New Zealand's Best Kept Secret: A Modern Farmhouse in the Middle of the Mountains (House Tour)

One of New Zealand’s best kept secrets, this modern farmhouse sits on a mountainous landscape surrounded by lakes and rivers, allowing the owners to insert themselves into the countryside. Following the Australian and New Zealand idea of farmhouse layouts, Patterson Associates has designed Pouaka Waikura as a set of pavilions that faces the Shotover River. Built as small and simple pavilions, the house tour of the modern farmhouse begins from the stone driveway that leads up to the mechanical shed and into the porte cochère. Beyond this are the two main pavilions, the guest house and main house, which have been separated by a wide outdoor space that allows the owners to entertain and connect with the surrounds.

Employing natural materials for the modern farmhouse, Patterson Associates has used Corten steel panels on the exterior, which are left to rust naturally, while waxed black steel, naturally oiled timber and in situ concrete are used on the inside. The materials come together naturally with minimalist detailing. Moreover, the blending of the materials immerses the home into the site with colours of rust, browns, golds and greys, all while the in situ concrete anchors the home into the land. Patterson Associates uses materials that will patina over time and offer a sense of growth and permanency.

Further allowing the owners to connect with their surroundings, the modern farmhouse opens up through bi-folding doors and adds flexible living spaces throughout. Aside from architecture, Patterson Associates contributed interior design, and seamlessly blended personal items from the clients’ existing cottage home with newer colourful and eclectic pieces. In the kitchen the use of waxed black steel panels references the exterior Corten panelling, while Belgium bluestone is used for the benchtops and wall splashbacks, which reference the fingerprinting and natural patina of the black steel. Additionally, the dark tones frame the large awning windows and offer a view straight down to Shotover River and invite a wealth of light inside the home.

The architects have designed Pouaka Waikura with lighting design that helps to open the home up and allow for a greater appreciation of the southern alps and winding rivers. Furthermore, embracing indoor-outdoor living also ensures that the owners can feel a deeper connection to their settings from either inside the modern farmhouse, or by the courtyard and fire space that sits between the pavilions. Encompassing everything that its owners need and more, New Zealand’s best kept secret is a modern farmhouse that uses materials, colours, objects and landscape that will only get better as the years pass by.

00:00 - Introduction to the Modern Farm House
00:36 - A Mountain Location
01:04 - An All Seasons Site
01:32 - The Layout of the Pavilions
01:58 - The Integration of Farm and Terrace
02:32 - A Unique Brief
03:07 - Designed for Multiple Styles of Occupation
03:47 - The Materials
04:43 - Balancing the Materials
05:13 - Combining Old and New
06:23 - The House from a Distance
06:47 - Getting Better with Age

For more from The Local Project:

Photography by Simon Wilson.
Architecture and Interior Design by Patterson Associates.
Build by John Gavin Construction.
Landscape by Suzanne Turley Landscapes.
Filmed and Edited by Cadre.
Production by The Local Project.

The Local Project acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

#NewZealand #TheLocalProject #HouseTour

[artemisxw]

I still remember the first time I went to New Zealand and I was gobsmacked by the the absolutely stunning homes built there and the talent of the architects. So much so I brought 2 very big and large books on NZ architecture. They have incredible style and insight to what works well with the environment but still looks incredibly stylish. 👌 Another exquisite home.

[badapple]

The use of materials is outstanding. The rusty steel next to cement and wood is very appealing. I love the black waxed steel as well on interior features.

[avishkamaria]

All of the finishes that have been applied blend in beautifully into the aesthetic of this home.

[IsraelTangaroaBirch]

I've had the privilege of visiting this home. Amazing

[Jasmine_DD]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I actually plan to move to NZ in couple of months later.

[corinnapetry]

I am happy to move in immediately. The landscape, OMG.

[julieuk]

Such a beautiful house and I like the way you have to move between the structures, via the outdoor spaces. Very well done!

[fredsalfa]

Some beautiful colours, textures and harmonies that are very honest to the natural environment. Really beautiful house in its entirety.

[imianco]

exquisite.. i love houses with separated spaces.. love that distraction and exercise involved and this one is a gorgeous. thank you for this inspiration! also very loved the landscaping as well

[jesuscastrejon]

Beautiful materials will aged with the pass of time and look even better . It was built to serve this purpose while is calm and relaxing and is about 30 minutes out of town next to a river .
You can tell there’s beautiful architecture with a single frame .
Congratulations !

[moniquekoolen]

I wish I was part of this family and could enjoy this amazing house and mind-blowing surrounding.

[igonandriolli]

Very beautiful, I keep looking at houses like this in beautiful places, and I keep imagining that here in Brazil, despite having many beautiful places, a house like this can only be built in a closed condominium with security guards.

[demzaber]

best house i've seen in a long time.

[carloc]

Congratulations to the owners and the arquitects!

[BeyerEfendi]

As someone who grew up in the Midwest US (cold winters, hot summers), always wanted to know how you could design a house with big windows that can withstand the elements (that also doesn't look like a disgusting McMansion).

[paulmcdonald]

Just perfect 😍 congrats, you've nailed it!

[laurarobertson]

Really nice place in its environment 👌

[dagabriel]

Well done. As an aspiring designer, I found myself looking for the drip edge on the eaves. But I think the angle and depth of the fascia section Wont generate much water flow

[jamesslate]

The materiality of this home gives it uniqueness. I particularly like the use of COR-TEN which adds a lovely patina to the façade. I am reminded of the late American sculptor Donald Judd, who also made extensive use of COR-TEN in his work. The Chinati Foundation preserves his legacy and makes Marfa, Texas a destination for art lovers everywhere. There are beautiful homes in Marfa, if you ever decide to film Stateside, and the landscape of West Texas is as breathtaking as your footage of New Zealand.

[jazzyg]

The house is beautiful but I was excited about seeing an actual farm 😁 I think in the u.s. this would just be described as a modern country home.