Home for a Winemaker is a small house, for adults. It is sited on a hill with great views of Arrowtown's famous autumnal trees displaying their glory for much of the year and the Remarkables mountain range and moody skies in the other direction.
Privacy within the home from neighbours was important, so maintenance of views when future neighbours build was achieved by placing windows with sight lines to the Remarkables mountains through boundary setbacks between neighbouring properties.
Outdoor living was created with a sheltered north facing deck on one side of the house, and a courtyard on the opposite side. Enabling outdoor living options to suit the weather.
The Winemaker often arrives home directly from the vineyard. She wanted to be able to ditch her work clothes before seeking refuge in the home. To achieve this the entry is an outside space, with the laundry halfway up the stairs, and an 'underground' wine storage area.This home was a finalist in the 2020 TIDA New Zealand Architect-Designed Kitchen awards.
How is the project unique?
Home for a winemaker is built on a ridge line in Arrowtown with ever changing
seasonal views. The site drapes to one side of the ridge with mountain views. The house seeks out the abundant views and sun, while maintaining privacy. It is a placeto seek refuge in the home no matter what the weather. This 2 bedroom home is restrained in the use of space and materials.Carports instead of garages provide ample storage, and are non confrontational.
Key products used:
The kitchen island, designed as a table in the heart of the house, was designed and made using timber from the family farm.
What building methods were used?
NZ timber framing 140 mm thick. Timber floor on piles.
The timber floor is insulated underneath.
Car port walls were on strip footings.
Colorsteel claddings.
Cedar cladding to centre section.
Double glazed aluminium windows.
Skillion Roof construction.
Timber framed walls with 140mm framing to maximise insulation for the budget.
Cladding materials all relate to the building form: Colorsteel (for low maintenance- a single woman having to do her own maintenance), limited use of cedar weatherboard to the central area.
The floor and ceiling of the kitchen are dark timber, reflecting the exterior cladding on the kitchen form. They change direction for the kitchen to line with kitchen form. The timber colours reflecting the autumn displays on the hillside as viewed from the kitchen. Sealed fibre cement to the 'gable' ends to look like raw concrete.
The carport areas are lined with black stained plywood cladding.
Recycled rubber to bathroom floors- always warm and reduced the need for under-tile heating
What are the sustainability features?
Keep it small! Wall thickness 140mm for added insulation, and no plumbing fittings onoutside walls to reduce heat loss.NZ and local products used as first choice
wherever possible.Every space was used e.g. loft over the laundry for guest use.
Allowance for future solar. Touch the earth lightly with timber piles and strip concrete footings, no mass areas of concrete. Ply wall linings FSC. Limited use of cedar and timber deck for less wood oil 'paint' finishes, and reduced ongoing maintenance. Recycled rubber to bathroom floors- always warm and reduced the need for under-tile heating. Low energy use light fittings. No garage doors- under house is open, but able to be enclosed in the future if desired.
Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?
The kitchen in this Home for a Winemaker was the heart of the house. Food, wine,
and entertaining are so important to the client. As the highest use area of the house
the kitchen is located for privacy from neighbours within the home.
There is a deck that opens directly from the kitchen, which is used constantly and serves as a bar window.
The views from both kitchen windows are spectacular. These windows and doors to this deck also can be left open on a hot summer's night and during the day to prevent overheating.
The kitchen island was designed to fee
l like a table, and I specifically wanted users to sit around two sides of the island rather than in a line along the island while the host is busy in the kitchen. The island shape is cut to reflect the shape of the house, and the flooring and ceiling changes over the kitchen.
Wine storage was considered and actually kept away from the kitchen in a specially designed ‘underground’ area that is halfway up the stairs. This was done for temperature moderation to keep wines at a premium. The volume of wine stored meant that the kitchen was not an option for most of the wine storage.
The house is kept small, but the loft over the guest room, and it's own external access mean a visiting family can all sleep in the guest room. The powder room has a shower tucked away for guests.
Team:
Architects: Stacey Farrell Architect
Photographer: Ben Ruffell
