Trends New Zealand Volume 33 No 2 | Page 29

and lift that both access the two floors above.” The next level is dedicated to the owners’ children, and contains three bedrooms, a large rumpus room, the laundry, and a self-contained maid’s suite. Above that, the topmost floor is effectively a one-bedroom, glass-fronted house, with huge indoor and outdoor living areas, and an even more expansive view. This upper level is visually much lighter than the floors below, which give it the effect of floating in the sky above Queenstown. The large eaves that extend out from the pavilion reflect and accentuate the layered nature of the design. “Overall, it’s a planar design, with enormous concrete floor plates, supported by stone-clad concrete walls and chimneys that break through the floors, creating an extremely forceful com- position,” says Whitaker. “The top floor is a steel and glass pavilion – again punctuated by the schist columns – with a pop-up roof. The raised roof contributes to a high four-metre stud in this area and admits more light thanks to the clerestory windows directly underneath it.” For the home’s interiors, the owner engaged Di Henshall, a specialist interior designer whom he’d worked with on three previous projects. Above: A feature timber ceiling, wood-finished walls and wood floors, together with the stone fireplace, all connect with Queenstown’s pristine natural environment. The combined living and dining environment is formed beneath a raised roof section that the architect says enhances the light, airy, and uplifting quality of the space. search | save | share at