Elemental Retreat – Adventure Whare by Studio Well

Adopting an A-frame silhouette, Adventure Whare comes together as a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional architectural shape. Studio Well proposes a dramatically sloping and pitched form amid its equally beguiling setting to become a place of both refuge and retreat.

Immersed within the picturesque Castle Hill Village on the South Island of New Zealand, Adventure Whare is anything but a traditional holiday home offering. Taking influence from the surrounding vernacular, which is an area prone to excess snowfall, the form is practical yet deeply immersed in the landscape. Designed to have a reduced environmental impact, the home focuses on innovation and sustainable living as a base principle. The resulting combination of materiality and boldness of the silhouette allows the house to be anchored among fluctuating weather conditions.

Taking influence from the surrounding vernacular, which is an area prone to excess snowfall, the form is practical yet deeply immersed in the landscape.

Acting as a place of recharge and reprieve for a family that thrives on exploring the local mountainous and forest regions, the home brings together gestures of stillness and calm. Elemental in its approach, the exposed timber structural elements remain a feature both internally and externally, whilst a darkened veil of metal sheeting acts to protect the outer form. The deliberate planning and orientation optimise temperature control and frame views out into the distance. Whilst the home is a place of retreat to supplement an outdoor lifestyle, it is also a place to remain connected to the surrounding landscape. The robustness of materials and junctions needed to align with the rigours of such a climate and ensure an ease of operation when in use.

A base palette of natural materials is combined with various green tones influenced by the landscape, yet it is an overall simplifying of the elements that crafts the unique experience. The entry is defined by a dedicated mud room, which enables a transitional space before entering the main volume. Once inside, a warm and generously open area awaits, allowing for both coming together and more intimate moments. Both as a reflection of how homes are occupied today, and how the owners wanted to live, the home acts as an extension of the landscape.

Whilst the home is a place of retreat to supplement an outdoor lifestyle, it is also a place to remain connected to the surrounding landscape.

Born from a close collaboration between the owners and Studio Well, Adventure Whare is deeply personal and reflects a shared vision for living simply in a unique setting. The home comes together through a shared adoration and appreciation for nature, allowing a fortunate family the privilege to engage so intimately with it.