Claude Megson's Norris House was last sold back in 2007 (see my old post on that here.). It's on the market again now, the agent saying:
Over the past 16 years, the property has been carefully improved and upgraded, including a new double skin membrane roof with fire resistant insulation, multiple heat pumps, a gas fire, a monitored security system with cameras, irrigation and improved drainage. Importantly, these enhancements respect and preserve Megson's original intent.A beautiful touch is the custom rug, with Claude's name and floor plan inscribed ...
This House was one of Claude's favourites, appearing frequently in lectures to illustrate his many points on domestic design -- not least the ideal for a family of what he called the 'two-zoned' house. In his formulation this meant a more formal adults' zone (a more public space on which to greeting and host guests, often an evening zone, for parents to enjoy their own adult company) separated slightly from a more informal rambunctious daylight-oriented family/children's zone.
In plans that adhere to this arrangement, as the Norris House did (and hopefully still does), bedrooms follow this zoning too, often with a master bedroom (as here) as a mezzanine over the formal/adults' lounge.
In this house, the "hinge" between the two zones can be seen in the open skylight area in the photo below, and on floor plans and axonometric drawing at the foot of this post..
OneRoof described the house and ownership prior to what appears to be a delayed sale last year:
Built in 1975, the Norris House was one of architect Claude Megson’s (1936-94) favourites. It won the New Zealand Institute of Architects National Award in 1978 and the award for Enduring Architecture in 2005.
“It’s a modern house and timeless even though it’s now 50 years old and we love it,” says homeowner and retired architect Neil Cotton.
Sixteen years ago Neil and his wife Jenny were planning to build their own home when the Norris House came up for sale in 2009.
“I knew the house quite well but didn’t think I’d ever have the opportunity to live in it so when we managed to get it we were very happy about that. It’s such an interesting house to live in. It’s not boring,” says Neil.
What they love most about it is the three-dimensional nature of the internal spaces which have been described (by the Auckland Architecture Association) as “offering poetry of light and space”.
“Its spatial qualities are unique from the three-dimensional manipulation of the space internally,” says Neil. “Externally it also looks fantastic – from the street or from any direction. He was a very creative architect.”
Megson’s design extended to the garden, overlaying the entire site with a pattern, including the various courtyards which complement its strong architectural lines. The backyard is completely enclosed making it a sheltered and safe space for children to play or family pets to enjoy.
The private courtyard also has an outdoor table and barbecue area which is well used during summer and gets the afternoon sun. The home’s north-western aspect also means it gets morning sun in the front yard.
“Indoor-outdoor design was always critical to Megson so the way all the rooms open out to the outside is a special feature,” says Neil.
Megson was one of Neil’s tutors at university in the 1970s, and he readily admits to being a fan. He’s even redrawn the original hand-drafted plans and commissioned a custom rug for the living area.
Viewed from the mezzanine master bedroom, the rug – seen through a glass table – mirrors the home’s precise floor plan.
“This house is probably one of his best. It’s an exceptional house,” he says.
The four-bedroom home is light-filled and features beautiful Oregon timber ceilings and exposed rafters, and glazed roofs. The previous owner, interior designer Nikki Broome, upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms and installed oak flooring throughout the house which is offset nicely by the home’s concrete block plastered walls and steel joinery.
Improvements made by Neil and Jenny include re-roofing over thick insulation, and installing three heat pumps and a gas fire in the sunroom/TV family room. There is also an original open wood fire in the living room.
[Note, all photos above and immediately below, and quoted text above, are the property of home owners, website owners OneRoof, and agent Steen Nielsen. They are reposted here to ensure they are not lost.]
This pic above clearly shows Claude's favoured method of lining partitions: simple painted hardboard with a negative detail and, often a line emphasising a door head height ... both of which help to stress the walls as screens rather than enclosures.
These images below come from images and hurried old photocopies from the July/August 1992 copy of Architecture New Zealand, and issue #3 of NZ Architect magazine 1978 respectively.
