Clad in dark corrugate and echoing the native hillside, this handsome lakeside retreat blends seamlessly into its breathtaking Ōkawa Bay surrounds. Its bold 40-degree gabled forms cascade down the site, anchoring into the landscape with quiet confidence. While relaxed in feel, the build was anything but simple. As a holiday bolthole for the builder, the boat shed-inspired home includes a jetty and extensive land contouring and planting, all requiring multiple consents and collaboration with local and regional councils, as well as Te Arawa Lakes Trust. The resulting pavilion-style home respects the environment in both form and function.

Inside, natural materials — timber, marble and wool — are paired with West Coast stone, dry-stacked for the chimney and laid as crazy paving underfoot. Eco-conscious choices such as solar energy, stormwater recycling, and low-maintenance cladding enhance its sustainability. Materials from the site’s original structure were gifted to local iwi, with the rest used for fire service training. Oriented for sun and equipped with highperformance glazing and a ducted HVAC system, the four-bedroom retreat sleeps up to 16. With panoramic lake views, an outdoor kitchen and bar, it’s a dreamy holiday home in every sense.