Photographer: Paul McCredie
This modest home sits on a small, sloping site on the edge of the historic precinct in Arrowtown. It was a local requirement to reference the small scale volumes and simple forms of the surrounding historic sheds and outhouses and to use a sympathetic material palette. In addition, the clients’ brief was to fit an energy-efficient house within an established orchard and residential neighbourhood. It is a compact, high-quality house within walking distance to work and the town centre.
The house sits below the road and turns its back on the adjacent access way to look to the north for sun and views through the orchard up and two wooded river valleys to the mountains beyond.
It uses basic passive solar principles, generous insulation, and natural materials together with more sophisticated means, like thermally broken windows and ground source energy. This makes it an energy-efficient house with a low impact on both the environment and neighbourhood.