Ruby Ridge Holiday Home, Wanaka

As far as Wanaka subdivisions go, it doesn’t get much better than this. The gently sloping site, backed by mountains with a panoramic view of the lake, delivers everything you could ask of the alpine town. Although its well known in Wanaka anywhere you get a view, you also get a lot of wind.

Designed by Wilson & Hall Architects and built by Tony  Quirk Builders this holiday home has been created with the possibility of becoming a permanent dwelling in the future. The balance of a holiday home sheltered from the elements but open to the scenery was crucial in the design.

You approach the house from the road above, so the first impression is looking down onto the building. To make a good first impression the roof has origami-like folds. The exterior has black linear steel lines that perfectly match the roof and internal guttering giving the home a strong geometric sculptural quality from the street that perfectly complements the jaw-dropping natural environment.

The form of the house has been designed as a sculptural statement in the landscape with a series of cut outs revealing access areas such as the entry and garage. The cuts have been lined with timber as an expression of the warm interior. These cutouts also reveal windows, where this happens the metal cladding is returned to the glass line.

This project was all about the detail. All the windows and doors were site measured to the mm to ensure a perfect fit that lined up with the exterior features and recessed flush into the flooring at the sills.

An entirely glazed North wall soaks in the lake view, follow a sloping roofline from the high-studded living area down towards the kitchen. Equal panels with matching vertical mullions align with raker overlight glazing that is all thermally broken. Sliding stacking doors onto the deck are also incorporated. The doors can be pushed right back when it is still and on a breezy day, they can be opened slightly to allow some air through. The installation of this huge feature wall of glass required many man hours to get the windows fitted with them running into the ceiling and internal linings seamlessly to give the 180 degree view.

When the breeze picks up the central courtyard offers a sheltered retreat. Set directly off the living space through sliding doors it’s here that you will find the barbecue and an outdoor fire.

Due to the Central Otago environment, the home is highly insulated with premium Low E Xcel double glazing, argon filled, low-e glass and thermally broken aluminium cladding. It is also designed to mitigate the heat of mid-summer. In summer it’s naturally ventilated with a crossflow of air from the high windows, which can be left open when the clients are not home, allowing air to move through the building.

Credit to all involved in the project from the client selection, architect, builders, and detailer right down to the interior design and landscaping to create this wow house.

The Windows & Doors

• Metro Series ThermalHEART aluminium joinery
• APL Urbo colour matched hardware, recessed flush pulls
• Low E Max double glazing, warm edge spacers & argon filled
• Gib receivers for clean flush interior look - no timber reveals