Far Horizon
Client Brief
The client admired holiday homes we had designed consisting of gable ended pavilion forms in a series of plan arrangements separated by glazed flat roof linkways to create courtyards that were sheltered and provided options for varied use at different times of the day that responded to make the most of the weather, offer privacy and capture a variety of views and sunlight.
They sought a contemporary design with similar traditional forms, materials and colours that referenced Central Otago barn typology however desired an interpretive design that provided for casual holiday life rather than the formality of their urban life in Australia. The layout of interior spaces was required to create separate living zones and bedroom zones as holiday usage would vary from a couple as clients, to larger extended groups of family or friends.
These zones were required to be flexible and comfortable for different group sizes. The client sought a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living areas and a casual flow of spaces for entertaining, quieter rooms, and private bedroom indoor and outdoor spaces within a holiday home design. A storage building for a jet boat and trailer was required separate to the house that did not affect sunlight or views.
Given the harsh climatic extremities of Central Otago the house was designed to incorporate passive solar gain, thermal mass for temperature consistency, and energy efficient design principles, with an emphasis on durable indigenous materials, services with warm earthy colours and finishes appropriate to Central Otago.
Creative Solution & Design Features
The holiday house is an L shaped plan arrangement of steep pitched gabled forms linked by flat roof bays to create a South entry courtyard and North outdoor living. A sheltered court South of guest bedrooms is a safe play space for children.
The layout has an emphasis on indoor to outdoor living with extensive glazing including stacking sliding doors orientated to the view over lawn and garden to Lake Wanaka and mountains both South and North. The main entry is into the central pavilion of dining with sloping ceilings, with kitchen East and lounge West under flat ceilings to delineate the open plan living.
A Snug adjacent to the kitchen provides an intimate space linked to the East pavilion main bedroom, dressing, ensuite, and garage, with stairs to a study and bunkroom above the garage. The West pavilion has 2 Guest bedrooms, ensuites, laundry, toilet and attic storage and kids play space above.
The house has durable and low maintenance materials with a colour palette of dark cedar wall cladding, Ironsand euro tray roofing and steel work, plaster and schist stone walls and exposed aggregate concrete paving. Polished concrete floors with timber inlays and soft earthy tonal walls and ceilings provide light, spacious interiors that defer to landscape views. The materials and colours are designed to celebrate and reinterpret the traditional barn typology and blend naturally into the outstanding Central Otago landscape.
Passive solar design, natural cross flow ventilation, high performance thermal insulation including double glazing are sustainability features incorporated.
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