Our Home

In 2008, The Effect purchased a prominent Hamilton East heritage property as a home fitting of our work, values and company culture.  The house receives notable attention as a superb interpretation of the Spanish Mission style of the 1930s, as well as a handful of visitors a year knocking on the door asking what colour the outside paint is!
(For all interested parties - the colour is Paint+ 'Cossack Rock'). 

82 Grey Street:

Physical and Social History

Early in 1932 Vautier designed his own home in Grey Street. The Hamilton Borough Council issued Vautier with building permits:  2689, 2765, 2703 and 2766. The section was level but was one foot below the street level.

Vautier married Margaret Egan in 1935.

Valuation New Zealand described the dwelling at 82 Grey Street as Spanish bungalow instead of Spanish Mission. 

The Architect

Terrance Philip Vautier was one of Hamilton's important early architects. Initially he was in practice with architect J. Anderson and their architectural firm was responsible for the designs of the Band Rotunda in the park between Grantham and Victoria Streets (1916) and the Bank of New South Wales in Victoria Street, which was demolished.

In 1926 Vautier became part of Hamilton's largest architectural practice; this was instigated by E.E. Gillman. Others who joined the practice were: Blechynden, Bamford, Grierson and Stanley-Jones; all were proficient architects.

Design

The exterior is designed in the Spanish Mission style with clearly identifiable Art Deco forms, round headed windows with small panes, exposed roofing tiles spreading below the parapet level, and geometric decoration.

The interior was constructed with plastered ceilings and wooden floors. The interior room configuration included a living room, a dining room, a sunroom, a kitchen, a bathroom, a study and a bedroom.

At the rear of the house a bedroom and an ensuite was added. In 1954 the house was valued at $4,800 and in 1985 at $103,000.00.

Certificate of Title

The reference prior to the issue of a Certificate of Title (issued 16 June 1931) is the Deeds Index 1F 114.

Ernest Henry Kenyon a Hamilton farmer purchased one acre of Allotment 292 of the Town of Hamilton East on 16 June 1931. Kenyon subdivided the land into four ¼ acre sections.

Terrance Phillip Vautier purchased Lot 7 off Kenyan (Lot six was sold to Stephan Thomas Cooper). It appears Kenyan kept Lots eight and nine. On 15 January 1935 Terrance Phillip Vautier was issued with a Certificate of Title for one rood (¼ of an acre) of land in Grey Street; Lot 7 of deposited plan 24023 and was part of Allotment 292 of the town of Hamilton East. Vautier owned the property for approximately four years before he sold it to Albert Charles Dimmock a Hamilton manager on 19 May 1936. The property did not change owners again until 1954.

Heritage Features and Characteristics

Social/Historical

The house and section are historically associated with owner/architect T P Vautier, while the original acre section indicates an early settler allotment.

Traditional/Cultural

The Spanish Mission style is associated with a brief period, when the style was almost as popular as Art Deco and reflected an interest in American design styles particularly those seen in Hollywood movies.

Technological

The house uses typical materials and technologies for the period. Setting/aesthetic/landscape
The ornate character of the design style clearly distinguishes this house from its neighbours and it is highly visible in the streetscape. The aesthetic of the style is also clearly identifiable.

Architectural

The house is a well designed, architect's individual interpretation of a popular style of the early 1930s and the main characteristics of the style can be clearly seen in the house.

Summary of Heritage Values

The house is an excellent architect's interpretation of the Spanish Mission style which was popular for a brief period in the early depression years and which was influenced by Hollywood movies.

Proposed significance ranking: A

Sources:
Hamilton City Council
Hamilton City Library
Land and Information New Zealand
Valuation New Zealand now Quotable Value