Rugged and refined

Ski lodge holidays are entrenched in the fond memories of many a keen skier. What lasts are the conversations, the relaxed nights by the fire, and the feeling of space that allows for many groups to entertain themselves under one roof.

The owners of this holiday home wanted to re-create this mood of relaxation and enjoyment. They required somewhere to accommodate the usual friends and family, but also needed to be able to gift clients and acquaintances with autonomous reign of the house for a holiday.

Designer Haden Emslie wanted the home to capture as much as possible of the surrounding mountain views, as well as allude to the essence of a ski resort.

The site faces south to take full advantage of the mountains. Glass gable ends either side of the living area frame mountain views and allow light to flood the interior.

Exposed trusses and a simple post-and-beam design reflect the materials used in historical buildings in the area, while also referring to chalet design. Rusted steel plates with protruding bolts add to this rough-hewn look.

Due to the house being frequented by the owner's clients, Emslie decided it was important to have a grand entrance way. On arrival, the eye is drawn down a wide hallway. This leads through the living space to a large picture window, which looks down upon a sculpture of Mount Cook lilies sitting in a reflective pond outside. Above this, the central cone of The Remarkables is framed by the full-size window.

This same mountain vista can be seen from the open-plan living space.

"We needed a space that could fit a lot of furniture for plenty of guests. The kitchen, dining and lounge are in one large room for this reason. It's a social thing too," he says.

Stainless steel appliances add a flash of the modern, while hanging teardrop shades give a soft light to the living area. Throughout the home, lights are hidden in the trusses to uplight the timber ceiling.

For ease of entertaining, a wine store is built into a wall off the living area. This is accessible through a glass door and adds a contrasting element to the schist walls.

A fairly narrow site, and a brief which stressed a need for entertaining, caused Emslie to rethink the usual positioning of bedrooms.

"A holiday home is somewhere where you interact with others. Bedrooms open onto the main entertaining spots, both indoors and outdoors. I didn't feel the need to tuck them away."

To allow for a certain sense of retreat and a softer look in the adult bedrooms, the walls and ceilings are painted and gib is used to hide the timber.

Upstairs, a bunk room complete with couches can sleep up to six. This makes a fun spot for children to play away from parents. In this room, Emslie left the rafters and beams exposed.

"For kids it doesn't matter as much. It makes the room feel more playful," he says.

The outdoor space is designed as an extension of the indoor living area, with French doors opening onto a paved courtyard. The outdoor table and chairs were manufactured especially, says landscape architect Richard Greenwood from Greenwood Associates, who designed this area.

"The house is like an entertainment facility, so there needs to be plenty of places to go. We wanted solid, chunky furniture for outdoors," he says.

Outdoor paving is an icy grey and laid without grouting, to relate to the wild landscape and also contribute to the raw look of locally sourced schist used throughout the home.

In this often cold climate, the outdoor area needed to be sheltered and have its own heat source. Louvred roofing enables residents to adjust the pitch on the blades to allow for any weather. A fireplace makes up one of three walls that shelter the outdoor living area. This fireplace features a patinated copper panel, made by artist Bill Hayes.

Greenwood also commissioned Hayes to create sculptures for the home. Apart from the lilies, a perspex sculpture in the image of a glacier is placed near the entrance way. This lights up to make a radiant feature at night.

Incorporated into the schist wall beside the fire is a day bed with removable squabs.

"The design is all about holidaying it's user-friendly," says Greenwood.

The hardwood beams used both indoors and out are sourced from an old wharf in Australia. To age them even more, the beams were dragged through soil on the site. According to Emslie, this has given them an even rougher appearance, which ties in with the architectural history of the area. Some of the beams have branding stamps which are over a hundred years old.

Emslie says working with the timber proved a challenge for the builders, with chain saws required to cut through the thick beams, but the effect has been worth the effort.

Story by: Trendsideas