A CONTINENTAL TREND

HOME OF MR AND MRS ; W. L. DEARSLEY MODERN ARCHITECTURE FROM BERLIN NEW HOUSE IN FENDALTON

For numerous reasons the latest overseas developments of the architecture of to-dav are not to be seen to, any great extent in Christchurch or, for that matter, anywhere in New Zealand; and modern homes—modern in the sense that they show what architects overseas are doing to create an architecture expressive of the age in which we live—are so few in Christchurch that any dwelling illustrating the departure from the conventional creates more than the usual amount of public interest. Such a home is that of Mr and Mrs W. L. M. Dearsley, in Glandovey road, Fendalton. The construction was finished only a little more than two months ago, and the building is the most striking of recent additions to a neighbourhood already noteworthy for its fine homes. Its architecture follows closely that of a modern house built about two years ago near Berlin. It is, therefore, the second home in this city to illustrate modern Continental architecture, the other being that of Mr and Mrs Kenneth Ballantyne, which is also in Fendalton. It has been said that in the immediate past, house design relied tdo much on personal service. It made a point of using old-fashionea materials and a highly-subdivided plan of small rooms and small windows. To-day we plan our new dwelling exactly. From the kitchen and through the house we see mentally a series of paths leading to the various functions of house running. We study these carefully; we reduce their length, increase their efficiency so that one person can do what three did in the past. Fifty years ago the working end of a house was to the living end in the proportion of one to four; we "can now reduce this proportion to one of one to eight, and add the rest to living. In like manner we compress the bathroom, in which we have controlled plumbing out of sight, because we are sure of it, not because we do not like the look of it. Bedrooms have shrunk to rooms warm and ventilated, in which we sleep, our belongings fitted into accessible cupboards built into the house. We have redivided the house into a compact working space; a space given over to the act of sleeping, planned to be no bigger than it need be; and the rest, spacious, subdivisible at will, is there to live in spaciously, made of beautiful, but easily cleaned materials thrown open to the air in fine weather—a flexible, airy dwelling. An Apt Illustration The home of Mr and Mrs Dearsley is an apt illustration of the development to which the writer of the words in the previous paragraph refers. It shows conclusively that the attainment of a high standard of utility, properly achieved, in no way detracts from the comfort of a home. The house stands well back from the road, facing to the north. It is constructed of concrete and has all the impression of solidity and grace that that material can give. Its horizontal lines, flat roof, and many windows show the influence of modern ideals in home planning. Indeed, for the enjoyment of sun and air the occupants could hardly be better served. Inside, the bouse is a model of compactness, with every available inch of space put to the fullest use.

The entrance is from the. west side, the iron grille over the glass panel in the front door showing a distinctive treatment in keeping with the general design. To the left of the entrance hall a flush panelled door leads to the living-room, which merges into the dining-room and runs along the whole front ol the house—a- distance of some 37ft. At the base of the hall a door leads • into the kitchen, which is handy to the dining-room. An easy flight of stairs goes from the hall to the bedrooms and the bathroom. The modern technique of lighting is shown everywhere in the house, all the illumination being diffused, with strip lights over the doors leading from the hall and fittings closely attached to the ceilings. Everywhere the door handles are of chromiumplated steel in a design that is characteristic of the spirit of the architecture. Functional Planning The main room is an admirable example of functional planning. In the north-west corner is about 16ft of window space, while along the

north front are steel-framed doors and windows which make the entire side of the room open to sunshine and light the whole day, while in the east side is another large window. All the doors in the north front open to a partially-covered loggia with a floor of concrete slabs. The simplicity of the design is continued in the furnishings and interior decoration. That, or course, is most desirable in such a house, and the careful attention to detail has given a satisfying effect. The walls are finished in cream, the floor is fitted with a carpet in sage-green, and the windows are curtained in tomato-rust velvet, which hangs from chromium-plated steel rails to the floor. On the fitted carpet are Persian rugs in rich warm colours. The built-in fittings, which include a china cabinet and a writing-desk, are of polished Southland beech, while along the east wall are cupboards of the same wood. The furniture includes modern easy chairs on chromium-plated tubular steel supnorts upholstered in German tapestry in greens and browns. Under the large window in the north-west corner is a wide low seat upholstered in old bleached linen of a sage-green tone to match the carpet. In that portion of the room used for dining the circular table is of rosewood—a production of the Regency period, perhaps the one period whose pieces may be used without being unsuitable in a modern room. The chairs are of Southland beech, with seats and backs of a delicate cane weave. Directly above the table is an unusual lighting fixture, with the bulb set in a horizontal fircu'ar reflector rf c'iromi'm-plale-I steel. In the middle of the south wall is the fireplace, with a low surround of cement of a deeper cream than.the walls, the horizontal joints of cement being of a lighter tone. The hearth is of black marble. On each side of the fireplace to the level of the top of the surround, are shelves of v Southland beech which may be used to hold china or books. In the Kitchen Facilities for easy and efficient working are clearly apparent in the kitchen. A bench of stainless steel and wood surmounted by white tiles is under a long window and nearby is an electric stove in blue and white, and a recessed incinerator. Ample cupboard room is provided, the

space under the stairs being used for a stores cupboard. In the hall there is a fitted carpet of sage-green, which runs up the stairs. Chromium-plated steel is noticeable, most of all in the handrail. A point of interest in the hall is the frameless mirror of bevelled plate-glass on the wall looking up the stairs. A Bokhara rug at the foot of the stairs lends a warm touch of colour to the decorative scheme. On the north-east corner ol the upper storey is the main bedroom, in every detail a modern room. the stained floor are rugs with a modernistic straight-line design in brown and red on a cream ground. The walls are cream, and the low-end beds are finished in the same colour. At the head of each bed is a strip The curtains and the bed covers are of cream-coloured crrsh, with the same modernistic design as there is on the rugs. In th* same modern design is the dressing-table finished in cream lacquer, with the drawer handles of black bakelite and chromium-plated steel. Above the dressing-table is a large circular mirror, unframed, the stool having a support of chromium-plated tubular steel.

The Upstairs Balcony Glass doors with steel-framed windows on each side open to the balcony which runs along the front of the house and along part of the west side. , A pleasant effect is given by flowers in a narrow box which runs along the top of the parapet. Nearby is the nursery, with fadeless chintz curtains in a sampler pattern and chair covers of the same material. On the floor are Indian rugs with pink and blue tones on a cream ground. On the cream walls are bright coloured figures appropriate to such a room. The guest bedroom has a colourscheme in cream and cherry, the walis being cream with the curtains and the eiderdown of cherry-col-oured silk. Beside the bed is a recessed bookcase, and a strip light is above the head. The bathroom has an unusual decorative scheme, with cream walls, black and cream streaked rubber flooring, and black porcelain pedestal basin and bath. The windows, facing to the east, are curtained in waterproof cream silk. The bath, its interior of gleaming black, is set in a recess, with the exterior finished in cream tiles. The architect in charge of the work was Mr R. S. D. Harman.