Blending peacefully into the surrounding landscape, this get-away retreat is the creation of Architecture by Design and an Otago farming couple.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

With hectic lifestyles becoming increasingly the norm, this farming family saw the need for a quiet retreat in the hills, where people could come to relax and unwind for a while. Sarah and her husband Dave have lived and farmed on this land for over 17 years.

“I grew up here, so I feel very connected to the land,” says Sarah. “We love the mountains and the fields, the rolling hills and river valleys.”

When the family decided to diversify their sheep and beef farming business, they looked for a business that would fit with busy family life and could be operated from home. “This idea to build a luxurious retreat for guests to come and relax in has been our passion project for about the past four years,” says Sarah. “It’s brilliant to see it finally come to fruition and welcome our first guests.”

Fires for any season

The stunning Naked Flame suspended fireplace featured here at Fallow Ridge is a true design statement piece that is as functional as it is beautiful.

Naked Flame
nakedflamefires.com

The brief for Ken Turnbull of Architecture by Design was to create a self-contained, luxurious guest accommodation unit. It needed to be off-grid and blend into the environment.

“Two of my ‘must-haves’ in the brief were a living roof and a suspended ceiling fire,” says Sarah. “I did a lot of scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram to find the sort of cabin we were looking to create.”

With a backdrop of rolling paddock country, tussock blocks and steep river faces, it made perfect sense to disguise the retreat with a green roof, which is almost unnoticeable, while resting harmoniously on the land.

an earthy, moody and relaxing escape for visitors

“We wanted to create an earthy, moody and relaxing escape for visitors,” says Sarah. “It’s a place where guests can breathe deeply, reconnect and enjoy a slower pace.”

Before the structure started to unfold, the foundations proved a sticking point for the couple, as the retreat sits on schist rock outcrops. “It meant we had to jackhammer out the rock and use lots of steel and concrete to hold it up,” says Sarah. “It turned a two-week stage of the project into a two-month undertaking!”

The roof was another challenge in the construction of this abode. The structure needed to hold the weight of not only the earth and the tussocks but also any snow that could fall on it. “We live in a high-snow zone, so an engineer was needed to design the steel and timber framed roof to support the waterproof membrane and grassed rooftop,” explains Sarah. She goes on to say that it hasn’t taken long for the plants to become well-established.

THE PERFECT FIT The quality aluminium joinery is a perfectly presented feature throughout the home and was supplied by Vantage Aluminium Oamaru.

To continue the theme of earthiness, the couple chose larch exterior cladding, which can be left to fade naturally, and an interior lining of varnished macrocarpa seated into rebated skirtings.

The family is happy with the 53 square metre home and compliments Ken on his creation of a complex set of plans. “There’s an incredible amount of detailing in the home, and we’re delighted with the great job Ken did for us,” says Sarah.

MORE THAN A MEASURE The luxurious motorised blinds and curtains for this home were supplied and installed by Active Interiors.

The interior of the retreat is a juxtaposition of the surrounding landscape, yet at the same time, the contrast works beautifully. The greens, tans and blacks work cohesively to bring that sense of luxury to the space.

“It’s wonderful how it works together. Our guests comment on how luxurious it feels, while also feeling immersed in the wilderness of the land,” says Sarah.

Fiona from Active Interiors worked with Sarah to select the curtains and blinds for the retreat. “We wanted to select curtain fabric that softened the space but didn’t detract from the stunning scenery,” says Fiona. “The roller blinds are all motorised to give that added luxury of being able to operate them with a push of a button or even from the comfort of the bed.”

Favourite aspects of the home for Sarah include the suspended ceiling fire. “I’d only seen one other example of these fireplaces in New Zealand and one overseas. It makes the place unique, and I love that sense of luxury, even within nature.” The double shower with the expansive views is also a treat for the eyes, and the bathtub on the deck is an idyllic spot for a soak with a glass of wine.

Sustainability and carbon reduction are crucial to this build, with the timber framing and New Zealand larch and macrocarpa milled locally. The power is entirely off-grid, and the interior furnishings and linens have been selected from small New Zealand-based businesses. It’s the complete care package that’s happened here when building this home and running this business.