Location: Queensberry
Photographer: Graham Warman Photography
A Family Home in an Alpine Environment
Set between the Pisa Ranges and the Upper Clutha Valley, this home was designed for a family living in the challenging alpine climate of Queensberry Hills. Narrow plan depths and an L-shaped layout create sheltered outdoor living spaces while framing views to Lake Hāwea, the Mata-Au River valley, and surrounding mountain ranges. Carefully placed windows capture both expansive panoramas and more intimate glimpses of the local landscape.
Inside, a double-sided fireplace connects the main living space and bar area, offering a balance of openness and separation. Flat-roofed spaces with exposed timber beams and veneered ceilings contrast the lofty monopitch forms, creating variety in volume and atmosphere. A robust material palette of concrete block, vertical cedar, and fibre cement ensures durability against wind-blown grit and weathering while maintaining warmth and texture.
Built with Passive House principles in mind, the home employs thermally broken slabs, layered insulation, and an airtight vapour control system to deliver year-round comfort and energy efficiency. Solar panels power an air-to-water heat pump for hot water and underfloor heating, supporting a low-energy lifestyle in a dramatic alpine environment.
