Beacon Point Whale House

Situated in the outstanding natural amphitheatre that is the township of Wanaka, a new dwelling was designed to maximise the views of Roys Peak and the surrounding mountains that border Lake Wanaka.

 

Street appeal was important to the clients whilst also mirroring the surrounding natural elements of the Central Otago landscape.

 

A floor plan design was driven by the clients that both satisfied their list of essential living requirements but also complied with the bespoke site covenants (building platform and building height).  The plan is dictated by the obscure shape of the building platform and the long shallow pitch of the roof ensures the low site height covenant is not breached.

 

The central courtyard was an essential client feature which operates in two ways; it provides natural light to the central area of the house but also connects all areas of the dwelling to each other with the surrounding hallway.

 

Another important requirement was to incorporate the design of a diving whales tail into the street facing elevation.  This has been achieved by creating a separate line of wall cladding in a different plane to and above the main glazed external walls.

The base of this wall cladding is cut in a curved line to replicate the silhouette of a diving whales' tail.

 

Natural wall claddings of schist and timber were selected both externally and internally to help replicate the surrounding natural Wanaka landscape.