Designed with dual passions in mind, this home by Ben Hudson Architects and Ferguson Builders marries these homeowners’ love for entertaining and their appreciation of art.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Simon Larkin

Land Landscape Architects worked closely with the client and architect to create a garden that complements the architectural design of the home and meets the Jack’s Point requirements of a 75 per cent native plant palette. The result is a gorgeous garden with a meaningful relationship to its surroundings.

Sometimes you know when you’re onto a good thing. For these homeowners, when they discovered Jack’s Point just outside Queenstown,

they knew they had found their happy place. Bordered by Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range, this location is a dream come true for them. So when they decided to build their forever home, they knew they didn’t need to move far.

They engaged Ben Hudson Architects to design this home for them.

“Having relocated from Auckland and lived in Jack’s Point for a year, we were eager to build something unique and personal to us,” say homeowners Glenn and George. “We definitely had a particular vision
for specific elements of our dream home. We were introduced to Ben from Ben Hudson Architects through Ferguson Builders. Following our first meeting with Ben, we were confident he would be the architect to bring our vision to life for this project.”

Says Ben: “Our clients were looking for a design that could bring together their dual passions for art and entertaining, as well as embracing the mountain views. Their love for entertaining and of art became the driving forces behind our design for their new home.” Entertaining, food and sharing all suggested an open plan living and dining area, with the kitchen very much at the heart of the home. So the design was built around a central kitchen with a large benchtop, framed by generous gabled windows. “This framing creates a sense of visual continuity from the home into the surrounding mountain scenery – with the prominent ridge that runs from the top of Cecil Peak towards Hidden Island being the centrepiece,” says Ben.

In addition to the focus on cooking and sharing kai, the homeowners love art, so the home was designed to display this. As Ben says, “The desire for natural light and to take advantage of expansive views also had a big influence on the planning of this home.”

Forté supplied Moda Como Engineered Oak flooring throughout the living and dining areas that provides a foundation for a beautiful and long-lasting interior.

Social connections are a vital aspect to the homeowners. “So we were focused on creating an inviting space that allowed us to interact with our friends and family while meals are prepared. Placing the cooktop, for example, on the kitchen island, where a sink is more commonly found, was crucial to us and important in the early architectural stages, as the extraction needed to be built into the concrete foundation. With our love of wine and entertaining in mind, we appreciated Ben’s creative use of this space, with the addition of the rear chef’s prep kitchen, a walk- in wine library, and a bespoke bar neatly hidden behind sliding joinery doors. These are all unique elements we have come to love and enjoy about our home.”

What’s been designed here is a beautiful collection of forms. At the entrance, the local stone smoothly transitions from exterior to interior, wrapping around a generous entry hall. This leads visitors towards the spacious, open plan living, dining and kitchen area. As you approach the living space you’re given a glance of a double-sided, glazed wine library, a promise of the clients’ hospitality. Windows are placed to frame the various mountain views, offering moments to pause as you move through the home.

“The stone entry also serves to tie together the two gabled volumes of public and private spaces,” says Ben. “The two-storey private bedroom wing is located at the rear of the site on a north-south axis, partially excavated into the hillside. The entry area also acts as a hinge from which the living wing is turned perpendicular to the bedroom wing, running east to west down the length of the site. Office and media rooms are also located to the rear of the home, offering a sense of calm and privacy from the main living space. Large windows extend seamlessly out to a north-facing deck and outdoor fire, offering views of the surrounding peaks that become part of the living experience.”

Three distinct materials were selected for the building of this home. Glenorchy schist, vertical shiplap timber and glass. Bagged schist and gables are a tradition of the Central Otago vernacular, and the detailing lends a clean, contemporary accent to the architecture. The stone and timber claddings sit comfortably with the textures and colours of the surrounding landscape. And the extensive use of glass frames the breathtaking views in all directions.

