In this 176sqm house, the environment is reflected and embraced. When you live in a special place such as Central Otago, you don’t need a home that competes with what nature has delivered. That’s not to say this three-bedroom property is without character or visual appeal. Far from it. Traditional alpine architecture has been reimagined and given a contemporary edge. The result is in tune with its surrounds, but with deluxe and designer touches in exactly the right places. A coloured steel exterior, painted in Lichen, settles the two wings — one with a pitched roof, the other flat — into the landscape, then eases into the cedar at the entrance.

The interior, lined in oriented strand board, is equally stylish and thoughtful. So well positioned are windows and other glazing that stepping inside is like stepping outside. Finishes, too, echo the colours of the land — polished concrete floors, walnut-toned joinery and earthy handmade tiles. The clever layout divides the main bedroom from the rest of the house. You’ll find an ensuite, dressing room and its own deck with the ultimate in outdoor decadence — a bath. In the other wing are two luxe bedrooms — one with an ensuite, the other accessing a separate bathroom, and the open-plan kitchen, dining and living zone with sunken lounge and mezzanine floor. For the people who live here, this home is an invitation to pause and reconnect with the beauty on their doorstep.