The calm and tranquillity requested for the interior of this Dalefield home has also made its way outside where a covered porch welcomes you in through a dark timber and schist facade. The home forms a T-shape with the living room’s raked ceiling projecting out to create a covered seating area outside the clerestory windows that take in the mountain tops beyond. Bedroom wings sit on each side of the living area: one for guests, the other for family. Everything is oriented for maximum sunlight, with triple-glazed European windows and thick wool insulation keeping the elements at bay.

Team Green architects has brought expertise to the passively-designed, low-energy home and used a German-engineered combination system for ventilation, hot water and in-slab heating. The owners can move comfortably throughout enjoying postcard views framed by big windows with larch surrounds. Timber floors are warm underfoot and wooden joinery makes a statement in the kitchen, bathrooms, privacy screens and feature doors. Grey joinery elsewhere takes its cue from the schist wall in the entrance corridor. YBL has a reputation for building high-end homes with passive-house principles and despite material delays due to Covid lockdowns, are proud that they could hand the home over to the owners before Christmas as agreed.