so that customers are engaged with the cocktail-like making and presentation of the sodas.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYGuCxrF4LEMgQ9CoPkCum81t8xg3X06sd7w6v1-sr5d-NOv1LzinI5iCPTzVdmujV6AZgDfVmIom6KG4N6CAGSTqy7DhbgU8lpNQ7t82gPNKMAR8XSv06Ll2ZRIAnOBIobT_S82qEVMY/s1600/HOME_SBSC-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYGuCxrF4LEMgQ9CoPkCum81t8xg3X06sd7w6v1-sr5d-NOv1LzinI5iCPTzVdmujV6AZgDfVmIom6KG4N6CAGSTqy7DhbgU8lpNQ7t82gPNKMAR8XSv06Ll2ZRIAnOBIobT_S82qEVMY/s640/HOME_SBSC-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Customers are able to view the production process in action. </i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEhM33DlfTmmnzHotYKHmLKhIxRcHojn4hrEOQtIZ9TxpsjnG8kj5Vl5e3DmbRS7fR_vHfUiu8kJ1A_hHPh-2iuGifcZXumH1Ul8vVJLibO_5dHcK4fHlAr_rWI1w6J791eHj7o-cyetQ/s1600/HOME_SBSC-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEhM33DlfTmmnzHotYKHmLKhIxRcHojn4hrEOQtIZ9TxpsjnG8kj5Vl5e3DmbRS7fR_vHfUiu8kJ1A_hHPh-2iuGifcZXumH1Ul8vVJLibO_5dHcK4fHlAr_rWI1w6J791eHj7o-cyetQ/s640/HOME_SBSC-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>You designed [with Caspian Ievers] the logo and labelling system before embarking on the design of this space. How did you want the space to feel?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Soda bars first conjure up images of Americana, red vinyl, chrome and jukeboxes. We wanted to avoid this and focus on the freshness and quality of the ingredients, and the honesty of the production method. The colours are light and fresh yellow and green. We brought elements of the branding across, most notably Hugo Mathias' illustrations from the labels on the chalkboard wall, while avoiding creating a space that was too branded. The materials are good-quality and durable: cork, american ash and red brick. The almost-primary-school aesthetic of Six Barrel Soda Co - with its cork tiles, chalkboard, peg rail and stamps for labelling - is accidental, but often reminds people of their first encounter with sodas or 'pop'.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsvTtMT0mXF6jrwuiS8y0bGPjteyrD8qtPEm9isB5RyS8ESPn2RNG-EzkOOPJ5Gt15umkM3lN5EyVGXK_1YUpYmiO5s7Vnb8CCHE4DLSIvbyTE8y1eGStIfsbTqP_aaUg3IHSCl-sLrGl/s1600/HOME_SBSC-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsvTtMT0mXF6jrwuiS8y0bGPjteyrD8qtPEm9isB5RyS8ESPn2RNG-EzkOOPJ5Gt15umkM3lN5EyVGXK_1YUpYmiO5s7Vnb8CCHE4DLSIvbyTE8y1eGStIfsbTqP_aaUg3IHSCl-sLrGl/s640/HOME_SBSC-26.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Labels are hung on the wooden peg rail that plays both a decorative and functional role in the space. </span></i></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJouebm7_uUV9GgYYu8nOWpyDbaTyoE5gCR2_5-bzgo1eu6mRd64EjiA2bpJFoGjrmr0Yx-4UhWuU67T9vjYnQw5LFtwOfvTBnvu6U6YPmw1KVHgGu_J-e_NTt4EP7C2039lEhHX03fja/s1600/HOME_SBSC-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJouebm7_uUV9GgYYu8nOWpyDbaTyoE5gCR2_5-bzgo1eu6mRd64EjiA2bpJFoGjrmr0Yx-4UhWuU67T9vjYnQw5LFtwOfvTBnvu6U6YPmw1KVHgGu_J-e_NTt4EP7C2039lEhHX03fja/s640/HOME_SBSC-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>What has the response been like so far?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">People seem to love it. It's been referred to as the most Instagram-able cafe in Wellington!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Six Barrel Soda Co Factory Cafe</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Level 1, 33-35 Dixon Street, Wellington</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><a href="http://www.sixbarrelsoda.co/"> www.sixbarrelsoda.co</a></i><br /><br /><i>See more of Matt Smith's work at</i><br /><i><a href="http://www.commongoods.co.nz/">www.commongoods.co.nz</a> </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZrq2WQfN1SvVxD9IID5khnIMWb0VJ6jLNmU4la7L97sCoReI83HTO6f2lZuxDzZnOhfxMAKs-EW32vVzLzRI6srbppjOZVK_2chAWDU3RZEb_Vn6i9Q1G6Kcif_S3fVI21sgzKnxOrFf/s1600/HOME_SBSC-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZrq2WQfN1SvVxD9IID5khnIMWb0VJ6jLNmU4la7L97sCoReI83HTO6f2lZuxDzZnOhfxMAKs-EW32vVzLzRI6srbppjOZVK_2chAWDU3RZEb_Vn6i9Q1G6Kcif_S3fVI21sgzKnxOrFf/s640/HOME_SBSC-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6l55MnlmD_psO01LTIWcPraF32H_M1P9qssPAM9G-LOAcaHTqn6pgEQMLX8p2nB0qt57HQLx6yewZSD8o-DPdt6CTTdfK3UWGJKIA1RwFpn8qu0RzwqxY8GaRnXYt6H21vEujcRu-5VI/s1600/HOME_SBSC-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div>

We like: Wellington's Six Barrel Soda Co.

In our current issue, we visit Six Barrel Soda Co in Wellington's Dixon Street. The cafe was also designed to sell delicious soda made o...

