Reductionist Refinement – Queenstown Residence by Harris Butt Architects

Purposely devoid of the ornate or the decorative, Queenstown Residence takes inspiration from its surroundings, bringing together clean lines of considered and earthy materiality. Harris Butt Architects brings a refined sense of context.

Capturing a sense of honesty in its constructed parts, Queenstown Residence is conceived as a place of simplicity. The project offers simplicity in form, in its methodical and restrained palette and the deliberateness in avoiding ornamentation or references to any particular vernacular. Located in Jacks Point Golf Course in Queenstown, the home of the same name is set away from the road along a long lane and is positioned to take full advantage of its surroundings – to the east sit the Remarkables, to the west are enviable views of Lake Wakatipu and in the foreground sit rolling hills and the golf course itself. Harris Butt Architects brings a refinement in the approach, characterised by restraint and a considered approach to context.

Inspired by its site, Queenstown Residence sees local material extracted from its site, with as much sourced from the region as possible. The resulting form sees clean lines of crafted masonry walls and pillars cast long shadows internally and across its landscape. The deliberately rectilinear form speaks to a simplicity and a rationalism that rolls out across all facets of the project. The initial brief was for a large opening entertaining area, outdoor areas, lap pool and separate sleeping areas, all of which were to have the transferable option to become a ‘boutique’ hotel at a later date. Its connection to the landscape also needed to be clear, and a consistent rhythm of openings in the façade creates that link.

At just over 700 square metres, there is an ingrained sense of permanence to the Queenstown Residence. From its grounding earthy materiality quarried from its site, to the linear spread of its planning to allow for views from all internal spaces, there is a weightiness that anchors the home. Deep punctuated recesses create a cloister type structure, lined in thin metal-framed glazing, allow for a connection to beyond, while also referencing the historical buildings of the region (who were also built from what was locally available). The surrounding decks allow for a spill over from the interiors to the outside, integrating additional levels of functionality.

Essentially a home of three comprising parts – the living wing (rectangle), bedroom wing (square) and the connecting gallery (linear), Queenstown Residence is a study in primary simplicity. It carefully connects to its site, its history and its purpose, and in rejecting ornamentation, Harris Butt Architects has given added strength to its form and grounded materiality. Timeless and site-appropriate, Queenstown Residence is an exemplar of reductionist refinement.