On an elevated north-facing slope above the Ruamāhanga River in rural Wairarapa, the Glenmorven Studios were designed to complement an existing cabin, also designed by Stuart Gardyne of architecture+ in 1998. The recent project saw the addition of two standalone structures, which are connected harmoniously to the existing cabin by way of a central courtyard. The modestly-scaled cabin had initially been designed for weekend and holiday use; however, the clients had come to be living on the site full-time and sought additional amenity to support their work and lifestyle. These additions offer the site a second bedroom, bathroom, workspace studio, garage, and laundry.

The new studios have been influenced by the form, scale, and material palette of the existing cabin, as well the established approach to the landscape. Supported on tall timber piles, the new timber-frame studios wrap around a mature Te Kouka tree, views of which are framed by the covered porch entry, providing a moment of reflection before one enters the interior spaces. The arrival sequence from the driveway including the approach to the studios and progression through to the interior spaces has been curated, as the visitor-experience was front-of-mind during the design process, with details such as lighting and patterns of use being carefully considered.

The material palette consists of Hawkes Bay white concrete blocks, black stained vertical shiplap cedar, black stained Siberian Larch, and Southern Maple Beech on the interior.

Contractor: Edridge Construction Limited

Engineers: Dunning Thornton Consultants