Better than a sky-couch: reasons to visit New Zealand
Air New Zealand Sky Couch
Did you see the Air New Zealand economy class “Sky Couch” announcement this week? Clearly designed so that slim and consenting adults can stretch out even in cattle class – though what happens when they hit turbulence, I don’t know. How much better it is than a regular economy seat, I wouldn’t like to say. But however you get there, I have found some very good reasons to travel to New Zealand, straight from the portfolio of Parsonson Architects, a collection of clean, light-filled, ocean-view houses:
Pekapeka
Light and air in Pekapeka
Simple Kitchen in Raumati
Not as white as it looks - Raumati
Steps from the sand in Raumati
Sun streams in to Manly Street House
With this view, nothing else matters
I’m not sure if that’s an iconic mid-Century chair, or a dorm-room standard from Target – perhaps it depends on the context? And in that context, the chair is really irrelevant, I think.
When I was growing up in South Wales, my Dad often toyed with the idea of emigrating to some English speaking, up-and-coming, country: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, they all sounded so promising, especially during the dark times of three day weeks and power cuts as our heavy industries coughed their last gasps. Funny thing, he was an ocean-loving man, and his objection to New Zealand was that so much of the coast-line was privately owned, and not accessible to the general public. Not like in Britain, where it’s almost impossible to privately own a beach, because, below the high tide mark, they are almost all already owned by the royal family. And luckily, the royals are gracious enough to share. It’s clear from this that my Dad would not have been suited to America – an immigrant to the USA would have to come with the attitude that “yes, the beaches can be privately owned, and I’m gonna get me one” – very un-British indeed! If these beautiful houses demonstrate what you can do with your private piece of coast, maybe it’s not such a bad thing after all - just as long as you’re willing to share…
Views forever - Raumati
It's all about the materials
Tropical Getaway
One Word for Wednesday
Paul Anater
January 29th, 2010 at 3:47 pm #
It’s love it’s love it’s head-over-heel love. Imagine the clear thoughts you could have in such beautiful spaces.
Kit Tosello
January 29th, 2010 at 8:20 pm #
ohhh…I left my heart in NZ in 1987! Hubby & I have always talked “someday when we move to New Zealand.”
These are wonderful and the views are sweetly familiar.
Thank you!
Clarity
January 29th, 2010 at 8:33 pm #
Hi Kit – Lucky you, I have only been there vicariously. What a beautiful place.
Clarity
January 29th, 2010 at 8:34 pm #
Hi Paul – yes, glorious. Great spaces and great scenery