INSPIRATIONAL SETTING

Most people have some idea of the style of home they would like to build when they go looking for land to build on. With this home, choosing the site came first.

The architect and client had spent some time looking for the right spot. When they finally decided on this slice of countryside in the Wakatipu Basin, the open, barn-like design evolved naturally.

The site overlooks a river flat and is encircled by dramatic, tussock-clad mountains.

The unusual position had other advantages. Down the slope was a swampy area the architect knew could be developed into a water feature in time. The land already had building approval, and it was quiet and private, which were two important factors for the owner.

Architect John Blair says the house sits in a natural depression in the landscape, and this dictated the shape of the design.

"The owner wanted simple forms and spaces, with French rural overtones," he says. "Whenever I got carried away with any design details, I would be reminded by my client to keep it simple."

Being a country house, though, Blair felt it needed a strong sense of arrival.

"From a distance, as you approach the house, you can see just a portion of the roof. As you get closer you gradually become aware of the extent of the house and realise, with some surprise, that it is made up of four parts," he says.

Weathered timber adds an aged patina. Timber trusses from an old bridge feature as lintels above the doorways and above the fireplace in the living room. The effect is enhanced by using iron-forged hardware throughout the house on doors, drawers, and the shutters.

As the house had to be equally comfortable for one or two people as well as for entertaining, space planning was an important aspect of the design. Flexibility was achieved by including solid cedar screen doors to close off areas not in use.

Story by: Trendsideas