▲ South facade
Situated in the Wakatip Basin within the Southern Alps, the homes of Arrowtown emerge organically from the landscape. This private residence is composed of a series of spaces that echo the surrounding rock formations and the rusted ruins of gold mines. The structures are arranged on the land’s natural contours at varying levels and angles, deliberately preserving the terrain rather than altering it. The clients, both artists, desired a home that embodies the land itself and exudes natural sculptural beauty.
▲ Entrance close-up
The spaces are thoughtfully positioned to engage with the important mountain ranges and surrounding landscape, organized around a sculptural courtyard at the entrance. The children’s and guest rooms are set apart from the main living areas, located below the courtyard level. Access to the house is through the front courtyard, leading into a multi-purpose foyer that opens to the living room.
Adjacent to the foyer is the “Glass House,” a second-level living area with a more fluid, indoor-outdoor atmosphere. Featuring operable glass walls on three sides, this space connects the slate-covered lounge to the weathering steel-clad master bedroom, creating a seamless transition between interior and exterior.
▲ Plan view
▲ Courtyard
▲ Entrance
▲ Glass House (BIM work)
▲ Bedroom – Glass House night view
The garage and living quarters are clad in local schist stone, reminiscent of the nearby miner’s huts. The exterior of the two-bedroom residence is finished with weather-resistant steel, referencing the rusted steel sheds and gold mine ruins commonly found in downtown Otago.
▲ Weathering steel material
This home strives to reflect its surroundings, acknowledging both the human impact on the land over recent centuries and the captivating beauty of the wider natural environment.
▲ Living room
▲ Bathroom
▲ Elevation view
Project Information
Architect: RTA Studio
Location: Arrowtown, New Zealand
Category: Residential Housing
Area: 540 square meters
Year: 2018
Photographer: Patrick Reynolds
Manufacturer: Autodesk
Engineering: Harris Foster Consulting
Builder: RBJ Rogers
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