1/14a MacMurray Rd, Remuera: Germann Townhouses

Claude Megson's three townhouses in MacMurray Rd, Remuera (above), were known as the Germann Townhouses, after the developer.

Architect/author Giles Reid goes into these townhouses in his forthcoming book. "I've always thought it an important work," he says,"that sits somewhat below the radar. In some ways they are a precursor to the Cocker Townhouses in Wood Street."

And 1/14a is now on the market, after being with the current owners for nearly two decades -- and still largely original!  [NB: 1/14a is at the bottom of the page in these three drawings.]

Using the garden wall for privacy, even on this small site and with a smallish footprint, the integration of house and landscape is quietly ingenious.

The home is only two beds with a small study cum nursery. I was asked a few years back to propose adding on to create a full third bed and proper study -- which, probably wisely, was not taken up. A flower this delicate is very easy to bruise.

HERE ARE MORE PICS FROM THE REAL ESTATE SITE

Click on pics to enlarge...

 

[Pics from Megson Archives at the Auckland University library, and Steve Koerber/Bayley's]

Claude Megson: 3/14a MacMurray Rd townhouse

At present you have three opportunities to buy a home designed by the late Claude Megson, whose homes sometimes didn’t look much from the outside, but at their best created a world for those within that almost seemed to encompass the whole universe.

As British architectural critic Geoffrey Broadbent said of Claude’s work some years ago,

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.

Consistent with this, and something about which Claude was very proud, once settled in his clients very rarely moved out—as is the case with this home here, where the original owner has lived there for over thirty years!

This  house is a small and almost original 1970s Remuera townhouse, with a later conservatory addition, currently showing at Open Homes.

More photos at Trade Me.

PS: Here’s another one in the same block that was recently renovated:

  

1/14a MacMurray Road, Remuera, Auckland

Description is from the Auckland Property site:

1/14a MacMurray Road
Suburb: Remuera
Area: Auckland City
Region: Auckland

Land area: 335 m² (3604.6 Sq. Feet)
Built in: 1975
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2

Strong clean lines, soaring open

spaces, minimalist in style yet light and functional.
This 2 bdrm townhouse situated in a quiet Remuera street is a fine example of Claude Megson’s 70’s modernist architecture.
The ground floor open plan living, dining and kitchen areas are set in private courtyard landscaped with tropical and native plants. There is an open fire and underfloor heating for winter warmth and french doors to throw open in the summer for cooling breezes. Upstairs are two double bedrooms, master with adjacent study/3rd bedroom and two bathrooms.
With parking for 2 cars, ample storage spaces and situated just moments from Newmarket and Remuera and motorway and public transport access, this architectural iconic home offers a lifestyle of comfort and convenience

PRICE GUIDE: Vendor seeking offers in the region of $700,000.

Megson in the Auckland Architecture School Archives, (1-35)

