By Rafe Maclean Architects
Parked like an elegant caravan on its sloping site, this holiday home has a permanent eye on the view. To the north, a generous overhang is a vestibule for outdoor living – a built canopy that runs off the dining space. Streetside, an angular window beneath the slanting roof breaks up the regularity of the elevation and lends tension and lightness to the form.
With tricky height planes to negotiate and plenty of programme to place on the land, this project was a volumetric jigsaw. The garage and laundry were dug into the ground and a soffit painted orange in the carport space harks of the modernist mood.
Clad in vertical Abodo, which silvers naturally, on a base of block and plaster, the home has a paler palette than its neighbours. Pale green joinery takes up the tonal teamwork with the flashings and gutters – an original colour choice that makes a subtle statement.
Pause at the portico on a built-in bench to kick off shoes before ascending the stairway with its timber-and-steel-bladed balustrade that has a trace of mid-century style. The main open-plan living, kitchen and dining zone, is populated by ply elements. Window-seats lean into the retro and flank corner glazing that frames a vista of mighty Treble Cone.
To the south-east, a bite-sized cut-out of the plan crafts a courtyard which nestles into this exterior embrace. It’s readily accessed from the living zone and the main bedroom and acts as a lightwell for home’s heart. A retreat from the wind and the public eye, this sheltered alfresco space is lined in lichen-coloured metal.
Triple-glazed windows framed on the interior in the warmth of Abodo meet a high level of construction airtightness and a low-energy hot-water and ventilation system to make this a snug sanctuary.
With robust materials and an easy-going floorplan, this three-bedroom dwelling occupies its site for full enjoyment and is set up for weekends of mate-ship, not maintenance. Relaxed and ready to roll.
Rafe Maclean Architects is a Wanaka-based architectural practice dedicated to producing elegantly crafted building solutions through innovative use of interesting materials.
Rafe Maclean graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1996 with first class honours in Architecture. Following graduation, Rafe worked with John Daish Architects, Herriot & Melhuish Architecture and New Work Studio before establishing Rafe Maclean Architects in February 2005.
Rafe Maclean is a Registered Architect and architect member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, and is a Certified Passive House Designer, certified by Passivhaus Institut, Darmstadt, Germany. The work and ideas the practice is producing are playful and visually legible, with detailing that is sensual, sustainable and well crafted.
Rafe Maclean Architects is focused on residential and small commercial projects. Our office is intentionally small enabling us to produce very high quality project outcomes, with a high level of interaction with the design team and clients. This allows us to perform a select number of projects per year, dependent on project size.
We look forward to discussing your project with you.