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Designing Custom Closets using the IKEA Pax System

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's face it, closets are a big deal.  While many people buy houses based on kitchens and bathrooms, a beautiful closet can really seal the deal for a buyer.     In today's market, most builders deal with closets by allocating a small room off the master bedroom and outfitting it with some wire shelving and carpet.  In older homes, spacious closets are simply non-existent.  The question then becomes how one can get more closet space without re-doing their entire floor plan.  One system that has yielded alot of success for us is the PAX system from IKEA.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now for those of you who know my work, you have seen what is possible from IKEA in the kitchen (see <a href="http://poconomodern.blogspot.com/2012/03/truth-about-ikea-kitchen-cabinets.html">http://poconomodern.blogspot.com/2012/03/truth-about-ikea-kitchen-cabinets.html</a>).  You may not be as familiar with IKEA in the bedroom.  I have always liked IKEA for their modern sensibilities and environmental consciousness.  I also like the idea that I am in control of the product from selection to assembly.  That being said, I have found ways to use simple PAX wardrobe units and make them look custom.  These solutions can be applied in both 'new build' applications as well as existing homes.  If executed properly, I think you will find that the PAX system can look every bit as custom as some of the pricier options.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1- The Product</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The PAX closet is just a box with doors.  You choose the size of the box.  You choose the types of doors.  It's really that simple.  At the showroom, they have practically every configuration of sizes, colors, door styles, hardware, and interior fittings to show you the endless combinations possible.  The frames come in several colors including white, black-brown, and beech laminates.  The doors are available in either swinging or sliding configurations, depending on how much you want to spend.  The sliding doors are more expensive and have a sleeker look.  Once you have your configuration selected, it's time to customize it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2- Customization</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IKEA sells a range of accessories for the pax system including internal drawers  (I happen to love these) shoe organizers, shelves, trays, and garment hangers for practically every application.  You have to be careful about these additions because some of them look a little cheap.  The shoe organizer for example has plastic shoe trees that look very inexpensive.  Perhaps they will come out with some slide out wood shoe shelves in the future, but for now you have to really consider which accessories you need and which you can live without.   I tend to keep it simple using shelves and drawers as needed.  I try to maximize rod space by double stacking them where possible.  The bedroom below features a shelf, a rod, and two drawers on each side.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYTffJTqyAx1bYPiew62wohuFht14ebC2qIDaC6vPr7-16t3GhMudsseTHnc9DIL-CopFj8s6zwmKDYtjYvy_RADp7JzcCR_BjV0gokJ0VkhZhnNvqCO-Czi_aMEPsi0eAnJu0XGCyy0/s1600/mst-bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYTffJTqyAx1bYPiew62wohuFht14ebC2qIDaC6vPr7-16t3GhMudsseTHnc9DIL-CopFj8s6zwmKDYtjYvy_RADp7JzcCR_BjV0gokJ0VkhZhnNvqCO-Czi_aMEPsi0eAnJu0XGCyy0/s320/mst-bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3- What the pros know</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When people spend alot of money on custom closets, the closet planner usually takes the existing space and fills it with a variety of parts and pieces to make it all seem custom.  Since IKEA only offers a few different widths and heights, most people have to install the closets against a wall where the sides of the closets are exposed.  This makes the unit look like an afterthought.  In our work, we always try to build small nib walls that enclose the closet to create this 'built-in' look.  In some cases, we will even put headers over the nib walls to completely wrap the units.  This is the key to elevating the unit to something that looks custom. Below is an image of a project where we built the units into niches that were sized exactly on all sides:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-6c8q-5-L4-LyTxjrxmH3PdPVpm-b92VyH8_BtOZvo1byHNo7fifQPnUCRGMZZksjTxXK5kNSQRrIbvhCeltl-292Yzj5P7yfmj1CMl5GrzN5N61Y7B2pUMbSMGauPd3m1Hf-wkjgyY/s1600/rayburn10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-6c8q-5-L4-LyTxjrxmH3PdPVpm-b92VyH8_BtOZvo1byHNo7fifQPnUCRGMZZksjTxXK5kNSQRrIbvhCeltl-292Yzj5P7yfmj1CMl5GrzN5N61Y7B2pUMbSMGauPd3m1Hf-wkjgyY/s320/rayburn10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4- Installing PAX in existing homes</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want a custom look in an existing home, it's really not that difficult. The key is to pick a corner where there are no windows and then build one nib wall to match the width of the units you need.  If you want to put one into an existing closet, simply take the door and casing off and then either enlarge or reduce the rough opening of the door space to allow your new PAX to slide in. Most closets are 24" deep plus the depth of the wall (typically 5").  This will give you plenty of room to recess your PAX into the existing closet opening.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5- Negative Aspects</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a couple of drawbacks to the PAX units.  The first is the sheer size of the cases.  Putting them together yourself can be a daunting task if you are  inexperienced with the units.  If you are not handy, you definitely need two people to turn the units upright without breaking it.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other negative is the changing door styles.  Similar to the kitchen cabinets, they often discontinue lines.  You used to be able to get full size glass sliders but they stopped selling them due to high breakage factors and increased packing and shipping costs.  Now they have lesser glass doors that you have to piece together.   Below is a door style that is no longer offered:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlPQ-Kl1pOq-pWSt7xM6t-lDnvtZvzmaCcGCzwTugGkxOYLjN1UDcRxIjU_oBsiwIjIbKaYbxEJnewhiRQxZle2DzIaQ9SpZdkWQuMlrcXttIgXNOSjFV0-w5EGpr7wRJmfwrcLKSwT4/s1600/rayburn12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlPQ-Kl1pOq-pWSt7xM6t-lDnvtZvzmaCcGCzwTugGkxOYLjN1UDcRxIjU_oBsiwIjIbKaYbxEJnewhiRQxZle2DzIaQ9SpZdkWQuMlrcXttIgXNOSjFV0-w5EGpr7wRJmfwrcLKSwT4/s320/rayburn12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary - </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IKEA definitely has the tools to allow you to create something great.  Just remember to have help and buy all your parts at once.  With a little planning you can create a very high end installation at a do it yourself price.  </span></div>

Designing Custom Closets using the IKEA Pax System

Let's face it, closets are a big deal.  While many people buy houses based on kitchens and bathrooms, a beautiful closet can really seal...

