By Escea Fireplace Company
This dramatic residence imports the Canadian vernacular of log construction to Central Otago – embodying the idea of a hunting lodge where family and friends can gather around the roaring fire in the Grand Room and tell stories about the day’s adventures.
Pioneer Log Homes BC built the house frame in Canada out of two 300-year-old Western Red Cedar logs and then shipped the frame to New Zealand for assembly and fitout. The kiwi expat homeowner explains that the most complex part of the project was working with the timber frame, which is designed to settle and allowing for that movement in the assembly.
Inspired by the log homes in Whistler and Colorado, the unfamiliar technology provided a challenge for local builders, a challenge they met with enthusiasm: the care and the skill shines through. The fireplace, the heart of the house, was a highlight – the hearth was handmade by site manager Karl Boomsma built with ‘an eye to detail and considerable care.’
The homeowner’s favourite feature is the Spatherm XL wood fireplace that he describes as a ‘human happiness magnet,’ saying ‘the fireplace looks amazing even when it’s not on, and when it is, you can’t keep people away.’ He continues ‘seeing the fire through the large clear window on a cold night, with a nice fur rug and a hot drink after a day’s skiing with family and friends cannot be beaten.’
Photographer: Nick Frame
Born in the Deep South of New Zealand, Escea Fireplace Company have been offering fireplace options for homes across Australasia since 2002. What initially began as a small Dunedin company is now home to a variety brands offering a wide range of gas, wood and electric fireplaces, all with the same mission in mind – to put a better
fireplace at the heart of every home.
Escea Fireplaces combine sleek design with high efficiency, and the most flexible installation options on the market – flues can run up to 40m long, through the ceiling, walls and even the floor.
MODE luxury fireplaces takes gas fire design to a bold new place, while Spartherm Wood Fires offer exceptional European quality and precision. Ambe Electric Fires gives you the ambience of a real fireplace, without the mess or fuss. Maxen Fireplaces offers a wide range of indoor wood fires made for Kiwi homes and lifestyles.