Wanaka house

The client's brief was for:

• An unpretentious, practical holiday home suitable for all ages, and a few pets.
• A natural setting, at home in the NZ context.
• Flexible use, allowing twelve or more staying. At other times three, or one.
• A site of 600m2 sloping gently with view shafts to the lake, surrounding slopes and peaks.
• Indoor and outdoor living, taking advantage of the north-west rear yard.
• Design for mobility, as people age. Include universal design features.

The solution adopted is a compact arrangement of single and two level volumes arranged to provide shelter in all weathers, with wide eaves and deep veranda. A sheltered outdoor wood burner takes the chill off under the veranda as evenings get cooler.

Board and batten timber cladding and corrugated iron roofs give a nod to the simple vernacular of huts in the New Zealand wilderness.

The surrounding stratifications of lake level, snow line, cloud cover and haze are reflected in the arrangement of claddings, coatings, eaves and roofs.

The layout allows smaller or larger groups to stay as desired, affording alpine vistas and interior views from carefully proportioned interior and exterior spaces.

Internally, joinery and internal walls clear finished in Resene Aquaclear highlight the grain and colour of plywood and Cedar trim. Rustic washed oak flooring provides a tough surface under feet and paws.

Multicoloured glazing admits coloured light, to bounce around the interior surfaces and walls of the central circulation hub/entrance.

The local alpine landscape features mountain slopes in the near distance bronzed with alpine grasses. Distant views are frequently snow-capped, with glacial blue shadows, and the lake is an ever changing surface, reflecting the changing moods of wind and sky.

A palette of bronzed wood, deep grey details, and glacial blue is a natural response to the surroundings.

The interior is finished in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Half Rice Cake on interior walls and Resene Eighth Rice Cake on ceilings. Resene Eighth Rice Cake is repeated on interior trims in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel, chosen for its extra toughness on high abrasion surfaces.

Exterior walls are finished in Resene Sonyx 101 in Resene Periglacial Blue and steel trim in Resene Ironsand.

The startling bright under-plumage of the ubiquitous Kea is the inspiration for coloured glazing in the circulation hub/entrance.

The carpentry-focussed design solution adopted had the advantage in the busy Wanaka construction scene of a shorter list of subcontractors. Most key stages were carried out by the main contractor, allowing the building work to progress without delays. The various timber materials were available locally, delivered to site on time, and ready when needed. The construction team took a pride in their work, applying the best of their woodworking skills to deliver a high quality building, from set-out to finish.

Universal design features are included with longevity of use in mind. These include level thresholds, open showers, slip resistant flooring, wider doors and corridors, and an elevator. The house has Lifemark certification.

Architectural specifier: Dominic Hassan Architect Ltd
Building contractor: The Breen Construction Co
Painting contractor: P&D Decorators
Photographer: Simon Darby
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2020