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Prints work by Karen Walker

<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fashion designer Karen Walker's latest move is into homeware, specifically a collaboration with the Australian department store Myer to produce a new range of homeware using popular prints. Here's our Q+A with Karen from our current issue, along with some extra images from her homeware range. A word of warning before you get too purchase-ready - while the towels are available in Karen Walker stores, the rest of the range is available only in Myer's Australian stores (and they don't sell online at the moment).  </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAh92okZE-B90NdMRT2NqsVwx3Zy4aqlzZNqnKyICRpuOEsvwWtUZ1_wVd9YLpPnbPcJN2Q045sQRisAjyTgHCNa0mNYNNww3F_2PoNAOUzur4I2v5KXGGqhsIkj_4_s2TM7d8YiyIK1PC/s1600/Karen_portrait2010_byR%231322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAh92okZE-B90NdMRT2NqsVwx3Zy4aqlzZNqnKyICRpuOEsvwWtUZ1_wVd9YLpPnbPcJN2Q045sQRisAjyTgHCNa0mNYNNww3F_2PoNAOUzur4I2v5KXGGqhsIkj_4_s2TM7d8YiyIK1PC/s640/Karen_portrait2010_byR%231322.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Karen Walker</span></i><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>HOME You've already developed Karen Walker paint, jewellery and eyewear. Why homeware?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">KAREN WALKER We've been interested in developing homeware for some time, and the opportunity came along to create a line in partnership with the right people [Australian department store Myer] at the right time. We've been working with Myer for years, and they approached us to bring our look into homeware.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkfDTJosTTNKBelIrlF2K_es8NoCDRCMaWGzYWqODR4NNnDY9WQwYgR8kCDlcjqUuCIn90_sLeXc1QIjqxXq20jtEBtp5hcRo_6GbJ1QjRJWPZsHD0St_GAos3a20-z23Kx2nGrLhaeYg/s1600/ZP0I8553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkfDTJosTTNKBelIrlF2K_es8NoCDRCMaWGzYWqODR4NNnDY9WQwYgR8kCDlcjqUuCIn90_sLeXc1QIjqxXq20jtEBtp5hcRo_6GbJ1QjRJWPZsHD0St_GAos3a20-z23Kx2nGrLhaeYg/s640/ZP0I8553.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV3V5YdGcGZuzU-eOUt-5ntVM6aPMqNY42olY-Z6CXpu9kFmb5O9hvENMO-eOVN-g7BaoHIQPR32ujsAQyTYyFoAddvfS10vO37I3TIZp0vTral1Q8q99D5SQqGJPi8pStQKvjjEwAHLh/s1600/ZP0I8555-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV3V5YdGcGZuzU-eOUt-5ntVM6aPMqNY42olY-Z6CXpu9kFmb5O9hvENMO-eOVN-g7BaoHIQPR32ujsAQyTYyFoAddvfS10vO37I3TIZp0vTral1Q8q99D5SQqGJPi8pStQKvjjEwAHLh/s640/ZP0I8555-Edit.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The images on these mugs also feature in Karen Walker's jewellery collection</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>How did you choose which prints to use?</b> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After showing internationally for 20 seasons, we've built up quite an extensive archive of prints, which is where we looked first when creating graphics for bed linen, towels and so on. We made a selection of prints for each category and played around with color and sizing, then sampled what we liked and narrowed it down from there. There are many prints in our archive that we're constantly reworking and reissuing in different ways, whether it be fabric print, fine jewellery or eyewear. Much within our archive has become iconic for us and is reinvented again and again. Homeware gave us another area in which to explore this. We'll be creating new homeware ranges every six months, and they'll always have print and colour as their starting point.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhoWmN1ayXKU8RU1Qxf3MIlLN45UkLMiNkijYnP4TVgYBFhwrjFa_XmofO49phD6DnC8A3iJkiuUQYrZ78Z_M_VejBaZ5h_6-FWYCnldhy3XTgJx4oS6R1tzBxx-F80XzKWSZGHIrkTeq/s1600/ZP0I0011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhoWmN1ayXKU8RU1Qxf3MIlLN45UkLMiNkijYnP4TVgYBFhwrjFa_XmofO49phD6DnC8A3iJkiuUQYrZ78Z_M_VejBaZ5h_6-FWYCnldhy3XTgJx4oS6R1tzBxx-F80XzKWSZGHIrkTeq/s640/ZP0I0011.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8y5euryS3LiR0vuIwPNPFEQsX0hjmi91znIiaGiuJd8nYLUMTPFIzGWrPE9V3eHjGVoJ7q0f-FuhPNooKA5NNFRZ6iXNRaHs7UV6GrUK_I10wqd2LOb6KMYjcyhT_4hu6h_VDw25Zm5S/s1600/ZP0I0014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8y5euryS3LiR0vuIwPNPFEQsX0hjmi91znIiaGiuJd8nYLUMTPFIzGWrPE9V3eHjGVoJ7q0f-FuhPNooKA5NNFRZ6iXNRaHs7UV6GrUK_I10wqd2LOb6KMYjcyhT_4hu6h_VDw25Zm5S/s640/ZP0I0014.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>This range of beach towels will be available in Karen Walker's New Zealand boutiques from spring</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>When will New Zealand shoppers be able to get their hands on the goods?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The beach towels will be in Karen Walker stores here in spring. The rest of the range can be purchased at Myer's Australian stores from August.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT68nt2leTqxSDj4NjpetUYMiGRfyk7BBHsa-ixDCF7sdZIDVeAnV9fZinzpIFdk8Byox1m8GxvJhj21eDYKXpMWW8xTR6FG2U00K6pK5-QnXLAkvPyfKn7EGcmG20RCY462pnzY9aNtS/s1600/Daisy+Chain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT68nt2leTqxSDj4NjpetUYMiGRfyk7BBHsa-ixDCF7sdZIDVeAnV9fZinzpIFdk8Byox1m8GxvJhj21eDYKXpMWW8xTR6FG2U00K6pK5-QnXLAkvPyfKn7EGcmG20RCY462pnzY9aNtS/s640/Daisy+Chain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm6nGzD8SXJ_CzlVfBbEf1Sk55LFdcShyzVq71wbReGb2UCvDPA40_6YGg7iXcUr6ubaxF_QQ3aTbDqzqu4J8FxfBGE0V5XKt4X20yl9tzFS9x4MgutleZv0hgVXzB3g4xzh0Gr7h_-34/s1600/Happy+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm6nGzD8SXJ_CzlVfBbEf1Sk55LFdcShyzVq71wbReGb2UCvDPA40_6YGg7iXcUr6ubaxF_QQ3aTbDqzqu4J8FxfBGE0V5XKt4X20yl9tzFS9x4MgutleZv0hgVXzB3g4xzh0Gr7h_-34/s640/Happy+Day.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD-PEhUnRTXKuuAequQ5MRPWSKWeAH4IYRJ2gv6YQPrfhrnu-XJA4ok6kOIZDxcRKlackGmqF3563dcmY1j-GSNkhr8GxJleC_izOInvbwH80OPGTvYerc9vAKVjVxHwMd9-c-G1J9sG1/s1600/Spot+Sheet+Set.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD-PEhUnRTXKuuAequQ5MRPWSKWeAH4IYRJ2gv6YQPrfhrnu-XJA4ok6kOIZDxcRKlackGmqF3563dcmY1j-GSNkhr8GxJleC_izOInvbwH80OPGTvYerc9vAKVjVxHwMd9-c-G1J9sG1/s640/Spot+Sheet+Set.JPG" width="496" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>The homeware range also includes these bed linens </i></span></div>

