Drawing on nature

Designed by Ben Hudson Architects

From the architects

This house draws its inspiration from the surrounding natural environment. 

A timber-focussed material palette creates a harmonious connection between indoors and outdoors, and brings a natural, warm and textured element to the home.

Each room is planned to maximise natural light and ventilation, promoting a healthy and pleasant living environment. 

The use of locally sourced materials, such as the Southland maple-beech ceiling, not only adds character but also establishes a strong connection between the home and its surroundings. 

Meticulous planning has been applied to ensure that the residence caters to three generations, affording each their own privacy while fostering moments of togetherness.

A common thread with the projects we deliver is a focus on reduced energy consumption through design, detailing and specification. 

This home incorporates many principles of passive design through its response to the local climate and site conditions. 

Our homeowners were keen to maximise thermal efficiency and minimise environmental impact where possible. 

This was achieved through a process of careful planning during the design and detail phases, and a clear communication path with the contractor on site. 

The result is a home that is well insulated, air tight and remains at a consistent temperature all year round. 

Natural wool insulation was installed in dual layers to help minimise thermal bridging, while celebrating our owners’ proud history as Central Otago sheep farmers. 

A blower door test was also conducted during the construction phase to quantify the home's airtightness, achieving an impressive rating of 1.16 air changes per hour (ACH). 

This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering that the Passive House standard mandates a rating of 0.6 ACH.

Designed by: Ben Hudson Architects

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: John Williams