Wanaka Retreat

The clients brief was to create a bolthole from their busy Wellington work life. The design needed to suit the vernacular of the local architecture and sit well to the distant views. Considering the extreme Otago climate, lots of sunlight access in winter and shady spaces in the summer were incorporated into the design. The design allows the homeowners to live there on their own, host large social gatherings with family and friends, and have B & B guests stay in a private studio above the garage.

The Garage and Entry are easily accessible and recognisable from the street, and flow through to the living space. All living spaces and bedrooms are sheltered from the street and look out onto the private section at the rear and expansive view beyond. The master bedroom and living space feature a pitched ceiling.

Dark stained vertical shiplap cedar weatherboards are complemented by the form of the home and the landscaping. Special consideration was given to the window detailing, with the recess behind the cladding lining achieving both a striking visual aesthetic and creating a more energy efficient solution. The framed exterior walls and the ceilings have above code insulation

This is what the happy homeowners had to say: “We are absolutely loving it! We feel like we are on permanent holiday, it has such a lovely feel to it so how good it that!”