Inspired By
New Zealand Modernism and the Garden: Part One
by Mary Gaudin
Mary Gaudin is a New Zealand photographer based in Montpellier in south western France. Alongside Matthew Arnold, she recently published a book featuring New Zealand mid-century houses entitled Down the Long Driveway, You’ll See It. Her photographic work can be found at www.marygaudin.tumblr.com and her book can be ordered at www.downthelongdriveway.com.
New Zealand Modernism and the Garden is a two part series looking at the garden and landscapes of a number of homes built between 1948 - 1975.
“As well as photographing the interiors of these modernist houses I also wanted to capture the way they fitted into their surroundings. All of the Wellington homes that I shot are connected to the native bush, attracting tuis, fantails and bellbirds. The owners of the Einhorn house, which backs onto the Karori Bird Sanctuary, sometimes see rare hihi feeding in their garden. In Auckland, the front of the Manning house is surrounded by an enormous pohutukawa tree, which from inside the house, filters views out towards the cities Harbour Bridge. The Sellars and Ballantyne houses are located in Christchurch and have more of an English influence to their gardens. Nevertheless, they’re all quite natural in their planting with scatterings of New Zealand natives throughout. All the houses have a strong connection with the outside. It’s a very kiwi quality.”