{"id":111824,"date":"2025-11-01T04:23:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T04:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/111824\/"},"modified":"2025-11-01T04:23:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T04:23:17","slug":"architect-claude-megsons-iconic-norris-house-for-sale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/111824\/","title":{"rendered":"Architect Claude Megson\u2019s iconic Norris House for sale"},"content":{"rendered":"

For lovers of great design, especially those who revere Claude Megson\u2019s work, the chance to own the celebrated Norris House in Remuera<\/a> has arrived.<\/p>\n

Built in 1975, the Norris House was one of architect Claude Megson\u2019s (1936-94) favourites. It won the New Zealand Institute of Architects National Award in 1978 and the award for Enduring Architecture in 2005.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a modern house and timeless even though it\u2019s now 50 years old and we love it,\u201d says homeowner and retired architect Neil Cotton.<\/p>\n

Sixteen years ago Neil and his wife Jenny were planning to build their own home when the Norris House came up for sale in 2009.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew the house quite well but didn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever have the opportunity to live in it so when we managed to get it we were very happy about that. It\u2019s such an interesting house to live in. It\u2019s not boring,\u201d says Neil.<\/p>\n

What they love most about it is the three-dimensional nature of the internal spaces which have been described (by the Auckland Architecture Association) as \u201coffering poetry of light and space\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts spatial qualities are unique from the three-dimensional manipulation of the space internally,\u201d says Neil. \u201cExternally it also looks fantastic \u2013 from the street or from any direction. He was a very creative architect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Megson\u2019s design extended to the garden, overlaying the entire site with a pattern, including the various courtyards which complement its strong architectural lines. The backyard is completely enclosed making it a sheltered and safe space for children to play or family pets to enjoy. <\/p>\n

The private courtyard also has an outdoor table and barbecue area which is well used during summer and gets the afternoon sun. The home\u2019s north-western aspect also means it gets morning sun in the front yard.<\/p>\n

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Built in 1975, Norris House was one of architect Claude Megson\u2019s favourites. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

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The vendors have loved the three-dimensional nature of the internal spaces, which the Auckland Architecture Association described as \u201coffering poetry of light and space\u201d. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

\u201cIndoor-outdoor design was always critical to Megson so the way all the rooms open out to the outside is a special feature,\u201d says Neil.<\/p>\n

Megson was one of Neil\u2019s tutors at university in the 1970s, and he readily admits to being a fan. He\u2019s even redrawn the original hand-drafted plans and commissioned a custom rug for the living area.<\/p>\n

Viewed from the mezzanine master bedroom, the rug \u2013 seen through a glass table \u2013 mirrors the home\u2019s precise floor plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis house is probably one of his best. It\u2019s an exceptional house,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The four-bedroom home is light-filled and features beautiful Oregon timber ceilings and exposed rafters, and glazed roofs. The previous owner, interior designer Nikki Broome, upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms and installed oak flooring throughout the house which is offset nicely by the home\u2019s concrete block plastered walls and steel joinery.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis house is probably one of his best. It\u2019s an exceptional house,\u201d says homeowner and retired architect Neil Cotton. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

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The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home has garaging and multiple living areas on a 736sqm section. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

Improvements made by Neil and Jenny include re-roofing over thick insulation, and installing three heat pumps and a gas fire in the sunroom\/TV family room. There is also an original open wood fire in the living room.<\/p>\n

Jenny also uses the family room as an office and Neil\u2019s office is in what he believes was originally a baby\u2019s bedroom.<\/p>\n

The home is zoned for Victoria Avenue School and both Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls\u2019 Grammar, and is a short stroll to the Walton Street shops. Now downsizing, the couple have loved both living and entertaining in the Norris House, which offers a balance of formal and informal spaces.<\/p>\n

Gary Wallace, from Bayleys, says it\u2019s a rare opportunity to secure one of Megson\u2019s most admired homes. \u201cIt\u2019s like buying a work of art and then living in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

– 20 Walton Street in Remuera, Auckland, is for sale, set date closing November 5<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For lovers of great design, especially those who revere Claude Megson\u2019s work, the chance to own the celebrated…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":111825,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[442,498,499,500,501,156,80022,111,139,69],"class_list":["post-111824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-homes-we-love","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111824\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}