13 Killarney Road, Frankton, Hamilton, Waikato, 3204, New Zealand
“If you want a more interesting life, you couldn’t do better than live within fine architecture”… great words that could have been used to describe this fabulous townhouse designed by Architect Bernard Gleeson. This mid-century project captures the sense of optimism and architectural innovation of the period and would’ve been quite Avant-garde with the use of solid masonry construction, concrete mid-span floors, a cantilevered outdoor deck (which also forms part of the multi-purpose 3-bay carport), while the feature spiral staircase is a stunner, winding its way up to the second living area that would make an ideal office/studio or work from home suite, while also offering a glimpse of Hamilton Lake and an abundance of natural light.
Renovating a home with such good pedigree can be daunting, but when the opportunity arose to secure this classic, these owners were drawn to the potential and were definitely not phased at the task ahead having already completed 3 other architectural icons of the same era within the city. Sympathetically renovating an architectural home requires understanding the importance of the original design, and here they have retained the integrity while evolving to meet today’s modern needs. Updated kitchen, bathrooms, the addition of extra glazing, and a purposefully restrained interior palette ensures the essence of the original home is retained, while new contemporary elements were introduced. Our appetite for modernist architecture continues to grow decades after it’s heyday. With good design and eye for detail, they’ve created a home that offers the opportunity to experience day in and day out, the pleasures of living with authentic modern design.
The mid-century style has inspired legions of devotees with its purist ethos, and it’s easy to see why – form follows function, with flowing space, natural light and an honesty and truth to the materials used.
