MODERN HOMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21899, 7 September 1934, Page 8

MODERN HOMES

TENDENCY IN STYLES varlety of features SOME AUCKLAND CHANGES A decided revolution from the uninteresting// dwellings of pre-war days is revealed in many of the new houses in suburban Auckland. The universal wooden frame with a plain weatherboarded exterior is giving way to such attractive materials as brick and stucco, "which allow considerable scope, and the red-painted corrugated iron roof is rapidly being superseded by tiles of various patterns and colours. The removal, in many cases, of the verandah, has allowed more play with windows, and these have generally made for lighter interiors, wider views and a more varipd external appearance. An essentially North American feature, the sun-room, is being incorporated m many of the new houses. Much has been copied from the %*arious styles tha.t are normally associated with California, and the Spanish influence has been used with marked effect with small shuttered windows, flat roofs and bold tiles. Where a number of such houses been built in a group, particularly in the waterfront suburbs, happy results have been obtained. An English Influence The English influence is seen in several larger houses of the type having what is known as a storey and a-half. In these'a solid exterior of brick and rough-cast has been surmounted by a high-pitched roof with dormer windows. Weatherboarding used with good effect is seen m a number of houses following the American style. Here again, wide dormer windows, with weatherboard sides, fytve been introduced, the roof line conforming easily to that of the rest of the house. In most of the new houses good use has been made of brick in substantial outside chimneys. The outside garage is being replaced by one built into the house, particularly where use can be made of a basemeut for this purpose. Direct admission to the garage is usually a feature eliminating the necessity of going out into the weather. Internally, much is being done to get the max imam use of modern conveniences, and the so-called electric bungalow with built-in furniture has done much to make for economy and comfort. - . Lessons of Experience Many of the newer houses have had included' features that owners have learned by experience to be necessary for greater enjoyment, and more attention has been given to the siting or the house 011/ the section and the arrangement of the rooms to get the sun or the shade at the best times of the day. In a number of cases perhaps too much play has been given to exterpal ornamentation conforming to no recognised style, but where this has been used in moderation to break up monotonous expanses of wall, pleasant results have been obtained. More refcognition is being given to the section as a setting for the house and the straight concrete path is being replaced by interesting pavements winding between well-kept flower beds. Flowering shrubs, which grow well in Auckland, have been tastefully placed on well-kept lawns, and window boxes have been used with happy effect. The tendency to cut down fine trees already on the section is passing, and where these can be used as part of the general scheme it has been thought wise to preserve them.