Mature phase As a mature style emerged, Chapman-Taylor's designs became more cohesive. Concrete was used as the preferred building material, finishing the outside walls in a roughcast plaster. Following in the footsteps and adhering to principles first exposed by John Ruskin and William Morris the consistency in his work became a result of his loyalty to their creed. Chapman-Taylor showed confidence to express his individuality and sense of freedom to explore and experiment. Chapman-Taylor's houses were designed through to the smallest detail. Many of his surviving buildings include pieces of his furniture designs. Exteriors were characterised by high roofs with Marseille tiles, plain roughcast walls and small paned windows. The extensive use of hand shaped timbers in the interiors of the houses further defined his work. Chapman-Taylorʼs houses revealed his distinctive touch and his interpretation of the English cottage style that the Arts and Crafts Movement promoted. Chapman-Taylor designed many houses and they can be found throughout New Zealand. Several examples can be found in Taranaki, including the building fondly known as Wilkie's Castle, situated at Wai-iti in North Taranaki. In Havelock North he designed the Whare Ra building for the Stella Matutina order. Chapman-Taylor died on 28 October 1958 at the age of 80 from a sudden illness. "All Chapman-Taylor’s houses are economical in their use of space, intimate in detailing, and extremely satisfying to live in." —J. Stacpoole and P. Beaven, New Zealand Art: Architecture 1820-1970. References External links Photographs and furniture by James Walter Chapman-Taylor and archival material relating to James Walter Chapman-Taylor in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa "The Life and Times of James Walter Chapman-Taylor" by Judy Siers * James Walter Chapman-Taylor and Mary Gibson * The Rewards of Romance in Heritage New Zealand, Spring 2007 * James Chapman-Taylor, Taranaki Wiki * New Zealand architects New Zealand astrologers New Zealand photographers New Zealand Anglicans 1878 births 1958 deaths People from Taranaki People associated with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 20th-century astrologers