Trends New Zealand NZ New Home Trends Vol. 30/4 | Page 37

Framing the sky
Elliptical roof and deck forms connect this holiday home
to the rolling clouds and landscape
When you live in the city and decide to build
a holiday home in the mountains, you have an
opportunity to enjoy a change of architecture as
well as a change of scenery.
And that is just what the owners of this
sculptural getaway home asked for when they
approached architect Thom Craig .
The owners wanted a modern design for
their Wanaka retreat, which they intended to
retire to live in the future, says Craig.
“The design of this house is very much
a response to its surroundings. Set between
two nearby properties, it has a long, slender

L-shaped form. The right-of-way leading up to
the house, and the way the structure responds
to the scenery and neighbours were formative
considerations.
“From the parking platform, you cross the
main decking before entering the home. Both
decks are in the same elliptical form. Views
from the main deck look to a similarly shaped
headland on Lake Wanaka. Visually, this is like
stepping from island to island to island.
“And a cantilevered element on this side
of the house and the roof above it have curved
bites taken out of them, that echo the ellipses.”

Facing page: This spacious holiday
home by architect Thom Craig has
an articulated exterior form that
opens the interiors to the scenery
but brings privacy from neighbours.
Black zinc cladding folds up and over
to form the roof plane.
Above: Elliptical decks, overhangs
and roof forms echo the land and
encourage the eye to look up –
connecting the house to the sky and
cloud formations above.

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