Chester Street Townhouses banner

These two well-appointed modernist townhouses were designed to provide high quality living and privacy for their inner-city location. They use well-considered forms, clean lines, and a high level of attention to the detail to achieve this standard.

Both townhouses follow a similar planning ethos – on the ground floor the entrance, garage, utilities, and two bedrooms form an L-shape around a sun-filled courtyard with either a pool or pond. A central stair connects this to the living spaces and main bedroom, logically taken onto the first floor, specifically designed to take in views but provide privacy from the street below. A hidden stair leads up to a mezzanine study/library over-looking the double-height living space.

Sheppard & Rout Architects
Canterbury

Products used in
Chester Street Townhouses

About the
Professional

We aim to produce humanist architecture comprised of stimulating and inspirational spaces and places.

We are a design-based practice that believes in providing tailor-made solutions to an individual client's needs. The fundamental objective of the practice is to develop architecture that is appropriate to its specific site, wider context and intended use while being robust, flexible and environmentally-aware.

These variables are used along with the appropriate structural considerations to develop buildings with well-suited form and style, instead of approaching the design from a stylistic standpoint.

The practice was established in 1982 in Christchurch by David Sheppard and Jonty Rout. In its 40 years the practice has carried out a wide range of projects covering many types and in numerous geographic locations. The founding partners brought to the practice extensive design and construction experience gained while working with other offices in both New Zealand and overseas. Tim Dagg joined Sheppard & Rout in 1986 and Jasper van der Lingen in 1993 and they both joined David Sheppard as Directors in 2006.

With David Sheppard now retired and Jonty very sadly passed away the practice is led by Directors Jasper van der Lingen and Tim Dagg and three Associate Directors; Matt Gutsell, Jonathan Kennedy and Steven Orr.