Modernism in New Zealand

Case Study House #22 – Getty Museum

I’ve had the pleasure of attending several films in this years New Zealand Film Festival including a documentary about Julius Shulman titled “Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman“. The film is a great documentary on one of the best architectural photographers of all time. He is known for his work photographing such influential 20th century architects as Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra and John Lautner.

But what of Modernism in New Zealand? Well you can’t go past the book Long Live the Modern by Julia Gatley which outlines the history of modernism in New Zealand from 104-1984. In New Zealand modernism got its start in the 1920′s and 1930′s with the advent of standardisation and mass production but really didn’t evolve into its own until the post-war period. As well as following international trends of flat roofed boxes we also developed a distinct New Zealand flavour which took hints from our simpler past – Huts, shacks, baches and whare. I’ve listed a few remaining examples of New Zealand modernism below:

Pascoe House – Sumner, Christchurch

Piano House. Paul Pascoe

More information here including more modern Christchurch houses.

Parnell Baths – Parnell, Auckland

Parnell Baths - Photo DOCOMOMO

Dixon Street Flats – Wellington

Dixon Street Flats - NZHistory.net

Brake House – Titirangi, Auckland

Brake House

DOCOMOMO

If you are interested in learning more about modernism in New Zealand and helping preserve the remaining examples of this type of building then I suggest you also check out DOCOMOMO who’s aim is to help preserve this type of architecture worldwide.