Beneath hyaline skies, looking out over the mountains of Mount Aspiring National Park and a short stride from the centre of Wānaka, this chic build was the ideal opportunity for Tony Bennett of Queenstown’s Tab Design to update a classic alpine form.
From the pitched roof down to the tussock planted along the drive, alpine design cues are evident, which means the house sits quietly in the landscape. Yet the snow-capped surroundings don’t just dictate aesthetic design decisions: the use of practical, durable materials is always front of mind in this demanding climate of hot, dry summers and cold winters.
In the grand tradition of Central Otago architecture, Bennett sought inspiration in the clear light and raw landscape, harmonising with it and drinking in the spectacular views. Like that landscape, Bennett pared the European farmhouse form down to its essence, with a skerrick of Swiss chalet: two gabled pavilions organised around a series of courtyards connected by an entry foyer.
This home now sits in Aotearoa’s playground. Four bedrooms and three bathrooms are tucked away in the western pavilion, the master bedroom tweaked ever so slightly at an angle to capture a view of the lake framed by the trees.
In the eastern pavilion is a generous open-plan living area, the kitchen and dining area screened off slightly by a fireplace. The garage unobtrusively juts out for convenient access to the property, with an attic rumpus room to maximise usable space.
Bennett cannily chose StriaTM Cladding cladding from James Hardie for the build. This durable, low maintenance cladding complements a minimalist look can be painted any colour. This allowed the architect to pair black walls with rusticated cedar weatherboards at the gabled ends of the pavilions. Not only is that in keeping with the palette of other homes in the area and the muted tones of the natural environment, it also hints at that updated chalet. StriaTM Cladding is “almost indestructible in any climate”, says Bennet.
It also achieves the effect without resorting to the schist stone that has become something of an anachronistic cliché in the area. This build embraces its fresh and contemporary air.
The wall running through the house from outside the main entrance through to the media room is built of boxed fair-faced, in-situ concrete, and interior cedar cladding, making it feel like a luxury ski resort.
And while that interior is cosy, the outdoor space is the big draw – making most of the alpine climate with three sheltered courtyards. The courtyard on the north side is a sun trap connecting the master bedroom to the living area. The east side courtyard boasts an outdoor fireplace, useful year-round, and the east-facing aspect makes it usable from early spring and well into the region’s crisp autumn.
This story was produced in association with James Hardie. For more stories and product information, click here.
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