Description:

This project, a family home for five, is envisioned as a forever home, balancing both current needs and future possibilities. Hence, this residence is designed to be a lasting sanctuary. The clients emphasised the need for individual spaces for everyone, maximising the breathtaking northern views across Lake Wānaka, and creating special settings throughout the home.

Situated on a flat, north-exposed site with stunning 180-degree views, this home offers a visual feast from east to west. The elevated location on the edge of a terrace provides vistas of Mt Maude, Mt Gold, Dublin Bay, and Grandview Range. These natural landmarks play a crucial role in the home’s orientation and design, ensuring each room captures the sun and the scenic beauty of the surroundings.

The location’s exposure to wind and sun required thoughtful design solutions. Wind protection was essential due to the terrace edge location, while the design also needed to harmonise with the landscape requirements of Northlake, one of Wānaka’s prime residential developments. The 355sqm floor area was meticulously planned to ensure the home feels spacious yet cosy; large but not oversized for the site and surrounding properties.

The design approach marries the modernity of a growing town with the traditionalism of European interior features, such as limestone tiles, plenty of warm, wood tones and an appreciation for natural materials. The result is a Wānaka-inspired exterior and a homely Mediterranean-influenced interior.

Freestanding concrete walls have been used externally to provide privacy as well as wind protection. A morning courtyard has been incorporated, along with an inviting entry area and expansive outdoor living with a pool, barbecue and outdoor fire. Strategically placed windows highlight interior features and the landscape beyond. Waking up in the main bedroom with the views in the background and the pool in the foreground is one of the highlights for the client.

The home is also designed for hosting large family gatherings and entertaining, accommodating the frequent presence of the children’s friends. Also, the design integrates spaces for the client’s cherished collection of art, furniture and fittings.

As always, environmental longevity was a serious consideration. Ducted central heating, in-floor hydronic heating, high levels of insulation and thermally broken window joinery with high performance glazing, all feature here.

The exterior, built by Bagley Construction, features simple pavilion forms, that fit seamlessly into the Wānaka vernacular. Large panels of glazing allow natural light to flood the home and invite the stunning views inside. Cladding materials include warm Rosenfeld Kidson vertical shiplap timber weatherboard, natural rendered concrete, and a unifying metal tray on the roof and some walls. Stone chip and concrete paving further enhance the natural aesthetic.

Gezellig Interiors crafted the interior, emphasising elegant simplicity enriched with warm textures and materials. Key features include an entertaining bar area, a cosy living nook for the kids, and window seats perfect for sleepovers with friends. It’s a space that feels both personalised and inviting.

Overall, the design ethos focused on simplicity articulated with complexity, ensuring the home is both elegant and functional. Despite its size, the home is positioned away from the street to create a sense of privacy and reduce the visual impact on the public areas. This thoughtful placement helps the home blend into its surroundings, maintaining a balance between grandeur and subtlety.