The brief required a highly sustainable, single storey, contemporary, four bedroom country house on a flat site, surrounded by mountain ranges.

The clients relocated to Queenstown from their Auckland, Greenhithe home, also designed by KA 13 years ago.

‘Wings over Water’ extends towards and sits in unity with the mountains, displaying its own peaks and troughs created by the butterfly roof with two twisted planes which emphasise the drama of the surrounding landscape. The size and angles of the soffits have been designed to guide the winter sun deep into the floor plate, whilst the large overhangs shield the living spaces from the summer sun, allowing the house to remain cool. 

The natural axis of the building creates a view shaft from the front door, through the conservatory, delineated by the jetty, towards Cornet peak. This conservatory space, complete with glass roofing, is designed using ground thermal mass to perform as a heat sink, producing passive heating for the whole house and allowing the clients to grow sub-tropical plants all year round. 

The timber frame structure is clad in vertical cedar weatherboards with alternating depths and thicknesses, creating a soft rippled shadow line. The natural stained timber envelops the form of the building, folding up the angled soffits, which are carved around the slopes, and interjects seamlessly into the land.

The sculptural form responds to the surrounding environment via a push and pull of the facade, creating a series of spaces along the wrap around deck. When the glazing is retracted, the home opens up to create a seamless indoor/ outdoor flow.

Awards and Publications:

Home of the year 2023 – Finalist

Tida Awards 2023 – Highly Commended

‘Home’ magazine front cover 2023 June/ July Issue