An architectural masterpiece nestled at the foot of Mt Isthmus

Hemmed by rolling green fields that give way to rugged, cloud-capped peaks, the view from the banks of Lake Hawea is a breathtaking one. Tucked at the base of one craggy range, Mt Isthmus Lodge is equally breathtaking, but for entirely different reasons. While the profile of the roof references the asymmetrical angular peaks of the surrounding mountains, the building makes no attempt to blend into the background. It is a masterpiece of copper, glass, timber, and concrete, inspired by architectural heavy weights including Zaha Hadid’s Riverside Museum in Glasgow and Daniel Liebeskind’s 18:36:54 p.m. house in Connecticut. 

Designed by Tony Butel of Ground Up Studio, Mt Isthmus Lodge is one of New Zealand’s largest boutique lodges. The client, Lindis Group, approached Butel with a complex brief and a preliminary roof design prepared by another designer who was unable to meet the clients expectations. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Butel took the project on — and though what followed was, at times, demanding, the end result is something the entire project team is immensely proud of.

Originally planned to be built on a part of the 1700 sqm site that was closer to the lake, council regulations required the lodge sit further back towards the hill. “That move ended up having a major impact on the design of the project as the impetus then became about accessing the view,” Butel told Justin Foote. 

Speaking to ArchiPro, Butel explains further, “The original intent was to give all of the bedrooms a view of the lake, but this only served to elongate and compromise the design. After further assessment of the surroundings, and a realisation that the mountains backing the site lit up beautifully in the morning light, we allowed the design to evolve to embrace all of the amazing views on offer.”

When viewed from above, the lodge curves gently like the spine of an S, and each of the copper peaks follow this curve like swirls of icing on a cake. Inside, the engineered timber ceiling peaks and troughs in the same way. 

“From the flow when you first walk in — up the stairs towards glass doors overlooking the lake — the house immediately lets you know that it’s an elevated artwork as much as it is architecture. Functional spaces can sometimes suffer from being quite bland. This building, however, is interesting to be in — do you look at the view or the ceiling? There is so much to draw your attention,” Butel told Justin Foote.

The material palette was informed by simplicity, Butel says. “The client was keen to imitate the look of the Riverside museum, which is clad in silver Alucobond, but the curves were too tight to maintain the clean form we required with that kind of cladding. Our roofing contractors, Bruce Gibson and Ben Porte of Architectural Envelopes, suggested copper for its ability to accommodate the complex forms we were dealing with. The inside was again kept simple, with polished concrete and engineered timber allowing the form to speak clearly.”

While simply visiting the lodge is a notable experience, Lindis Group provides multiple luxury amenities — including a media room, onsite masseuse, private yoga instructor, spa pool, and guided expeditions through the breathtaking Otago backcountry — as entertainment for guests.

The open-plan common area features a professional-grade, residential-scale kitchen — from which guests are served food prepared by a private chef — and a cosy lounge strategically located around the sculptural pyramid fire. Generous windows allow expansive views of the lake and distant mountain range to take centre stage, framed by the glossy polished concrete floor and honey timber ceiling. 

The four king-size bedrooms, each with their own ensuite, can sleep up to eight guests. The rooms showcase the building’s sculptural form; all angles and interesting perspectives. Rather than closing the bathrooms off, they have been strategically placed with line of sight to the windows to allow the view to be enjoyed even while taking a shower. With no sign of civilisation for miles around, the exposure is a welcome risk. 

“My favourite part of the lodge is the interior. The form from the towering entryway with its crossing causeway, the curving stairway drawing you to the living spaces, and the amazing views. None of this would have been anywhere near as successful without the workmanship on display.”

“It was a stressful project, and I think I got a lot older,” Butel admits. “I want to say thank you to our clients, The Lindis Group, they really tested me — Ant Beale the project manager, the builders at Brosnan Construction, and their subcontractors — but we ended up with a project we are all immensely proud of.”

Learn more about Ground Up Studio.