Prints work by Karen Walker

Fashion designer Karen Walker's latest move is into homeware, specifically a collaboration with the Australian department store Myer to ...

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Under threat: The Lomas house, Hamilton

<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hamiltonians, contact your city councillors! TVNZ is reporting that a 1955 Hamilton home designed by Peter Middleton (that we featured in our October/November 2010 issue) is under threat of demolition.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Paul McCredie did a beautiful job of photographing the building for us (Linda Tyler wrote about the house). It's in a lush garden that the late Heather Lomas, the home's owner, spent decades creating. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOXbT1-prLubp2HIb_dDV8XPVoiR_10nQPOPPQge9Pt3uhxysodpS8HaZGEYQQhl5Rvr_OYeh2oXbA99SY4w9020RGcs7QIjAMorJicXpKjBuaUlJq9Eda3ZR9GfzWQYZL9R8ImfSyo45/s1600/Garden+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOXbT1-prLubp2HIb_dDV8XPVoiR_10nQPOPPQge9Pt3uhxysodpS8HaZGEYQQhl5Rvr_OYeh2oXbA99SY4w9020RGcs7QIjAMorJicXpKjBuaUlJq9Eda3ZR9GfzWQYZL9R8ImfSyo45/s640/Garden+view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The home won an Enduring Architecture Award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects earlier this year. Middleton was commissioned to design the house by Heather Lomas and her husband Alan. Heather (below) lived in the house until her death in March. The house was later sold to a neighbour by members of Heather's family. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZh1N6hWwgIW4Pu7CoZS9LkVflxYXrWgob3vBVz4H1vhuZfkMJYTSxU-zksYhixHBMhFOj7EoC7UkyrpXsY8_IqJj509J2GebWMGAZbuIwPjcTp3rBf2CathVL3WYkIer1hNMZAC-g1hI/s1600/Heather+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZh1N6hWwgIW4Pu7CoZS9LkVflxYXrWgob3vBVz4H1vhuZfkMJYTSxU-zksYhixHBMhFOj7EoC7UkyrpXsY8_IqJj509J2GebWMGAZbuIwPjcTp3rBf2CathVL3WYkIer1hNMZAC-g1hI/s640/Heather+outside.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">According to the TVNZ report, Waikato heritage consultant Ann McEwan "has called for the Lomas house on Lake Cres to be saved, and wants the Hamilton City Council to bend its district plan to save the 1950s building from demolition." You can read the TVNZ story <a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/hidden-gem-architecture-may-razed-5022135" target="_blank">here</a>.  </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's a vexed issue, this. The new owner of the house is, legally, perfectly entitled to demolish it. The Lomas house, like many great modernist buildings, falls into an unprotected grey zone, where these structures are often not considered worthy of heritage protection until it's too late. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Apart from the fact that we really like it, the Lomas house has genuine historical merit.  It is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">believed to be Hamilton's first architecturally designed house, and represented a brave early experiment in open-plan living. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgF43IcIFdIl03t848gcg94neED0j2ZstISDjN-k7viCYXZJ1Pkxpgs-zfx2Ru-ZgzMaXchX9enSZZLumJSvZArpuJXYD5VEGn6ooZo0mFlFvXc-21ujBtUvVugmNpRnSZfK_Np7-yKy9/s1600/View+to+dining+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgF43IcIFdIl03t848gcg94neED0j2ZstISDjN-k7viCYXZJ1Pkxpgs-zfx2Ru-ZgzMaXchX9enSZZLumJSvZArpuJXYD5VEGn6ooZo0mFlFvXc-21ujBtUvVugmNpRnSZfK_Np7-yKy9/s640/View+to+dining+room.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7Z1rNiLYbcbNK60Z1i7IZl9WFE1eP7buN6FhRXt4QJKmEqtCwIoSVkzhzKs7VIbMqp_9hQbdDODgQ7CVff4YFuua2SvOXvfBH_UodIQmrHiYxv88KawTvl2MO3VXryYvvdELqgA0z0Ot/s1600/Living+room+fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7Z1rNiLYbcbNK60Z1i7IZl9WFE1eP7buN6FhRXt4QJKmEqtCwIoSVkzhzKs7VIbMqp_9hQbdDODgQ7CVff4YFuua2SvOXvfBH_UodIQmrHiYxv88KawTvl2MO3VXryYvvdELqgA0z0Ot/s640/Living+room+fireplace.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In its citation for the home's Enduring Architecture award, the NZ Institute of Architects said:</span><i> </i><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The Lomas House is a fine building and also an inspiring architectural story. Designed for a young family in the 1950s, at a time when materials were rationed but optimism was far more plentiful, the house has gracefully kept pace with that family’s life for more than half a century. Frugal, but never mean with its spatial allocation, the house on its well-positioned site is cleverly and subtly arranged around the framework of a simple grid. Over the years, it has settled into a companionate relationship with the relaxed and unfussy garden. Inhabited beautifully, altered little, and maintained with care, the house is a case study in the lasting benefits of a sympathetic relationship between clients and Architect. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">Much of this inventiveness is evident in the home's careful planning, with level changes and sliding walls creating a greater sense of space in the living area. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8u0FHl4_HMD3DIposE64LU6hrjMymUs-nkRFjgVdqX-Vj0kcgHed6QLwPLXViE9xMxjjaF0BCdbkd8d2jzhMkcnPcOj2OKRGE2W8vvrt8F-PGMbdlwFvQKAjVOThZGGipKdIsUuZn2Cf/s1600/Lomas+plans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8u0FHl4_HMD3DIposE64LU6hrjMymUs-nkRFjgVdqX-Vj0kcgHed6QLwPLXViE9xMxjjaF0BCdbkd8d2jzhMkcnPcOj2OKRGE2W8vvrt8F-PGMbdlwFvQKAjVOThZGGipKdIsUuZn2Cf/s640/Lomas+plans.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">In the TVNZ story, Ann McEwan suggests the Hamilton City Council should break its district plan rules to ensure the preservation of the house. The council says it hasn't received any demolition order for the building as yet. <i> </i></div>

