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A Small House

Architect: Robert Barton

Family: Husband and wife—two children, boy and girl.

Site: Large section, three-quarter acre, below road, well planted in shrubs and trees with half acre of native bush. Magnificent view over harbour. Sheltered from both North and South winds.

Plan: Finances dictated the house be as small as reasonable. The plan was opened up as much as possible, e.g. screen partition only to main bedroom, and large servery opening to kitchen. Area, excluding basement laundry and workshop, 850 square feet. Living room 29 feet × 15 feet.

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Placing of kitchen sink, looking over dining area and out through large windows, dispels any idea that the kitchen is small. Kitchen has proved exceptionally easy to run.

In winter the large area is quite easy to warm, and because there are no cold areas adjoining a very hot one, there is a noticeable lack of draughts.

The bedroom being in the same area as the living room is quite comfortable in winter and tests showed only a drop of 5 to 6 degrees F. from one end of the house to the other.

The light kahikatea panels to the bedroom scheme afford a pleasant break to the remainder of the finish.

Exterior Finish: White concrete base and stained weather-boards.

The photograph on the cover is another interior view.

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