120 Records for Megson at the Auckland Architecture School Archives.

[1]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	BROWNSON HOUSE
[c]	LARRY BROWNSON
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	ST HELIERS, AUCKLAND
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2454	Tag this record
[2]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	HORROCKS & YEE TOWNHOUSES
[c]	ANDREW HORROCKS & JEFF WAI YEE
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	WAIMARIE STREET, ST HELIERS, AUCKLAND
[d]	1985
[id]	2467	Tag this record
[3]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	COCKER TOWNHOUSES
[c]	FINOLA & BILL COCKER
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSING UNITS
[l]	WOOD STREET, FREEMANS BAY, AUCKLAND
[d]	1973
[id]	2424	Tag this record
[4]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	ROBERTSON HOUSE
[c]	ROBERTSON
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	GLENFIELD, NORTH SHORE CITY
[d]	1976?
[id]	2423	Tag this record
[5]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	DONOVAN HOUSE
[c]	DONOVAN
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	WHITFORD, MANUKAU CITY
[d]	1976?
[id]	2422	Tag this record
[6]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	BARR AIRCRAFT HANGER
[c]	BARR BROTHERS LTD
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	AIRCRAFT HANGARS
[l]	ARDMORE, MANUKAU CITY
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2421	Tag this record
[7]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	ROMANES HOUSE
[c]	MR & MRS WALTER ROMANES
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	MASSEY ROAD, HOWICK, MANUKAU CITY
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2420	Tag this record
[8]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	NGAURUHOE SKI CLUB LODGE
[c]	NGAURUHOE SKI CLUB
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	RESORTS
[l]	MT NGAURUHOE
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2419	Tag this record
[9]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	O'CONNER HOUSE
[c]	NANCY O'CONNER
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	ARTHUR STREET, FREEMANS BAY, AUCKLAND
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2418	Tag this record
[10]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	SHROFF HOUSE
[c]	SHROFF
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	RED BEACH
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2417	Tag this record
[11]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	TONKS HOUSE
[c]	PAUL TONKS
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2448	Tag this record
[12]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	BOWKER HOUSE
[c]	BOWKER
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	WHANGAREI
[d]	1976?
[id]	2450	Tag this record
[13]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	NORRIS HOUSE
[c]	NORRIS
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	REMUERA, AUCKLAND
[d]	1973?
[id]	2458	Tag this record
[14]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	MCMORLAND HOUSE: ALTERATIONS
[c]	JUDITH MCMORLAND
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	TAMAKI, AUCKLAND
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2426	Tag this record
[15]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	WALKER HOUSE: ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS
[c]	RAY & NOELINE WALKER
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	MISSION BAY, AUCKLAND
[d]	1993
[id]	2456	Tag this record
[16]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	GLEN INNES VILLAGE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	URBAN DESIGNS
[l]	GLEN INNES, AUCKLAND
[d]	1994 - 1996
[id]	2416	Tag this record
[17]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	ELLIOT HOUSE
[c]	MR & MRS ELLIOT
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	HAZELDENE PLACE, PAPAKURA, MANUKAU CITY
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2453	Tag this record
[18]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	HOME & FAMILY SOCIETY: EXTENSIONS & ALTERATIONS
[c]	HOME & FAMILY SOCIETY
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	COMMUNITY CENTRES
[l]	MT EDEN ROAD, MT EDEN, AUCKLAND
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2438	Tag this record
[19]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	GERMANN TOWNHOUSES
[c]	GERMANN
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSING UNITS
[l]	MACMURRAY ROAD, REMUERA, AUCKLAND
[d]	1970?
[id]	2449	Tag this record
[20]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	PAPILLIONS RESTAURANT
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	RESTAURANTS
[l]	KERI KERI
[d]	1985
[id]	2460	Tag this record
[21]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	STEVENS CHINA SHOP
[c]	STEVENS
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	SHOPS
[l]	ONEHUNGA, AUCKLAND
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2446	Tag this record
[22]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	CLARK HOUSE: ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS
[c]	JOHN & ENA CLARK
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	CHALLENGER STREET, ST HELIERS, AUCKLAND
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2445	Tag this record
[23]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	HOUSE "THE GRAND SCHEMA"
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2444	Tag this record
[24]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	TODD HOUSE
[c]	JAN & ERIC TODD
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	RAMARAMA, MANUKAU CITY
[d]	1970?
[id]	2443	Tag this record
[25]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	CRYERS ROAD BUILDING
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	CRYERS ROAD, EAST TAMAKI, MANUKAU CITY
[d]	1993
[id]	2442	Tag this record
[26]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	ST HELIERS BAY DEVELOPMENT
[c]	GLENYS ROKE, GEOFF HORNE, NIGEL BOND
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	URBAN DESIGNS
[l]	POLYGON STREET, ST HELIERS, AUCKLAND
[d]	1993
[id]	2440	Tag this record
[27]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	MCKENNA HOUSE
[c]	MCKENNA
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	PAIHIA
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2439	Tag this record
[28]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	GRUNDY HOUSE
[c]	GRUNDY
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	REMUERA, AUCKLAND
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2441	Tag this record
[29]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	FISHER & HALL HOUSE
[c]	A .W. FISHER & J. J. HALL
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2414	Tag this record
[30]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	MEGSON HOUSE "FERN GLEN"
[c]	CHERIE & CLAUDE MEGSON
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	FERN GLEN ROAD, ST HELIERS, AUCKLAND
[d]	1983
[id]	2457	Tag this record
[31]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	SHOPPING ARCADE: HURSTMERE ROAD
[c]	HILL AND STEWART LTD
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	SHOPS
[l]	HURSTMERE ROAD, TAKAPUNA, NORTH SHORE CITY
[d]	1969?
[id]	2482	Tag this record
[32]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	MAYES HOUSE
[c]	JOAN MAYES, NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTORS LTD
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	ARNEY ROAD, REMUERA, AUCKLAND
[d]	1970?
[id]	2397	Tag this record
[33]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	SELLERS HOUSE
[c]	MR & MRS RAYMOND SELLERS
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	HILLTOP PARK, MANUREWA, MANUKAU CITY
[d]	n.d.
[id]	2394	Tag this record
[34]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	WONG HOUSE
[c]	BOBBY WONG
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	HOUSES
[l]	WARRINGTON ROAD, REMUERA, AUCKLAND
[d]	1967?
[id]	2432	Tag this record
[35]	Collection Name	Project Name
	MEGSON	CASUAL ARMCHAIR DESIGN
[a]	MEGSON, CLAUDE
[b]	FURNITURE
[d]	n.d.