Claude Megson house in Remuera is a serious 'do-up or knock down'

Gee if only someone could have anticipated this could be a problem, like perhaps an architect.

yet another case of and architect designing for design sake, with no emphasis on how to circumvent the problems associated with flat roofs.The traditional triangular truss is a very difficult thing to go past:1. it has none of the issues of drainage (and therefore leaks) that flat roofs have2. easy access to install or replace insulation3. creates a ceiling-roof cavity which is ideal to run additional services like electrical, phone, computer cabling and plumbing4. that ceiling-roof cavity also acts as a solar heat collector required for ventilation systems like DVS or HRV.Ive owned both flat roofed and truss roofed house, and I know which one Id much prefer.

âForm follows function â is a well known design mantra that any successful designer takes seriously and plans for. If it leaks the architect and or the builder has failed

he was always about form above all else. An architectural sculptor who really needed a good draughts man to make his building work from a practical level.

Never met an Architect that took practical advice from a roofer. This house is a prime example of how to design a house to leak..

Flat roofs in downpour Auckland? Not a well thoughtout feature.

1000m2 in Remmers? This place has a date with the bulldozer, is my reckon.

Obviously a design not well suited to its environment ......page one

Some of his houses had leaky problems caused by the flat roofs And no eaves.We just dont learn do we? We continue to build with flat roofs, no eaves and internal guttering. Shake the head.

Some general maintenance by the owners would have helped a lot.

If a DIYr would have done this we would get legislation that only architects are allowed to design houses.

Crank up the bulldozers level it to the ground and build something nice there.

Goes to show that art and practicality dont really go hand in hand.

Look on my works ... and despair. Style no substitute for substance: Many of his houses have required re-roofing. In todays litigious climate, Megson might not have continued for so long in practice.

A house is a place of refuge, warmth and safety, not an artwork. Architects need to remember that. It is always form follows function, then you get 1 beauty and endurance. Never function follows form. The same with offices, malls and public spaces.

Funny isnt it how we will accept poor workmanship from the architect but bet we get tough with the roofer ! .......and I have owned two Peter Beaven designed homes .

looks like a stack of Portacoms

Why would you design something that has a flat roof in a high rainfall area. not very bright

Good Builders have known this for years. Designers, Council inspectors, developers, architects have failed to learn this fact.

Stupid design. With flat roofs its a case of when, not if, they will leak.