With entertaining at the heart of this Arrowtown home, Johnston Architects has nailed the brief in more ways than one.

WORDS Kathy Young PHOTOGRAPHY John Williams / Biddi Rowley

Relaxation. Connection. Celebration. And all “The homeowners envisioned a retreat that would in equal measure. This was the brief from the serve as an entertainer’s delight, seamlessly blending homeowners for this stunning home, tucked within Millbrook Resort in the picturesque Arrowtown landscape. Amid the rugged mountains and pristine golf courses, this house stands out for its architectural excellence. Designed by Johnston Architects, it has been curated with careful attention given to the interplay of space, light and materials.

At the core of this home lies the power of three – three distinct wings, each serving a specific purpose.
All come together to form a cohesive and harmonious whole. The central gable, flanked by two bedroom wings, offers the perfect balance of privacy and connection.

When Regan Johnston, director of Johnston Architects, was first approached by the homeowners, they had a clear vision: a retreat that could accommodate both work and play. The homeowners, business owners from Auckland, wanted a haven where they could host family and friends, escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, and enjoy all that the surrounding region has to offer. Whether it was skiing in winter, golfing or mountain biking in summer, or simply retreating to the tranquillity of the resort, this home needed to adapt to a variety of purposes and make the most of the adventure playground on the doorstep.

“The homeowners envisioned a retreat that would serve as an entertainer’s delight, seamlessly blending spaces for relaxation, connection and celebration,” Regan says. “Our design focused on creating zones that could cater to all of their needs without compromising on luxury or comfort.”

What followed was an elegant architecture that used the natural landscape as its backdrop.

“This home is a development of one of our planning configurations from almost a decade ago, that’s been filtered through the aesthetic requirements of the Millbrook Design Guide and adapted to this unique site,” explains Regan. “The end result benefits from everything we’ve learned in the intervening years.”

At the centre of the home, the main living, dining, kitchen and media spaces are all housed within a large, open-plan gable. This offers expansive views through floor-to-ceiling glazing, inviting the outside in and providing an unobstructed connection with the surrounding landscape. Large sliding doors open out onto an evening terrace and covered loggia, both designed for year-round indoor-outdoor entertaining. The connection between the interior and exterior here is particularly important, as the home’s location in Millbrook Resort makes entertaining an essential feature of the design.

“The large, open-plan living spaces were critical in meeting the homeowners’ desire to entertain friends and family,” says Regan. “The integration of sliding doors and the thoughtful design of the terraces allow for a seamless flow between the interior and the landscape outside. This enables the space to feel both expansive and intimate.”

And while the central gable is the social heart of the home, the two bedroom wings provide privacy and retreat. To the east, the homeowners’ wing houses a generous main suite, complete with an office space for those rare moments when work intrudes on relaxation. To the west, the guest wing contains three beautifully appointed bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, private outdoor area and hot tub.

The kitchen tap is the Buddy Kitchen Mixer with Pull-out Spray, and in the bathroom is the Buddy Wall Mount Mixer. Both are in an Aged Iron/Gunmetal finish, and are from Plumbline.

The material palette used throughout the home is as much a part of the design story as the spaces themselves. With the home nestled within the dramatic beauty of Millbrook Resort, it was crucial that the design be rooted in the landscape. Materials were chosen that would age and patina gracefully and complement the rugged, ever- changing landscape of the Queenstown Lakes region.

“Together with Johnston Architects, we selected materials that complemented the dramatic, changeable landscape of Queenstown,” says Lou Stringer, founder and creative director of Said Studio, who was contracted for the interior design on the home. “Granite benchtops with dynamic veining bring depth and texture to the kitchen, while the darker tones of the kitchen joinery elevate the space and provide contrast. The fireplace is a standout feature, with a cold-rolled blue steel chimney breast and a darkened oxide concrete hearth, which adds a sense of permanence to the home’s heart.”

Being based in Queenstown, Lou could keep in close contact with contractors on the job, while sourcing materials from all major cities in the country. “The on- site delivery of this project was seamless,” says Lou.

These robust materials – steel, stone, glass and cedar – are used in a way that speaks to both the contemporary nature of the home and the traditional materials of the area. For example, the locally quarried stone used on the exterior landscaping echoes the surrounding rocky escarpments of the region, creating a link between the home and the natural environment.

“We wanted the home to sit comfortably within the environment,” Regan adds. “Despite being a very large home, the use of smaller gable volumes and the material palette ensures that the home blends with the Otago landscape. It’s an elegant interpretation of the vernacular cottages that the early settlers crafted for themselves, yet unmistakably modern.”

The finished home is a triumph of collaboration and attention to detail. Every corner of the house has been considered, from the landscaping to the selection of furniture and lighting. The result is a timeless, elegant residence that feels as though it has always belonged to the land on which it sits.

“The home feels extremely complete,” Regan says. “From the landscaping to the interiors, the quality of the finishes is exceptional and there’s an almost obsessive level of detail and attention that has been poured into its design. It’s a home that doesn’t feel overly designed, but rather a natural extension of the site. We’re incredibly proud of how it has turned out.”