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No matter how great the view in the distance, it can be compromised if the immediate outlook also encompasses the neighbouring houses.
To avoid such a scenario for this Wanaka property in a new subdivision, designer Marc Scaife planned the house so it turns its back to the street and opens up to the view in the opposite direction.
Designed in a cross shape, Release Private Retreat has an east-west central axis to accommodate the open-plan living area. An intersecting north-south axis provides a master suite in the north wing, and two additional guest rooms on the south. A double garage is on the east side of the house, which faces the road.
"The main pavilion is effectively suspended beneath two huge steel beams," says Scaife. "These structural elements extend across a small entry courtyard to connect the house to the garage. This means the entrance within the courtyard is screened from the road –when the front door is opened, you are looking at an enclosed landscaped area rather than a neighbouring property."
Scaife says he also limited the number and size of the windows on the east side.
"As the entry hall has a slightly lowered roof, we were able to provide a narrow ribbon of windows beneath the roof in the main pavilion. This allows morning sun into the living area, but doesn't compromise privacy."
At the opposite end, the house is cantilevered off the hill, so it projects out towards the mountains and the lake.
"The entire focus of the design is to draw attention to the spectacular outlook," says Scaife. "For this reason also, the architecture is not complex. The cross form does away with the need for lots of little elements. The beauty of the house lies in its simplicity. It didn't need anything more complicated or embellished."
To further emphasise the outlook, the interior of the rectangular living pavilion is wrapped in wood and glass – a timber ceiling and floor help funnel the view. The ceiling features Tasmanian oak panels, while the flooring is spotted gum.
"The wood introduces a natural material to the interior," says Scaife. "Visually, it helps to warm the space – great expanses of glass can sometimes be rather sterile. The Tasmanian oak ceiling panels also provide a clean, simple look that is in keeping with the architecture – a tongue-and-groove ceiling would have been too busy."
Glass sliders at the end of the living area open to a balcony, which functions as an outdoor room. The overhanging roof ensures the late summer sun is kept at bay.
In winter, however, the expansive glazing on the north side allows the house to be passively heated by the sun. There is also a double-sided gas fire, set within a solidly framed wood cabinet that appears to float above the floor. The cabinet works as a visual divider, separating the living and dining areas, while still providing considerable transparency.
The kitchen echoes the design simplicity of the rest of the house – it comprises a long island and a single wall of cabinetry.
"The kitchen island is another square-edged rectangular element, like the fireplace enclosure," says Scaife.
Low horizontal windows on the south wall frame views of the mountains from the dining area. The windows also highlight the branches of native kanuka trees on the property. Similarly, full-height windows in the guest bedrooms capture the view through the framework of the kanuka trees.
"The trees are protected and could not be moved, but they provide welcome privacy for these rooms," says the designer.
To provide a degree of privacy for the master suite, this pavilion is bordered with a garden. Expansive windows end at knee height, rather than floor level, for the same reason.
As sustainability was another key consideration for the owners, the house has a solar water heating system and an economical air-to-water heat pump. There is also a greywater recycling system, and rainwater for household use is collected and stored in a 30,000-litre tank.

Design : Marc Scaife, Creative Architecture (Queenstown)

Interior designer : Sue Naumann

Builder : Nick Hay and Nick Frame

Kitchen manufacturer, interior doors, fireplace cabinet : Coronet Woodware

Landscape designer : Georgie Pinckney

Landscaping supplies : Botanica Landscaping

Cladding : Cedar from Cedar Corp; plaster by Plasterworks

Roofing : Nuralite Roofing; Calder Stewart Roofing

Exterior doors and window hardware : Aitken Joinery

Paints and varnishes : Resene

Ceiling in living area : Tasmanian oak

Flooring : Spotted gum; rugs from Carpets and Rugs of New Zealand (CRONZ)

Blinds : Window Treatments

Lighting : Aesthetics Lighting

Glass fixtures : Euroglass

Furniture : Cruickshank Furniture; Eon Design; Back Country Decor

Gas fire : Mantel Fires from Living Flame

Art work : Toi O Tahuna Gallery

Solar hot water system : Apricus

Heat pumps : Performance Plus

Bathroom floor tiles : spazioCasa

Bathroom fixtures : Plumbing World; Robertson Agencies