Under threat: The Lomas house, Hamilton

Hamiltonians, contact your city councillors! TVNZ is reporting that a 1955 Hamilton home designed by Peter Middleton (that we featured in ou...

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Outtakes: The Onemana Bach by SGA Architects and Unitec students

<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our current issue features a short Q+A with architect Dave Strachan of SGA Architects, talking to him about his work with students at Unitec to design and build social housing in collaboration with Auckland's VisionWest.<br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This isn't the first time Dave and his students have worked together to build something remarkable - last year he and his team designed and built a thrifty bach at Onemana Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula that was a finalist in our 2012 Home of the Year award. (These photographs are by Simon Devitt). </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAXnwOg-K564ioke93UMApcwT-d3kvzZ3qOgIOGPoZfX11o408P6y56ZGta8UeSu7BzFnBYzOwlLqgTrp-baIdUCtMPAdpM0_jeWiK7N08g1q9YMjDl2S28utBFhIUSEDIf5IPgN1oUz5/s1600/P0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAXnwOg-K564ioke93UMApcwT-d3kvzZ3qOgIOGPoZfX11o408P6y56ZGta8UeSu7BzFnBYzOwlLqgTrp-baIdUCtMPAdpM0_jeWiK7N08g1q9YMjDl2S28utBFhIUSEDIf5IPgN1oUz5/s640/P0154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave and his students at Auckland’s Unitec School of Architecture were assisted on this project by architect Marshall Cook and builder John Cocks. As a result, all of these students can claim they will leave university with real-world architectural experience: as well as collaborating on the design of the bach, they built it at the Unitec campus before it was trucked to its site on the Coromandel Peninsula.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a good point at which to add context to Dave’s remark in our original article accompanying the Home of the Year issue. In it, we quoted Dave as making an unflattering remark about architects in general, but what he was really trying to say was that there is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">perception</i> that architects are regarded this way, and that the way students work with tradespeople in this exercise helps to close the gap between architects and the professionals they collaborate with. Our apologies to Dave for allowing this remark to run in the magazine in a way that made it seem like he was slagging off his own profession, when in reality he holds architects and architecture in the highest esteem.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjPdb32XhUES2JGoAwqghRCg2DTz7x8krP7-u_GF0O0BGmADpoVB2yMjOOZBsGN8lbdpO8F0c1pVwT9cQ2aaRYft3tK_CcesS-DbP4j8TYAaOXk7jn8j9HkT0GwrKdVwFaDhIJi03WdmO/s1600/O9913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjPdb32XhUES2JGoAwqghRCg2DTz7x8krP7-u_GF0O0BGmADpoVB2yMjOOZBsGN8lbdpO8F0c1pVwT9cQ2aaRYft3tK_CcesS-DbP4j8TYAaOXk7jn8j9HkT0GwrKdVwFaDhIJi03WdmO/s640/O9913.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Above: Andrew Morrison relaxes on the deck in a cane-swing chair while Shiree and their daughters Rubie and Billie hang </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">out in the kitchen. Morgan Cronin from Cronin Kitchens advised the students on building the cabinetry. </span></i></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7-XfLFwTp7adOqUw6p6fr8gHCepM10-8_x8urQP1pUcwdRYHTlkozah0UPBZbLY7jqlIjH444gwvieGKraHyDgEsffVY4eE6kL7RMBiUiSO3wsJu8D9itvsC7Vbvi-6moO1zu_PIcX7M/s1600/P0092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7-XfLFwTp7adOqUw6p6fr8gHCepM10-8_x8urQP1pUcwdRYHTlkozah0UPBZbLY7jqlIjH444gwvieGKraHyDgEsffVY4eE6kL7RMBiUiSO3wsJu8D9itvsC7Vbvi-6moO1zu_PIcX7M/s640/P0092.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Above: The living room opens out to decks on both sides. Former Unitec student </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tim Webber designed the table to match the Morrisons' Ikea chairs.