The Villa (1900’s – 1920)
The New Zealand Villa is probably the first English influenced home to arrive into New Zealand. These grand homes are set amongst the more older neighbourhoods of the cities they reside in. Many villas were built for the more dignified communities of their time. Many of the Villas we see today that have stood the test of time are very well loved and are homes the owners generally are proud to own. Today we see these areas still in good demand for housing in New Zealand as the area and location is generally a good one to live, and well established. Here is a quick overview of the New Zealand Villa
Good points:
· Durable native hardwood construction, usually built by craftsman.
· Wide construction with at least 600mm eaves over windows and doorways to defect rainwater.
· Wooden Weatherboards, durable and easily replaced individually.
· Pitched roofs of about 30% to deflect rain, made from sturdy corrugated iron. If painted would last approx 40 years unlike today’s thinner roofing iron which usually only give a 15 year warranty.
Not So Good Points:
· Draughty, but easily modified with modern insulation materials.
· Fairly compact, simple designs with little thought to indoor outdoor flow.
· Northern aspect placement was usually not considered. So be careful to know where its sun goes as it could get cold.
Deon
Great to see a profiling of styles – NZ has such an eclectic portfolio of property – one of the appeals of this country – the influence of so many style.
As an owner and passionate advocate of villas – they are wonderful properties to live in – their construction is superb with such beautiful timber. They are or can be a labour of love as maintenance an on-going issue, but like me if you love DIY they are fun to own.
Your like me there Alistair, I love Villas, I also love art deco homes which will come up soon. But there is nothing like a villa, they are strong, and just hold so much character.