BEAUTIFUL HOMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18999, 23 October 1923, Page 2

BEAUTIFUL HOMES

IN AND AROUND DUNEDIN. PROGRESS OF DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE. Probably nothing reflects so accurately the •tape of culture and refinement of a community as its home life. Where civilisation has not come the very idea of home is strange and unintelligible. Tire most advanced and cultured nations admittedly trace all their superiority in national and civic virtues to a corresponding superiority in home life. Certainly Britain has always been proud to claim “homo” as a word peculiarly her own and to find in that fact a clear indication of the source of her national greatness. It is Britain’s homes, we say, that have made her what she is; and moralists are always quick to greet with alarm any symptoms of the decay of home life. And if that is reasonable it is equally right to hail with gratification any signs that homes are being more treasured and valued than ever. Dunedin is essentially a city in which the power of home life is strong. That comes from its _ wholesome Scottish traditions, from the high general level of comfort and prosperity, and from the sound education and character of the community. A house is not always a home, but the two are necessarily very closely linked; and it is a pleasure at the present time to notice the remarkable number of beautiful and attractive, houses that have been or are being added to the architecture of the city. Not so long ago the passer-by could seldom see a variation from the dull, drab tradition of the. long, narrow wooden house with the verandah and low window in front, the narrow hall running straight through to the hack, and rooms opening off each side. Now such a. house is mimediately roeounised as old-fashioned, and however freshly it may ho painted-one.takes it for granted "that it has not been built m recent ve-ars. There is a delightful variety about (he. modern brick bnngalbw, and the eltecis that up-to-date architects now achieve arc almost invariably pleasing both without and within. Every here and there about the city and suburbs may now bo seen these handsome now residences, and the combined effect is (o add not a little to jhs I'oraforlab’e and prosperous air that Dunedin vveais. While some of these new houses are . to ce seen in practically every part, naturally one or two' suburbs are specially favoured hv those in a position to select, a site for a "home. Maori Hill is certainly one of the favoured spots, and Anderson a Bay—particularly’ Sunshine—another, aiid the records of building permits show that Mornmgtmi is not for behind. Perhaps the most sinking instance of simultaneous home buildup being pushed forward in one short street .ts to be found in Grendon street, Maori Hill, which runs round from ITighgate to Driver s road. The street itself is as yet m a very rough and unformed state as compared with ■mine others, near by, but there is no doubt that Ihe class of residence going up or already completed in Grendon street will quick It compel a big improvement in the street'itself. All these houses command a glorious view, and some have the additional charm of a beautiful setting among the ongimd native bush. This is particularly noticeable in the case of Mr Herbert Price s two-storey brick residence, the chief feature of which is that it, has been designed by the architect, Mr 11. Mandeno. to get the maximum of sunlight in all the rooms. It is in form a long narrow building facl ' lg h T There is a considerable area of ground with native bush about it, and it will all doubtless be turned into an exceedingly beautiful property. Mr J S. Campbell is another who has a handsome residence in this street. It is made of, -implex” hollow concrete which is used in thei constructive work by Messrs Elhs and Glue Miss M. 11. M. King and her sister aie adding to the amenities of the an attractive brick house. Mr Iw son has a fine wooden dwe mg. and Mm K Watson a somewhat smaller one. Miss Gibson, who has a composite dwelling, and Mr J J- Jowsey, who is building in wood, are others who have recently selected Greiicloa street for their homes. _ , . Driver’s road is another that is being improved by progressive residential architecture. and at the corner of it and U-ren-don street stands the new brick home of the Rev. Tulloch Tudle. Mr S. has had a one-storey residence of -implex” concrete erected in this street, and Mr R. Clapperton a two-storey residence of the same material. Over m Cannington road Mr I). C. Campbell has a twostoried brick residence whoso proportions and finish make it a decided acquisition to the street. In Pacific street the Fletcher Construction Company is putting tin a fine brick home for Mr A. Inoiusnn. In Highgate several nice places have lately been erected, including n composite dwelling (in progress) for Mr J. MTnness, a brick one for Mr T Wood. and a wooden one for Mr Erskina Nicol. The chief novelty of Mr Nicol’s two-storey residence, which is roughcast, is its green roofing tiles. Other good houses being constructed in the district are for Mr G. Anderson, m Como street; and Mr C. J- Romeril. m Grater street. Perhaps the most elaborate and extensive dwelling being completed in Dunedin at. the present time is that of Mr P Halsted in Royal terrace. It is of very plain Georgian design, and will be exceptionally well equipped within with practically every useful labour-saving device now obtainable. It is a .Ted brick twostorev dwelling, and excellent results have been" obtained from a somewhat awkward section. In Queen street Mr James Dick has a fine two-storey brick and roughcast, dwelling, designed by Mr J. L. Salmond, with tile roof and interior fittings up-to-date in every particular. Mr Hopcarft is another who has a substantial new brick residence in the same street. A two-storey homo of “Simplex” concrete has recently been erected for Miss Belle M‘Lean in Elder street. In Cargill street an attractive and substantial two-storey home of brick below and shingle in the npner storey is being erected for Mrs Oldham. Among other residences not far from the centre of the city deserving of nolc as already improving the appearance of their neighbourhood or about to do so are those of Mrs Dodd, in Scotland street; Mr F. Nicol, in Cumberland street; Mrs A. P. Williams, in Albert street: Mr A. King, in Arthur street: and Mr A. Justice, in York place. While there are a large number of new houses of a good type at various stages of progress in and about Anderson’s Bay, most of these are small and unpretentious. A notable exception is the substantial and solidly-built residence of Air H. S- Fenwick being erected at Sunshine. It is two-storey, designed in brick in Georgian style, and will command a very fine view of the harbour and the city. At Hunt’s road Air T. Harland is building a comfortable home of “Simplex” concrete, grid at Sunshine Mr Eric Begg-has just commenced a very nice single-storey brick bungalow. ■ Mr A. N. Haggitt has a handsome brick residence in progress in Moana crescent, and Air John Gray has one at Sunbury. One of the best new houses about Mornington is that of Air Y. S. Jacobs, in Beaumont street. Air A. J. Campbell is having a very nice composite dwelling put up in Berwick street, Roslyn. Tt would not be difficult to mention others in St.’ Glair, Cavershani. Belleknowos. Woodhaiurh. Dunotfar. and other parts; but sufficient has boon said to indicate that (lie present is a time of great activity in domestic architecture, and that tho standard in tin's resnect, never low in' Dunedin, is steadily rising. Tt is possible to travel for miles through the suburbs without passing a rcallv mean or misfwablo dwelling, and every here and there the eye is delighted w'Th a fresh new residence that sneaks of all the comfort and pleasure signified in the word “home.’' This surely is a prosperous. setlled. a”d happy community, and perhaps in nothing is this move elearlv seen than in its happy and beautiful homes.