Best House Design

Fond memories of family camping holidays in the South Island bush with boat-only access and no power were the inspiration for a unique bach (a quintessential Kiwi holiday shack or house) that achieved top honours in the 2007 New Zealand Timber Design Awards.

“The project went through a thorough conceptual design phase including sketching, and cardboard and computer modelling, identifying forms, timber finishes and lighting nuances which captured the sense of being within the forest. Combining timber finishes and structure by merging the interior and exterior forest spaces, the design reflects campsite planning where kitchen, internal and external living areas, communal and withdrawal spaces, private bedrooms and bathrooms — each with unique bush views — are linked by a main circulation route.”

Planning responds to past camp life with communal living and private sleeping areas. Ceiling and floors are carefully shaped and punctuated with openings to interpret and reveal the forest surrounds. Materials were chosen for their soft, natural palettes and seamlessly detailed for a consistency of space, allowing the variance and beauty of the bush surrounds to inform the new inhabitation.

Project Details :
LOCATION : Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
ARCHITECT : Jeremy Smith, Irving Smith Jack Architects
BUILDER : Mark Shields
ENGINEER Derek Crombie, GHD
WOOD PRODUCTS : LVL, hoop pine plywood, black beech flooring, band-sawn plywood with cedar battens
Award : - NZIA Local Award for Architecture 2007
- The Carter Holt Harvey Timber Design Awards 2007 - Supreme Award Winner