</span></i><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Part of Dave’s mission in leading this project at Unitec is to encourage productive working relationships and good communication between these students when they graduate and the tradespeople they will work with on future architectural projects. Building the bach was a vital part of this process. The students, Dave says, might say, “oh, we just want a nice flat floor to go through there – well that’s wonderful, but how the hell do you do that, to document it and then build it? That makes it a useful part of architectural education”. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Dave was a builder before he became an architect and has the deepest of respect for both professions, as well as a keen awareness of how poor detailing and communication can compromise a project. “Design is what [students] are taught to do,” Dave says. “It’s what most schools of architecture focus on. But a lot of design decisions are made during documentation – everyone thinks it’s the boring bit, but really it’s very much about trying to keep the integrity of the design idea you had at the start.”<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKszRWAPB9tm-4WIYEp58rDWtKh-jcsOsk0ZxbGCdRRpT4mlTnwRUMR1Hvqo5WG9iUi50ckPDRSRdEiY8fS8qYEUMfvw9CnVGHMy4axIsk37MA7U8GDJtUw7U5mA83e07KLEpPyvZpW-dl/s1600/P0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKszRWAPB9tm-4WIYEp58rDWtKh-jcsOsk0ZxbGCdRRpT4mlTnwRUMR1Hvqo5WG9iUi50ckPDRSRdEiY8fS8qYEUMfvw9CnVGHMy4axIsk37MA7U8GDJtUw7U5mA83e07KLEpPyvZpW-dl/s640/P0160.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Above: The ultimate in indoor/outdoor flow: a floor that continues almost seamlessly from the kitchen out to the deck. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The deck chairs, covered by Shiree, are from Nest.</span></i><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BoFCmI6f83Ie2zbrjfZ2vKHxEKcz7CnacQ8GPEkocYbdD_OlyneA-loLzmp1lV_achQp3B9ksUw6Q4WKabJHVZ6yY_ROJM33u97ugJjlqki4MsK5SONxlYxZlpUXb8nTahVWfF3OvFcc/s1600/P0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BoFCmI6f83Ie2zbrjfZ2vKHxEKcz7CnacQ8GPEkocYbdD_OlyneA-loLzmp1lV_achQp3B9ksUw6Q4WKabJHVZ6yY_ROJM33u97ugJjlqki4MsK5SONxlYxZlpUXb8nTahVWfF3OvFcc/s640/P0269.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Above: A view of the dining area opening onto the second deck. In the background, the barbecue from </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>The BBQ Factory echoes the strobe-like effect from the slatted roof</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlGSJwYNlbQxWUo3vKhd0q3nzfaa8cSEX7_5FptsXUkULthmlKFLipSN52M016hoxb8WP5ge7cmIIiyJ9zk4BVk8GhsXfaAUlDGkoihoZ1jWhE-BLUh2xdt_EMkfctgEPhtBSZzCEMBKA/s1600/P0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlGSJwYNlbQxWUo3vKhd0q3nzfaa8cSEX7_5FptsXUkULthmlKFLipSN52M016hoxb8WP5ge7cmIIiyJ9zk4BVk8GhsXfaAUlDGkoihoZ1jWhE-BLUh2xdt_EMkfctgEPhtBSZzCEMBKA/s640/P0278.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Above: The barbecue deck is also the perfect place to relax in front of a little fire and watch the starry sky after sunset. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzs4ZrkwUOKv8Dgj7YrY9OKfP98jAN-UWDfw0f56eTZTlKZzqgSsjb0GQL7slMlqlxJ6XJDXu0Gs0IyVfkRpZiZBgo1pneIUuUyH_UlxzBBkqBCRk_1vy0I4BblMnCc1NMx8UV-qV7_fO/s1600/P0070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzs4ZrkwUOKv8Dgj7YrY9OKfP98jAN-UWDfw0f56eTZTlKZzqgSsjb0GQL7slMlqlxJ6XJDXu0Gs0IyVfkRpZiZBgo1pneIUuUyH_UlxzBBkqBCRk_1vy0I4BblMnCc1NMx8UV-qV7_fO/s640/P0070.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Above: Billie and Rubie playing in the living area with the windows panels drawn back to enjoy the sun. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Below: Dave and some of the members of Studio 19, his student design team. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMj5G3KeDJNPo09s8DNhKAQSdEDfyf6DO6Zw-mwfa2lr8RX-q2ddKd_aPPgeTd-eyAeRApWqZgZqgQPLBmE_toXF4nTmn2ovE4VLDFXjvyGYBghRSMAbHOEaL_cVm1d3yYzKXhP-Mrj26/s1600/Q2084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMj5G3KeDJNPo09s8DNhKAQSdEDfyf6DO6Zw-mwfa2lr8RX-q2ddKd_aPPgeTd-eyAeRApWqZgZqgQPLBmE_toXF4nTmn2ovE4VLDFXjvyGYBghRSMAbHOEaL_cVm1d3yYzKXhP-Mrj26/s640/Q2084.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div>

