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Client Brief

We designed a home as a series of horizontal layers referencing the surrounding landscape terraces with traditional Central Otago materials of stone and cedar combined with black aluminium cladding to create contemporary bold forms that frame views from the house interior to Lake Wanaka and mountains beyond. The client desired a property that could be enjoyed for entertaining with family and friends featuring indoor and outdoor open plan living spaces that flowed to private courtyards.

The client sought the design of a contemporary family home which could be bold in appearance and form with innovative design features that include traditional materials of stone and cedar and colours referenced to the surrounding Central Otago landscape. The subdivision covenant rules required that the house be single level under a maximum building height set out above the site to ensure that lake views were available on all terraces of sites nearby.

Indoor and outdoor living spaces plus bedrooms were therefore requested to be elevated as high as possible to ensure views over surrounding residences to Lake Wanaka and the mountain ranges beyond. The plan layout was to create open plan living spaces that flowed to connect with outdoor living courtyards to capture maximum sunlight and panoramic views.

An impressive entry foyer and stair was desired linking the lower-level garage to upper-level living spaces and bedrooms all with outdoor living terraces designed for a sloping site.  A separate zone for bedrooms each with ensuite and dressing room and outdoor access were requested to cater for the client plus visiting family and friends.

Interiors were to offer a mix of cosy intimate rooms, or light and airy spaces with refined, high-quality services, fittings, and finishes. Given the harsh climatic extremities of Central Otago the home was designed to incorporate passive solar gain, thermal mass and high insulation envelope, energy efficient design, with an emphasis on durable materials with warm earthy colours that are integrated cohesively for landscape, interiors, and architecture. 

Creative Solution & Design Features

We designed a home as a series of horizontal layered forms referencing the surrounding subdivision terraced landscape with traditional Central Otago materials of stone, cedar and black aluminium claddings to create contemporary bold forms that frame views from the interior to Lake Wanaka and the mountains beyond. The Foyer is a double height space including a stair to visually link the lower and upper circulation spaces.

The stair landings provide access to all bedrooms that each have an ensuite, dressing room and access to outdoor living area to the west. A central court was created above the Garage and sub floor service space under the living space to innovatively comply with the single level covenant rule. Roof overhangs with fascia panels appear like horizontal bands in the landscape.

The plan layout has an emphasis on the flow of indoor and outdoor living spaces with extensive window glazing and stacking glass sliding doors orientated to Lake Wanaka and mountain range views. The Kitchen is located to connect with all outdoor courtyards. An intimate lounge can be opened to link with the Court adjacent on an axis with the Lake view.

The rich textures and colours of exterior durable and low maintenance natural materials is extended to refined interior finishes of polished concrete, steel and stone, plus dressed timber and light earthy tonal walls and ceilings to provide spacious interiors that blend and defer to outstanding landscape views. Passive solar design, cross flow ventilation and high-performance thermal insulation are sustainability features incorporated.

Photo Credit - Gareth Harvey

Gary Todd Architecture
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Professionals used in
Wanaka House

About the
Professional

For us, architecture is about creating special places in context with their natural and built environment for the enjoyment of people who live in them, work in them, or experience them. Every project, regardless of scale, we consider is a unique opportunity to create something amazing for our client, community and society.

Our architectural practice is humble however operates with confidence because we are experienced in a variety of building types and styles with a proven track record. Our projects vary from Otago to Central Otago, Southland and Canterbury and wider afield than New Zealand to Australia, Fiji and France.

Every project is unique and emerges out of a specific client brief, budget and site that we may challenge and offer options if we consider there is a need to think deeper before proceeding further. These considerations inform the design and build process where our experience on projects to create that point of difference is more likely to be achieved with our valued professional guidance and expertise assisting you as with our many prior clients.

We have been collaborating with our clients, consultants, contractors and councils to provide excellence by offering our trusted experience, innovation and professional guidance to all aspects of a project with vision, planning, documentation, contracts, construction, interior fit out, landscaping and project management from concept to completion as a full project approach under sole leadership to get the best outcome.

We know that each project brings different client requirements and that our response can be to guide that project through a collaborative process to success, whether it is small or large, simple or complex with us as your design lead. The end result is to create inspirational spaces with architecture that could meet and exceed the client and public expectation and be fully in context with the natural and built environment.

Our practice is green minded and actively incorporates innovative sustainable design and construction with an environmental awareness that can contribute to our future. We support ethical and sustainable practices. We believe our architecture can reflect who our clients are and their aspirations.

With the experience of Gary leading the team, we specialise mainly in new or altered residential or commercial projects. We have been involved in over 1000 building projects over more than 25 years and have been acknowledged by over 90 New Zealand Architectural Design Awards in the process which is testament to the quality that you can expect given to each project.