Fearon Hay has an excellent track record of inserting sympathetic slices of modernism into unbelievable landscapes. Their Shark Alley House of 2005 was effectively off-grid, located in a hideaway cove with a majestic view across the South Pacific. The new Mountain Retreat has to deal with quite different terrain. Located in New Zealand's Southern Lakes, a mountainous landscape of snow-capped peaks and dense beech forest, this is a low impact second home designed as a place to get away from everything.
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Humans have made little impact on these slopes, save for the occasional gold-prospector's shack dating back to the C19. Approached by a young family with a desire for an all-season retreat, Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon decided to reference the simple wood-clad construction of the traditional hut, with an open plan living space flanked by two bedrooms and generous bathing areas.
Functional, flexible accommodation is provided by bunks in the second bedroom; this is a small structure, used year round by a variety of people. The aesthetic approach is subdued, with a minimal palette of hard-wearing materials. The stone exterior, concrete floors and dark wood give the Retreat the feeling of a cave, embedded in the hillside.
The house is accessed from the roof level, with the flat shingle surface doubling up as a deck to provide views across Lake Wakatipu. The corner of the main living area is given over to floor-to-ceiling glazing, and a fireplace pod is suspended from the ceiling to create a modernist interpretation of the classic hearth.
The thick walls and ceiling give the space excellent insulation - the only service the retreat receives is electricity - everything else is self-contained, including water taken from a mountain stream.
Modesty and modernity come together to enhance a spectacular site - the architects describe the project as a 'subtle insertion' - shored up by solid massing, tough materials and a strong sense of permanence.
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