An Alpine Retreat – Country Residence by Bureaux
Taking influence from its surrounding alpine architectural vernacular, Country Residence sits comfortably in the landscape. With a well-versed understanding of the region, Bureaux expresses the home’s storied context through materiality, composition and form.
Located in the increasingly popular Central Otago region, Country Residence contentedly reacts to the local climatic variations, engages with the landscape and embraces traditional methodologies. The resulting occasional home was conjured as a place of respite, where the owners and their visitors could fully immerse themselves within the rich setting. Bureaux brings an approach that draws on an understanding of the land, its opportunities and of the importance of its context.
As one of the first homes to be completed as part of the Bendemeer Estate, the nods to the area’s past are captured and expressed in the architectural detailing. Heavy-set timber lintels of reclaimed ironbark frame openings, and copper flashing and storm drainage speak to the nearby historical mining town of Arrowtown. These important references to earlier settlements both respectfully appreciate the area and connect the new with the old. Within its robust and warming cabin exterior sits an open-plan, connected home crafted around a welcoming timber fireplace imbued with old-world charm.
Located in the increasingly popular Central Otago region, Country Residence contentedly reacts to the local climatic variations, engages with the landscape and embraces traditional methodologies.
Built by The Builders, Country Residence combines important elements of materiality, composition and form in a simplified and familiar way. Referencing the surrounding rural buildings and alpine villages, the home sees a steeply sloping roofline silhouette cast as the outline for the voluminous interiors. The clear formal connection to the adjacent mountain ranges and undulating landscape the home sits upon is playfully integrated into the structure, while the pitched interior setting embraces the full-height glazing to capture curated and uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape beyond. Carefully integrating a low-maintenance and cleared approach to the approximate landscape, the boldness of the timber-clad form stands proudly on its sloped landing.
Country Residence combines the traditional and the contemporary, and thoughtfully proposes a place of respite and retreat tucked into a beautiful part of New Zealand’s South Island. Bureaux has beautifully created a home as a destination that speaks to the hospitable warmth of the alpine cabin typology, without compromising on contemporary conveniences. Through refined detailing and careful curation, these elements and references to different times come together to coexist effortlessly.
