Situation: Overlooking Lake Wanaka and the Remarkables the project had a steep house site, but there was a clear vision of what it was to become. The Dacha as it would be named means 'home away from home', which for the owners has a very special meaning. Dreaming of building not just a hotel or lodge but a space to be enjoyed and shared by people from throughout the world, they wanted their home to be unforgettable.With the scenery of this incredible location being paramount to the design of the home, the brief was to not let the house get in the way of the view. This required it to complement the surroundings, while also ensuring it met the strict resource consent conditions of the region.

Challenge: Needing to be compliant yet durable enough to withstand the cold conditions in Wanaka required the products for the project had to be chosen very carefully. To accentuate the lines of the house and ensure it wasn't intrusive to the environment, the architect decided to specify a low-pitched roof. The aim of this roof was to blend rather than draw attention to the home, as the exterior had to have dark recessive tones to meet council criteria.