Park House by Studio Pacific Architecture

Set in Wānaka, New Zealand, Park House by Studio Pacific Architecture revolutionises the simplicity of mountain huts, creating a warm, contemporary retreat designed for both intimate living and hosting family gatherings.

The design unfolds across three pavilions, connected by a gallery that anchors the spaces. Each pavilion serves a distinct function – living, sleeping and wellness – while the layout fosters flexibility. Whether occupied by a couple or accommodating multiple families during holidays, Park House provides an effortless balance between connection and privacy. Glazed openings frame glimpses of Wānaka’s rugged landscape and changing light, rooting the home firmly in its natural context.

Inspired by the Otago vernacular, the architecture combines horizontal timber cladding and corrugated steel in a way that feels both familiar and refined.

The spatial arrangement is designed to embrace the changing seasons. The pavilions are strategically placed to create sheltered courtyards and framed outdoor areas, offering a mix of sunlit and shaded spaces for year-round use. These courtyards not only shield the garden from Wānaka’s prevailing winds but also provide outdoor rooms that flow seamlessly from the interiors. The gallery, with its long sightlines, becomes a dynamic passage that links the home’s diverse functions while drawing the surrounding environment inwards.

Materiality plays a pivotal role in defining the home’s character. Inspired by the Otago vernacular, the architecture combines horizontal timber cladding and corrugated steel in a way that feels both familiar and refined. These materials are carefully detailed to achieve a tactile rhythm, elevating their traditional applications. Inside, the restrained finishes and exposed timber linings create a backdrop of simplicity, allowing natural light to animate the surfaces throughout the day. Japanese design principles guide the home’s understated aesthetic, focusing on calm, authenticity and the thoughtful interplay of material and light.

Native planting was selected to grow organically around the architecture, softening its lines and embedding it in its environment.

The interiors are equally thoughtful in their execution, offering spaces that feel expansive yet intimate. The living pavilion, with its soaring ceilings, serves as a dynamic gathering space, where carefully curated furnishings and textures create a welcoming atmosphere. Bay window seating encourages moments of pause, while a yoga studio that doubles as guest accommodation adds adaptability. Glazing throughout enhances the connection to the outdoors, framing views that highlight the beauty of the surrounding peaks and gardens.

Landscaping further reinforces the home’s sense of place. Native planting was selected to grow organically around the architecture, softening its lines and embedding it in its environment. Over time, this restrained approach will blur the boundaries between built and natural elements, enriching the home’s connection to its site.

Park House epitomises Studio Pacific Architecture’s thoughtful approach to residential design. This Wānaka retreat is a true celebration of place, family and life’s simple pleasures.

Architecture by Studio Pacific Architecture. Build by Dunlop Builders. Landscape design by Ecco Landscapes and Studio Pacific Architecture. Structural engineering by Batchelar McDougall Consulting.