This stunning home skilfully carved into the Central Otago schist landscape illustrates exactly the type of award-winning design and build work that Hunter and Craig is renowned for.
Not only did the company take out the Supreme House of the Year – under $1 million in the Southern Registered Master Builders House of the Year 2023 competition, it also won the New Home $750,000 – $1 million category, a Gold award and on top of that a Special Award as well.
The Special Award was introduced into the competition in 2019 for a specific outstanding project or an element that was worthy of recognition.
Judges said the craftmanship shined through in the well-executed standing seam roofing and cladding, cleverly capturing stormwater runoff under the decks.
The builders’ prototyped recessed concealment of window treatments inside the framing was another example of just how complex this design and build was.
Nestled in the Cairnmuir Hills in an area of significant natural landscape, the roof couldn’t breach the skyline so the house had to be carefully hidden, but the company has never been one to shy away from a good challenge.
One would have to ask why somebody would want to build in such tight conditions amongst rocky outcrops – but strict resource consent conditions demanded it so.
It was also an emotional journey for Hunter and Craig Architectural Design and Build, who were on a race against time to finish it for their clients, when one suffered ill health.
Co-owner Shaun Hunter said the highlight of the project was hearing from the owner the day he showed his wife her new bespoke shower, where large panes of glass form the exterior windows and roof, pressed hard up against 6m high schist rocks. Her vision to create a shower that was at one with the landscape had been a dream since travelling as a young woman.
Given the urgency to finish it, builders were pouring concrete for the exposed aggregate floors in the middle of winter – a huge risk when the temperature dips below zero.
“We had 10 diesel burners going at 4am. If it had frozen the whole floor would’ve blown out,” Shaun said.
At times, building had to take place within 50mm of the cut rock walls, leaving only just enough space for one person at a time.
“Some of the walls had to be clad first and then bolted down so we didn’t have to work in such a small space.”
The 189m² hillside retreat faced many challenges due to the aggressive landscape & limited accessibility, including craning in the 380kg study windowpane which sits over a rocky ledge.
You would be hard pushed to find a unique roof design such as this one, that follows the contours of the landscape with different widths and angles.
“We’ve taken complex problems and created simple solutions,” Shaun said.
The entrance pathway is carved through the natural rock creating breath-taking feature walls, guiding you to the cedar-clad hidden front door, leaving visitors wondering exactly where it is – all part of the charm of this house.