These Claybrook Vela Vessel Basins from Plumbline add a sleek and stylish look to the bathroom and fit perfectly into the contemporary urban interior.

In many ways the design of this home was approached from the inside out. As Ben says, “We celebrated communal cooking and dining as an extension of the owners’ personalities, and sought
to translate this into the design.” Centred around a chef’s kitchen, the home was conceived as a series of connected sociable spaces that can cater for gatherings, but still feel cosy and intimate when the owners wish to enjoy their own time. The generous island bench also offers a gathering point, where friends and family can come together.

Natural oak flooring, dark stained timber joinery and Italian stone all combine to add warmth and richness
to the home. After Ben Hudson Architects designed and documented the joinery, Ben and the homeowners worked with Danielle Bates of Danielle Bates Design who selected materials and finishes to create a calm, natural and refined aesthetic to the interiors. The deliberately subdued colour palette allows the view to be the hero and helps to create a greater emotional connection with the landscape. Meticulously detailed joinery, along with indoor and outdoor fires, create a cosy haven and a place from which to admire the mountains’ ever-changing moods.

With the brief of entertaining and art in mind, the main challenge in the design of this home was the balance of functionality with aesthetics, while staying true to the clients’ vision.

“As an example, the nature of the site meant that the direction of the northerly sun and key views were opposed,” says Ben. “In response, we created a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that allow the clients to follow the path of the sun around the home. Positioning a timber deck between the stone-clad garage and the outdoor fire, and simple gestures like stepping down to the fire define these spaces and help to create outdoor rooms. The west-facing living elevation slides open so the owners can pull up a chair or dangle their legs off the balcony, which cantilevers out into the landscape, to enjoy the late afternoon sun.”

The homeowners describe Ben as respectful of their opinions and questions, but not afraid to impart his suggestions and expertise. “Ben achieved everything we asked for and more in this project. Our home is our haven, for entertaining, but similarly unwinding together at the end of the day, taking in the spectacular mountain views and capturing the most amazing Queenstown sunsets, all from the comfort of our living areas. Designing a home can be stressful, but having Ben lead the architectural process certainly brought us peace of mind and confidence.”

Dryden Woodoil was the natural choice to care and protect this timber cladding. The oil formula not only maintains the wood’s visual appeal but also protects its core strength and durability.

A specialist builder was required for this unique build. Rob Ferguson of Ferguson Builders is dedicated to quality craftsmanship and efficient processes. He and his team specialise in high-quality architectural builds in Queenstown’s top locations. For Rob, he was well- connected to this particular section before the build even started.

“I owned the plot of land before the current homeowners did,” says Rob. “I had some initial thoughts and ideas about the design, so I was able to work with the homeowners and the architect in terms of the buildability of the chosen design.”

Although it was a sloping site and in an established residential area, the Ferguson Builders team was able to work productively within the parameters. “We’re very familiar working with these products and materials – the schist, the burnt charred larch cladding and the steel, for instance,” says Rob.

Despite the Covid-19-induced material shortages, Rob ordered ahead of the game and was able to manage these complexities with ease. Perhaps more challenging was the floating concrete deck at the front of the house that had to be boxed and poured in situ. “It’s all in a day’s work for us, to be honest. We’re always proactive, collaborative and dedicated to a quality job. I think this shows in the finished home. There’s some really cool stuff in this home – the specialist plaster finish on the bathroom walls is a particular favourite of mine and the exposed steel inside the house, which is all part of the structure.”

From the initial design brief to the final unveiling, this home is characterised by a deep understanding of the homeowners’ needs. Intent listening and a heartfelt desire, by both the architect and builder, to understand how the homeowners like to live, work and play all allow for a design that suits their unique requirements.

Through the fire

The Rinnai Linear 1500 indoor gas fire is inspired by Aotearoa’s unique landscapes. The flames burn more realistically and embers glow more brightly in the 1.5m-wide frontage. This fire is available in single and double-sided set-up and features non-reflective glass.