In a cul-de-sac in Ilam, Christchurch, there’s a pocket of six architecturally designed mid-century homes. This unique window into the city’s design style of the time is the result of a 1960s development by Fletcher Construction. Carved from former farmland, the intention was to create a premium subdivision with covenants – the proviso being that the houses would be architecturally designed. But the property market hit a rough patch, the land parcels didn’t sell well and Fletcher’s Utopian mid-century architectural dream was never fully realised. However, the intent did birth a concentration of homes by leading architects, with neighbouring houses and flats by Minson, HenningHansen & Dines, Warren & Mahoney, Don Cowey and Hall & Mackenzie. And it did give the Messervy family an architecturally designed home, which they may not have otherwise opted for. One that has been preserved thanks to the dedication of Matt and Kate Arnold and its current custodians Prue Johnstone and Nick Cowdy. The Arnolds had long admired the ‘Messervy’ house before buying it. Kate has family who live directly across the road and, over time, she and Matt befriended the owner Biddy (Elizabeth) Messervy, who shared the original plans and drawings with them over cups of tea. Biddy had raised her daughters there and was in her eighties when she sold the house to the Arnolds.
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Mitchener took on private projects, one of which was the Messervy House. In the public realm, he designed St Andrew’s church at Le Bons Bay on the Banks Peninsula. Below left The entrance brings together a mix of brick, blocks and natural colour through a grapevine and ficus. The original brise soleil provides privacy from the street. Below The front door opens to a dresser by Rudi Schwarz. Right The pivot door opens to the living area. The woodcut print on the wall is by Tony de Lautour.