Outtakes: The Onemana Bach by SGA Architects and Unitec students

Our current issue features a short Q+A with architect Dave Strachan of SGA Architects, talking to him about his work with students at Unitec...

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Richard Gardiner's Small Houses

<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In our current issue, Christchurch art teacher and model maker Richard Gardiner tells us how he helps people remember their earthquake-damaged homes by building beautiful models of them. Photographer Stephen Goodenough visited Richard's studio to see some of his work under construction, so we wanted to share some unpublished shots here, along with our Q+A with Richard.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZgEJ0ps3DUC8QwkVGrzopZa0teGm8PS-N_dh6sjSFjiX_kDasoEYprFhvCyJXBT8vbZE3TM5JhjDgNdZWeYIwjSb19JuwMuznRldyQyhLZ7d1KZlts2JeegbMhFGcIM4FftwdX77q6y0/s1600/Studio-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZgEJ0ps3DUC8QwkVGrzopZa0teGm8PS-N_dh6sjSFjiX_kDasoEYprFhvCyJXBT8vbZE3TM5JhjDgNdZWeYIwjSb19JuwMuznRldyQyhLZ7d1KZlts2JeegbMhFGcIM4FftwdX77q6y0/s640/Studio-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Richard Gardiner in his studio</i></span><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><b>HOME How did your Scaled Down project began?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">RICHARD GARDINER Having taught art for a number of years, with design as my specialist subject, I've always had a keen interest in design and architecture, particularly domestic architecture in New Zealand. A few years ago, I made a model of our house, a 1927 one-and-a-half storey bungalow, and once friends and colleagues had seen it, a number wanted one of their own. as retirement loomed and demand increased, I set up Scaled down and left teaching for model-making.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoEu8xhV8RxNTu64iqREzuPUoTwnNU3RKsnT_XyJfHFY0pHLFSyDewDDwAG2zspUFte1H5175PAjGQP0Hw-tpLaNTm5gOUncYOyeeN0-P5a__7JgJKLMX7pf-grF8vAkFI9WsmWRdm9HS/s1600/Studio-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoEu8xhV8RxNTu64iqREzuPUoTwnNU3RKsnT_XyJfHFY0pHLFSyDewDDwAG2zspUFte1H5175PAjGQP0Hw-tpLaNTm5gOUncYOyeeN0-P5a__7JgJKLMX7pf-grF8vAkFI9WsmWRdm9HS/s640/Studio-38.jpg" width="640" /></a> <i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lyttelton Police Station model</span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Have you been busier since the Christchurch earthquakes? </b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Soon after the major quake in February, I met someone whose house - a lovely Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design in Cranner Square - was ruined beyond repair, and he ordered a model to be made before demolition took place. Since then, there's been a fairly steady stream of people wanting something tangible as a memory of the place in which they invested so much of their lives.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_z7x_mTki3NMFnUpQuEIWn_Ug3iHR2lv6hHrMHLNtGn0BaYawyKXuZhVCNEJXpiwEDs6aM4gtk3G3AeqoBsasbxL7uhJUMnWGX3g1FQkMAaJk5wDgmQRJfijeHUgRArvgjsFtU4yEQCmc/s1600/Studio-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_z7x_mTki3NMFnUpQuEIWn_Ug3iHR2lv6hHrMHLNtGn0BaYawyKXuZhVCNEJXpiwEDs6aM4gtk3G3AeqoBsasbxL7uhJUMnWGX3g1FQkMAaJk5wDgmQRJfijeHUgRArvgjsFtU4yEQCmc/s640/Studio-41.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> A model of a home in Cashmere, now under repair.</span></i></div><br /><b>How do you thinks it helps people to have a model of a home they might have lost?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nothing can replace a home lost suddenly and violently like that. Our homes reflect us and the lives we live in them - they carry our stamp on them and they contain memories, accumulated over decades. but if anything, a model, with the features we knew well, like the downpipes, the front door, the gas bottles and the cat flap, does provide a tangible reminder. It's something we can touch and relate to. a well-made model is also a piece of fine craftsmanship, which can be appreciated on another level too.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vNGpEfTAPPSL2Np0zDmW9wqHre4oQcJmuLUZHTm4bBowjCJWh-3hUc0PMNj3kjoGEg69HSARsdxhwcTB8tFx5vvx1u9Tr5U6RzN1mtO6uH0Xke6HZ7i62s09QEzMy1d2moXWsPMGEz8v/s1600/Studio-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vNGpEfTAPPSL2Np0zDmW9wqHre4oQcJmuLUZHTm4bBowjCJWh-3hUc0PMNj3kjoGEg69HSARsdxhwcTB8tFx5vvx1u9Tr5U6RzN1mtO6uH0Xke6HZ7i62s09QEzMy1d2moXWsPMGEz8v/s640/Studio-14.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOm6r4OyZFtC2sMLS5zaZqB25DL8Qu8kel6DQ536rAC86k_iCIaDG15yMlG_JrVe7OaAviASNZPvExVpVvKWCyv7mbeKKPzpuy_9dFkpNSNKArzZ1g9S9e-sxdwv8nuUyehyphenhyphenqhWFlvtbqA/s1600/Studio-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOm6r4OyZFtC2sMLS5zaZqB25DL8Qu8kel6DQ536rAC86k_iCIaDG15yMlG_JrVe7OaAviASNZPvExVpVvKWCyv7mbeKKPzpuy_9dFkpNSNKArzZ1g9S9e-sxdwv8nuUyehyphenhyphenqhWFlvtbqA/s640/Studio-17.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>What's it like living in Christchurch now? do you lament the loss of so many heritage buildings?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was in the city today and to be honest, it's increasingly difficult to find your way in some areas because the gaps outnumber the buildings. The earthquakes were sudden, unannounced and deadly, but the loss of buildings seems to be a more staggered and gradual affair. The machines 'nibble' their way more deeply into the city each week, so despite the sad loss of many architectural icons, we are perhaps becoming dulled by it all.<br /><br /><i>You can see more images of Richard's work and contact him through his website at the link <a href="http://www.scaleddown.co.nz/" target="_blank">here</a>.  </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakoD787tbw2s8Xh0zNBMxmDtVN0E6vNnkAco-e_xqG-K7NEjqlxL-2MrXvsAnhqj8N4poyUCnLe5PH6N6U1puBf1OhBwSq6zYczrRmIjQSVP_CpQf8qDO5E27-NkhHdVXRQcHaCBwdE10/s1600/Studio-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakoD787tbw2s8Xh0zNBMxmDtVN0E6vNnkAco-e_xqG-K7NEjqlxL-2MrXvsAnhqj8N4poyUCnLe5PH6N6U1puBf1OhBwSq6zYczrRmIjQSVP_CpQf8qDO5E27-NkhHdVXRQcHaCBwdE10/s640/Studio-32.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br /></div>

Richard Gardiner's Small Houses

In our current issue, Christchurch art teacher and model maker Richard Gardiner tells us how he helps people remember their earthquake-damag...

