Lakeside sanctuary
For one young Wānaka family, their dream of a sustainable home built for views and light was brought to life by Eliška Lewis Architects and Dunlop Builders.
WORDS Shelley Sweeney PHOTOGRAPHY Simon Devitt
When daylight leads the design, magic can happen. Invited in through the solid street-facing façade of this expansive Wa¯naka home, you enter light-filled spaces that are arranged around an interior courtyard. A covered outdoor room links to a separate retreat wing. Rooms look through other rooms to capture views beyond. Corner openings, surface sliders and pocket sliding doors re-shape rooms to extend their boundaries.
The brief for Eliška Lewis Architects was for a timeless look, emphasising timber and natural stone to complement the surrounding mountain vistas and environment. The homeowners wanted to maximise the number of rooms with a lake view to provide flow through the house suitable for their young family and to provide shelter for the changeable weather. The family wanted a house with personality and a built interior where everything has a place. They also specified uncompromising thermal performance of the building envelope as an essential component of the design.
Sustainability was also a high priority for the homeowners who chose to work with Dunlop Builders very early on to bring their vision of a sustainable build to life. Manging director Bryce Dunlop says, “We have a lot of knowledge on the sustainable side of construction. Airtight, low-energy building is what we do. So we ticked all of the boxes for the homeowners.”
EFFORTLESS LUXURY The fine attention to detail by Mojo Joinery blends the kitchen elements in effortless luxury.
WOODEN WARMTH The American oak veneer cabinetry panels from Bestwood complement the natural wooden interiors and sleek black countertops.
The strategies involved in this project included designing construction methods for sandwich-layered floors, ceilings and walls. These methods address thermal bridging, airtightness and vapour control, and hence provide comfortable living temperatures while protecting the internal structure from condensation risks associated with an alpine environment.
Architect Eliška Lewis says, “With the budget in mind, we reduced the footprint and kept the overall form simple, to allow more funds for thermal performance and seamless detailing and finishing. When not in use, flexible spaces become multi-purpose rooms with a hidden murphy bed, desks, lounging area, that at any time could be transformed into private guest rooms.”
Extensive joinery drawings were provided, planning every aspect of how the family would move through each space. Timber fixed louvres in front of opaque glazing define the main entrance, concealing the storage areas within. Steel portals between windows were insulated and detailed with crafted timber to give depth and character to frame the views while providing a sense of enclosure.
Experienced with the high level of bespoke detailing required in luxury homes, the team at Dunlop Builders have worked locally in Wa¯naka for over 20 years, suggesting materials and offering practical considerations to suit a variety of budgets and requirements. Bryce says, “It was an excellent collaboration with Eliška, and together the right decisions were made with great communication between architect, builder and homeowner.”
“This project required an exacting finish with all of the detailed joins and junctions of the interior cedar-work on show,” says Bryce. The experience and quality workmanship of the Dunlop Builders team delivered an outstanding result for the homeowners who developed a firm friendship with Bryce over the 12-month build.
The street elevation of the home is restrained, with high glazing for morning sun and an elevated view through the building without compromising on privacy. Height restrictions on the property guided the roof design, as a low-lying profile achieved a floor level that allowed views over the ka¯nuka trees.
NATURAL LANDSCAPE Plot Landscape Architecture designed the garden to blend seamlessly into the surrounding natural landscape.
Elements connect with the surrounding mountain vistas
The house is arranged around an internal courtyard behind the kitchen, while a covered outdoor room runs alongside, with the living and dining area directly in front. The homeowners wanted this centrally located kitchen to be clutter-free, and storage was a vital part of that.
Eliška says, “The homeowners left us with a fairly open brief for the kitchen. What they did ask for was a modern black and wood material palette with an emphasis on natural stone. One of the homeowners is a geologist with a keen eye on the characteristics of stone. He chose the feature island countertop in white-veined black marble and matching splashback. It was also important we went with these elements to connect with the surrounding mountain vistas that the property enjoys.”
To address the brief for an open clutter-free space, the full-height rear cabinetry was designed to the left, dropping the height towards the right, to provide room for the discrete high clerestory windows that bathe the kitchen in natural light. The functionality of the generous cabinetry is optimised by easy access, advanced cabinetry hardware. “The cabinet door hinges over-extend to provide full and easy access to cabinet interiors. Similarly, the upper cabinet doors lift out and upwards, meaning hassle-free access to these harder-to-reach spaces,” says Eliška.
Recessed lighting above the benchtop provides both task and mood lighting, while concealed strip lighting highlights the same stone’s use on the rear splashback, and high windows above the cabinetry let in the morning sun. The timber floors allow an ideal backdrop to the finely finished wood.
This light-filled entertainer’s kitchen was awarded the TIDA New Zealand Architect-Designed Kitchen of the Year at the Trends International Design Awards 2019.
The house has an abundance of natural light, with any artificial lights specified as LED fittings. The roof, wall, and floor assembly are airtight, achieving low energy consumption, with membranes controlling moisture and protecting the construction materials. The result is a building that has long-lasting comfort for future generations.
The homeowners appreciate the results of this thoughtful design and build. “We believe Eliška takes great pride in delivering a product that balances architectural integrity with the long-term day to day needs of the client. Her attention to detail, particularly with interior design, not only invites a sense of style but also optimises functionality in every space.”
SHIELDED FROM THE ELEMENTS The cedar cladding and decking are protected from the elements with Dryden Woodoil.
With so many decisions to make when building an architectural home, a strong relationship with the architect is critical. The homeowners add that, “Eliška always maintained an excellent balance between putting forward her creative ideas and listening to our needs. She was always easily contactable and utilised the latest 3D software, which allowed us to share in each step of the design process, while away from New Zealand.”
“Working within the constraints of a fairly limited budget, we kept the overall form simple to allow more to be spent on seamless detailing and finishing – resulting in a warm and user-friendly space all-round,” says Eliška.
INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT
ARCHITECT
Eliška Lewis Architects
03 443 8184
eliskalewisarchitects.com
BUILDER
Dunlop Builders
021 289 8442
dunlopbuilders.co.nz
KITCHEN JOINERY
Mojo Joinery
03 445 0128
mojojoinery.co.nz
TIMBER VENEER CABINETRY PANELS
Bestwood
0800 866 678
bestwood.co.nz
WOOD CARE
Dryden 0800 379 336
dryden.co.nz
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Plot Landscape Architecture
021 1803 746
plotlandscape.co.nz
