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salvaged from the hum-drum

by Marion Laurent

Imaginative landscape planning can give an old house a completely new personality and Horace Wright, Dip. Hort. Sc. (M.A.C.), landscape architect of Hamilton, has done just this with the home of Mr. A. H. Croad of Oakley Ave.

The house occupies a commanding position with views to the Tauwhare Hills but the former steep approach is eliminated by introducing four levels and gradual and easy concrete steps with wide two foot treads, lead smoothly upwards. The iron balustrades of wrought iron to these stairs are designed to give a sense of rhythm and curves and graceful sweeps are introduced liberally in the garden, both in the miniature retaining walls of limestone, the free form lily pool and again in the terrace archways, each with its automatic light which comes on at dusk and shuts off at a pre-determined time.

To emphasise the Old English character of the house, which is built with gable roof and fillet windows, a large, heavily grained door of Roman arch shape with antique hinges and fastenings, has been added to the facade at ground level and this provides a focal point for the eye in the planned exterior view.

The old garden has mingled compatibly with the new as, in many instances, some of the old trees and pungas, as well as a handsome copper beach and purple plum, have been left in their original places.

Salvaged from the hum-drum, this home has acquired a new distinction through clever garden re-construction and should become one of Hamilton's show places.

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