The Claude Megson blog: Barr House, by Claude Megson

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Barr House, by Claude Megson

Megson’s Barr House, from 3d model

I posted a plan and a few pics a few months back of Claude Megson’s wonderful Barr House, saying at the time that it is so far undeservedly unpublished (soon to change, watch this space). FloorPlans With his growing sophistication in manipulating space came a floor plan (above) that very few can follow. Until now!

A little 3d modelling of the house, and we have these model views and cutaway floor plans that make the house and its changes in level a little easier to fathom for those who haven’t been lucky enough to visit.

Ground-level floor layout

Upper-story floor layout

You can hopefully see much more clearly the beginning of the two-zoned house concept that bore fruit majestically in mature work like the Norris House, but used here at the Barr House much more geometrically.

Street Entrance: Motor Court

Lounge

Dining

Lounge Courtyard

Breakfast

Afternoon

Mezzanine

Master Bed

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WELCOME!

Welcome to the Claude Megson Blog, set up to record and celebrate the architecture of the late New Zealand architect Claude Megson as examples of his work appear around the web.

Most of the pictures posted here come from Real Estate sites, from whom the pictures are harvested before they disappear. Claude treasured his clients' joy in their houses far more than he did publication in glossy magazines; he took as a mark of honour clients' longevity in the houses he designed for them. Consequently, photos of Megson houses up for sale only appear sporadically.

The blog is just the beginning of the necessary larger project of recording and documenting all Megson's houses before "renovation" or (sadly) demolition occurs. Giles Reid has begun the project with his book, but it is still there for some knowledgable enthusiast to complete.

Who was Claude Megson?

Claude Megson was an inspirational architect and teacher. Several generations of Auckland architects are the better for his enthusiastic and knowledgable teaching, and many, many clients have been able to enjoy living in his enormously life-affirming houses.

Beginning his architectural work with architects Gummer and Ford he was soon given a nickname he was quite happy with: "I was always happy to be called Frank Claude Wright," he used to say.

What British architecture writer Geoffrey Broadbent said of Megson's own house could be said about them all:

This is work of a very high
international standard indeed. ...One is constantly struck by the surprise around the corner, the bright shaft of light penetrating from above into the softer glow of the main living spaces -- especially in Megson' own house -- that
give his work such very special qualities...
There is an essential "rightness" about Megson's spaces, for pleasant occupation by ordinary, normal human beings. Such things, says Dickson, have gone out of fashion with today's students. Well, so much the worse for the students [and the clients of those students when they graduate!].
Perhaps it hasn't occurred to them that if they design real spaces for human comfort and pleasure, then even those anguished souls overwhelmed by post-Heideggerian "problematics" about the nature of their existence might, given spaces like Megson's to contemplate that nature of their "Being," come to more positive conclusions! Because that's the point about Megson's spaces; they are life-enhancing.
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