Kārearea House by RTA Studio

Located in the Wakatipu Basin on New Zealand’s South Island, Kārearea House by RTA Studio takes inspiration from the region’s majestic native falcons. What defines this project, however, is the site’s staggering 360-degree views to The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and the Crown Range, as well as the architects’ nuanced response to these multifaceted aspects.

“We’ve done a few houses in this area and, over the years, we’ve developed an approach that’s firstly about identifying the significant views,” says Richard Naish, founder of RTA Studio. Though Naish acknowledges that the perspectives, particularly those as outstanding as from Kārearea House, are a gift, he believes good architecture is “more about the control and release of those views as you move through a house, instead of a fishbowl effect, and then about placing the domestic program in the most appropriate places according to the views.”

This philosophy underscored RTA Studio’s approach to Kārearea House – a holiday home for an Auckland-based family with strong personal ties to the region – and the result is a form defined by considered apertures and angles. The roof lines played heavily into this idea; designed to follow the contours of the land and echo the surrounding topography, the roof dips in parts and soars in others, creating views both vast and precise. The shape of the roof was also inspired by the endemic New Zealand falcons from which the project takes its name.

Located in the Wakatipu Basin on New Zealand’s South Island, Kārearea House by RTA Studio takes inspiration from the region’s majestic native falcons.

“That metaphoric response to a wing-like roof that provides shelter over this place was the genesis of the idea, as well as being a prehistoric connection to the site,” says Naish. These undulating roof lines and consequent ceiling heights ultimately guided the internal layout. To the south, the bedrooms sit beneath the low-lying portion of the roof, resulting in softly lit, enveloping and intimate spaces. Conversely, the shared living areas are located on the northern side where the roof stretches higher into the sky, flooding the rooms with natural light and creating a sense of openness befitting for this part of the home.

Deep eaves offer shade in summer and allow the sun in during the cooler months, mitigating solar heat gain. This element is one of many sustainable design principles, which also include strategically positioned thermal breaks, low-profile solar panels, hydronic heating and energy-efficient appliances, all conceived in response to the clients’ commitment towards annual net zero living.

The kitchen and dining areas sit at the centre of the home, with outdoor terraces to the east and west: “A morning side and an evening side,” comments Naish.

The kitchen and dining areas sit at the centre of the home, with outdoor terraces to the east and west: “A morning side and an evening side,” comments Naish. Featuring full-height glazing and a continuous floor plane that stretches out into the landscape, the result is a diaphanous yet protected core anchored by the kitchen. Not only does this space represent the social heart of the home, where the clients come together with their family and friends, but it is also the architectural axis from which the plan unfurls.

The kitchen initially reads as a seamless extension of the architecture, with minimal visual interruptions. It is, in fact, a highly organised and complex space. “The kitchen needed to be low fuss, easy to use and open enough for multiple people to work in,” says interior designer Annique Heesen of Gezellig Interiors. “It also needed a really well-equipped yet concealed scullery to cater to fluctuation when others come to stay.” The clients, after selecting a full suite of Fisher & Paykel appliances, worked with the team to unlock the performance ergonomics of the kitchen and scullery, using the modular nature and aesthetic continuity of the products to create discrete zones for food preservation, preparation, cooking and cleaning. From the scullery, almost invisible behind the cabinetry wall, the flow of work unfolds from right to left.

From the island bench, views extend across the lake to the Crown Range, capturing the tip of Coronet Peak.

This clandestine space, which houses the pantry, integrated wine cabinet, microwave and dishwasher, effectively minimises noise and clutter – both visually and acoustically – and provides a dedicated space for small appliances and pantry items while also serving as a wine cellar and offering convenient storage for large items or cleanup while entertaining. This keeps the main kitchen serene and unobstructed. It is easily accessed from the bottom end of the kitchen where a Column Refrigerator and Freezer, both integrated into the cabinetry, and a CoolDrawer are surrounded by ample bench space. Further along, the sinks are located next to two Integrated DishDrawers with additional counter space above, and the wide induction and teppanyaki cooktops sit conveniently in the centre of the rear joinery above a pair of ovens.

From the island bench, views extend across the lake to the Crown Range, capturing the tip of Coronet Peak. The clients often spend mornings on the eastern terrace, while its western counterpart is enjoyed later in the day when the sun sets across the meadow. The latter, which includes a DCS Grill and outdoor kitchen, is a seamless extension of the interior kitchen. The joinery appears to continue across the threshold, dissolving the boundaries between indoor and out and allowing the eye to travel effortlessly across the architecture.

Of this home’s many qualities, its most compelling is its contextual resonance.

The home is a tribute to the family’s affinity for craft, and the custom timber kitchen cabinetry – concealing the appliances that have been seamlessly integrated and celebrating those on show – beautifully conveys this idea. Crafted by a local cabinetmaker from wide oak floorboards and carved to express vertical grooves, this application brings warmth and elevated detailing to the subdued materiality of oak, cedar, travertine and Glenorchy schist. This palette is not only rationalised but honours the natural surroundings.

Of this home’s many qualities, its most compelling is its contextual resonance. An early sketch produced by RTA Studio depicts a series of wavy, horizontal lines representing the outline of the lake in the foreground, the jagged mountain tops in the background and the proposed roof line through the centre. It’s a simplified, rudimentary interpretation that says a lot about the home’s intended relationship to the vernacular, and the finished piece of architecture – the top of which rises and falls in tune with the alpine background and water’s edge – remains wonderfully true to it.

Architecture by RTA Studio. Interior design by RTA Studio and Gezellig Interiors. Build by RBJ. Landscape design by Katie Deans Landscape Design. Joinery by Wakatipu Joinery and Formatt Bespoke Joinery. Engineering by HFC Group. Appliances by Fisher & Paykel.