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North-Shore's Lake Pupuke volcanic crater may originally have been one of the oldest in the Auckland field. Date estimates seem to vary as it was a series of eruptions over time. These threw out ash which formed a low tuff ring around the crater. The welling of liquid lava produced the basaltic flows that now form black reefs along the sea coast in the Thorne Bay/Black Rock area, as well as the escarpment landform.

Over time volcanic soils greatly enriched, supporting native plant and forest on this special strip. The coast became characterised by large and rugged Pohutukawa trees and other ecology of the particular environment. The tenacious pohutukawa, Meterosideros excelsa, thrives in the salt air, and clings with a wide-ranging root system. Today the better examples are planning protected.

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Photo above:

Minnehaha Ave. , North-Shore, Auckland, New Zealand.


Large new designer house replacing group of site-fitted townhouses. Exterior "broken-face" travertine à la Meier shipped around the world from Italy. African-desert "designer" trees (left) shipped to our volcanic seashore. (Eco-sourced associative-system natives could be more appropriate.) Natural lava rock at water's edge foreground.

The large house has a fine, well-lit interior with spectacular outlook.

AAA/McCracken " Located at the seaward end of the Pupuke lava flow, this rocky site possesses stunning 180 deg views of the Hauraki Gulf and islands. Originally the site contained a 30-year old masonry building comprising 3 terrace houses on a radial plan. The new project brief required a single, large, 2-storey house with a penthouse apartment above. Some of the existing structure was retained in the new design, which also involved extending and straightening the seaward frontage. Internal wall alignment generally relates to the original radial plan, which is centred on a circular forecourt. Just off the forecourt is a double-height entrance hall at mid level. Living areas and the main bedroom are positioned at ground level, while secondary bedrooms are situated on the floor above. A double-height frame placed on a terrace in front of the house defines an outdoor room. The house has a palette of exterior cleft-travertine blocks, smooth travertine floor slabs and white plaster walls and ceilings."

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[ Well up Minnehaha Ave itself, large oak trees protrude into the road. These trees, thought to have been planted in the 1860s, along with the old pohutukawas, were regarded as precious features of the landscape when these roads were laid in the early 1920s.
One theory suggests these oaks flanking Minnehaha were planted by Hurst to frame his now-historic house opposite on Hurstmere Rd, as indeed they do. The Hurstmere home was built in 1860 for Auckland businessman and mayor William Hurst. It's built of pitsawn kauri using handmade nails, and originally had a wood-shingle roof. It has the simplicity of early style before steam-machine produced Victorian decoration. Wrapping verandah and human scale.

Great to see in the short cul-de-sac domestic streets of Minnehaha and O'Neils the feeling that cars have to give way to environment. wikimapia/Minnehaha ]


1920s photo:
localhistoryonline


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Tags:   PS peteshep Thorne Bay AAA Auckland Architecture North Shore Volcanic seashore architects Sense of Place Lava rock Dragon trees travertine New Zealand Takapuna lat=-36.7788877&lon=174.7777176&z=16&l=0&m=b,lat=-36.77698&lon=174.7768593&z=13&l=0&m=m lat=-36.778935&lon=174.7758454&z=18&l=0&m=b

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(Access ROW off Minnehaha.)

Pohutukawa trees upper left and right.

Dowell house:
This may at first appear a high-tech telephone exchange. However, inside is a delightful space of top contemporary art and carpet rugs -- so that it's a sophisticated presentation-box of art on the seashore, against natural setting. 1996.

AAA/Pattersons: "This home is articulated by the stepped volcanic escarpment on which it sits. A raisable louvred wall gives privacy from a public walkway in front."

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Wikipedia Pohutukawa:
Metrosideros_excelsa

Pohutukawa .pdf:
www.naw.org.nz/resources/trees/pohutukawa.pdf


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Tags:   PS peteshep Thorne Bay AAA Auckland Architecture North Shore Volcanic seashore architects Sense of Place Pattersons Pohutukawas lat=-36.7786127&lon=174.7772241&z=16&l=0&m=b

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Corner detail of the house in the first Set photo.

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Tags:   PS peteshep Thorne Bay AAA Auckland Architecture North Shore Volcanic seashore architects Sense of Place McCracken lat=-36.7782518&lon=174.7770309&z=15&l=0&m=b

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Beachfront entry to the Dowell house.

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(Phormium tenax lower right.)

Interiors follow in the Set...........


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Tags:   PS peteshep Thorne Bay AAA Auckland Architecture North Shore Volcanic seashore architects Sense of Place Dowell house Pattersons lat=-36.7785612&lon=174.7772455&z=16&l=0&m=b

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In addition to the front glass wall, there is a full-width upper glass-roof and clerestorey giving a flood of light to this interior.

Superb contemporary art including by Ralph Hotere; yacht designs for the owner's special interest; fine Persian-style carpet rugs.

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Hotere:
thearts/artist_page/bio


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Tags:   PS peteshep Thorne Bay AAA Auckland Architecture North Shore Volcanic seashore architects Sense of Place interior Hotere clerestorey Dowell house Pattersons lat=-36.7787416&lon=174.7772992&z=18&l=0&m=b

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