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The Roots in Otara

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">The Roots, a new event in Auckland's Otara, was set up by architectural graduates Waikare Komene (below left) and Martin Leung-Wai (below right) to foster architectural engagment from Maori and Pacific Island high-school students. The students created architectural installations at Otara's Town Centre using traditional lashing techniques and thousands of recycled plastic bottles. <br /><br />We speak to the duo in our current issue, but we couldn't fit in as many of photographer David Straight's great images as we wanted to, we decided to feature some extra shots here, along with the interview with Waikare and Martin. Congratulations to both of them for setting up such a successful event - we look forward to next year's version! <br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjo47upS0GYj35VkLaqeqINy91iNCtyZMhVFCW-UF9lQ7mUboJ3Z1WUZsHFznIuwrElbBGx8b5bywCadClx8k266LTQ__IjcEg-t96wtwSBo-pTB8u_4Kss4mSuPD6U0f-g5gnJMqv1Xr/s1600/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-6494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjo47upS0GYj35VkLaqeqINy91iNCtyZMhVFCW-UF9lQ7mUboJ3Z1WUZsHFznIuwrElbBGx8b5bywCadClx8k266LTQ__IjcEg-t96wtwSBo-pTB8u_4Kss4mSuPD6U0f-g5gnJMqv1Xr/s640/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-6494.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>HOME Why did you set up The Roots?</b></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">WAIKARE KOMENE The Roots was established through our passion to encourage young Maori and Pacific Island students to gain insight into architecture and think about pursuing it as a career. We held our first event recently, and want to develop it into an annual regional event.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">MARTIN LEUNG-WAI We had 8000 plastic bottles and 32 students in the Otara Town Centre, and got the students to build structures out of bottles using the traditional techniques of weaving and lashing. The Roots is all about how knowing your roots or identity can help inform your architecture or any creative arts. We wanted the event to create community interaction and for the students to experience the design process.<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwbmeXwNkF7QQ91G5_HaFaCVM4aww80_7l0uJuSbI-hP8Bqob8E5z-ikkNWcTA5km7bpy3_tsaDCeQsaN62bAGYcz75EYm5IPWiTvcmwKsAjBybagzRpnNgLiCe-OMqt67HODH9MZ29lR/s1600/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwbmeXwNkF7QQ91G5_HaFaCVM4aww80_7l0uJuSbI-hP8Bqob8E5z-ikkNWcTA5km7bpy3_tsaDCeQsaN62bAGYcz75EYm5IPWiTvcmwKsAjBybagzRpnNgLiCe-OMqt67HODH9MZ29lR/s640/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q5F6wFQiduSQgqzP7wTXZMxuFqf-PaFXs05kBqWBpDoGoTJt165ElQbu2L84tkyH1sJnop8eloDw1uDphPt7VilZ69FuEe-WqQ3nj9tcQZaEEn6AAbIGjJEJJEy3LwDagUg24Mq02HcN/s1600/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q5F6wFQiduSQgqzP7wTXZMxuFqf-PaFXs05kBqWBpDoGoTJt165ElQbu2L84tkyH1sJnop8eloDw1uDphPt7VilZ69FuEe-WqQ3nj9tcQZaEEn6AAbIGjJEJJEy3LwDagUg24Mq02HcN/s640/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-258.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgMETZUwIzRB4xln2hMXar0mps2mfR8c2WFs5Cfbpvd5PSfBjkHn4x4hM5VbBjgElTueOhEAwzZeiU6hFPhrcoY1Q-F4FInFSkN1qLqLxtCQIFGDB0EEnTpGGUYtklHvKO0Y-1IO0M_IX/s1600/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgMETZUwIzRB4xln2hMXar0mps2mfR8c2WFs5Cfbpvd5PSfBjkHn4x4hM5VbBjgElTueOhEAwzZeiU6hFPhrcoY1Q-F4FInFSkN1qLqLxtCQIFGDB0EEnTpGGUYtklHvKO0Y-1IO0M_IX/s640/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-272.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> Above: One of the Otara installations, built by teams of students using traditional lashing techniques and recycled plastic bottles.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>What got you guys interested in architecture in the first place?</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">MARTIN LEUNG-WAI Seeing prominent architecture projects in magazines and books in the Manukau Library attracted me. I was inspired by the works of Renzo Piano, Antoni Gaudi and Frank Gehry when I was in high school. From there I aimed to study architecture and travel to visit the buildings I saw in books and magazines.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">WAIKARE KOMENE I became interested in architecture at Otahuhu College; as a youngster I really enjoyed the practicality and hands-on experience taught in workshop technology and graphics. I've always enjoyed sketching, drawing, designing and building - these skills have been a talent of mine.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-9ARW_hk2U7QFgQ_pnwlMjgOnKC4KVQnzmwU7UGQEaKhZ1IQ72JgGaZg6mhW0LhgBoSdLQoMjdCENtiJvroZQ8yzb8iFhjuo1X_LEnQxgTH2szVdn4865lCZfubnFHGbB6i3fmtGEDE_/s1600/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-6381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-9ARW_hk2U7QFgQ_pnwlMjgOnKC4KVQnzmwU7UGQEaKhZ1IQ72JgGaZg6mhW0LhgBoSdLQoMjdCENtiJvroZQ8yzb8iFhjuo1X_LEnQxgTH2szVdn4865lCZfubnFHGbB6i3fmtGEDE_/s640/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-6381.jpg" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nd9wMotaf2VCCYRt-0nkgp4sTRdPsoZGmwo_Ij01gW0dA6A6t0UuyCKz8VV-qnpZGKQiaGiKiYHBMfZSl30Usad2IHGUWwJgcD7W1Cmr080G6uB8JB2lPMf7c4ezkjDZ_QXV3oaSpq49/s1600/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-6476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nd9wMotaf2VCCYRt-0nkgp4sTRdPsoZGmwo_Ij01gW0dA6A6t0UuyCKz8VV-qnpZGKQiaGiKiYHBMfZSl30Usad2IHGUWwJgcD7W1Cmr080G6uB8JB2lPMf7c4ezkjDZ_QXV3oaSpq49/s640/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-6476.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Architecture is more likely to be associated with central city areas and wealthy suburbs instead of Otara, where you work. How are you hoping to change that?</b></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">WAIKARE KOMENE Otara is not only the place where we work, but also where we grew up and continue to live today. Otara produces amazing talent: athletes, rugby and league stars, rappers, artists, bands, the mayor of Auckland and now, through us, architects and designers. Architecture allows people to relate to the environment we live in and also take a sense of ownership and pride.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJfPnrgZzRDK-t7yrpFBOEsNF4A4gKr77cy195jalN23jmSuO6lL90vPuP0YbjBAR2jfsv3qotf5KO4-XRahDUaJ0fQ4Z5lBOR6JjT7o8u1YsqZHgjpaDrJpH7bTdHz0xtlVqHBU0kkJs/s1600/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJfPnrgZzRDK-t7yrpFBOEsNF4A4gKr77cy195jalN23jmSuO6lL90vPuP0YbjBAR2jfsv3qotf5KO4-XRahDUaJ0fQ4Z5lBOR6JjT7o8u1YsqZHgjpaDrJpH7bTdHz0xtlVqHBU0kkJs/s640/DST-AUTSCULPTURE-2-327.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can read more about Martin and Waikare's work on Martin's blog </span><a href="http://martinleungwai.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> and their firm Creative Native's website </span><a href="http://www.creative.maori.nz/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">. </span>

The Roots in Otara

The Roots, a new event in Auckland's Otara, was set up by architectural graduates Waikare Komene (below left) and Martin Leung-Wai (belo...

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