Huka Lodge
Christian Anderson Architects’ sensitive refurbishment of the 100-year-old Huka Lodge preserves the character and charm of the original thanks to incredible timber solutions by Forté.
Overlooking the powerful Waikato River near Huka Falls in Taupo, Huka Lodge has remained one of New Zealand’s most celebrated luxury destinations for 100 years. Christian Anderson Architects was engaged to expand the Arts and Crafts lodge while preserving the charm and atmosphere it is so well known for. As Anderson explains, “By the time we came on board for this project, the lodge, which had a great historical reputation, was well in need of a refresh having not had any substantial work done to it since the 1980s.” The brief from the new owners was “to double the guest amenity space while retaining the essence and character of the original lodge”.
Anderson notes that one of Huka Lodge’s chief qualities “has always been quite small and low and intimate as it sits with its cloaking roof line within the trees by the river”. Preserving that feeling while significantly increasing the building’s footprint became the project’s greatest challenge. Existing structural elements were extended throughout the new spaces, with bandsawn painted beams, detailed wall linings, ceiling panelling and flooring designed to create continuity between the old and the new.
Here, material selection played an important role, with Forté providing flooring, wall and ceiling panelling across the entire project. Anderson says these finishes helped strengthen the overall design narrative. “The material selection for floor and walls and detailing all layer to reinforce and also refresh that character.” He also credits Forté’s expertise during the demanding delivery schedule. “We were fortunate to work with Forté… particularly because of the commercial nature and the range that they provided and service during what was a complex and time critical program.” This collaborative approach proved invaluable. “Their flexibility given the challenges of finite material selection and range, it made the process seamless,” he adds.
Beyond the lodge itself, the project introduced an expansive new wellness area featuring a gym, spa and treatment rooms, where Forté again played an important role. “The wellness facility was able to use a decking board which works both internally and externally and is ideal for the sometimes-damp external condition of the essence of the spa hut and experience within the green landscape,” Anderson explains.
One of the project’s most impressive moments is the transformation of the River Room. Extending beyond the original fireplace, a new glazed bay extrudes towards the Waikato River. “You can now sit directly out on the river’s edge and experience the landscape and the site more holistically – the feeling of being more proximate and open to the beautiful site… to experience multitude of choice of both inside and outside intimate spaces, which has always been one of the key components to the Huka Lodge guest experience.”
Despite the new additions, the renewed lodge feels as though it has always been there. “We’ve had numerous guests and return clients comment that they could not tell the difference between the old and new, which to me is a successful part of the project,” he notes. For a lodge so beautifully defined by heritage and place, there could be no stronger endorsement.
