Ohaus
A Family Retreat in the Mackenzie Basin
On a 40-acre site above the Ōhau Canal, this home creates space for a family of four to hunker down together and tune out from the demands of everyday life. With vast skies and the Ben Ōhau mountains as a backdrop, it offers both refuge and connection — a place to slow down and share time as a family.
The design embraces simplicity of form, fostering relaxed living and easy-going functionality. Behind this calm, however, lies a carefully engineered response to the Mackenzie Basin’s extremes: winds exceeding 200km/h, heavy snowfall, and scorching summer heat.
Durability, resilience, and comfort were at the heart of every decision. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) provide both rigidity and thermal performance, paired with airtight detailing to maintain a healthy and comfortable interior throughout the seasons. Collaborating closely with engineers and suppliers, the structure, cladding, and glazing were all finely tuned to withstand the harsh conditions.
A bold yet simple material palette was chosen with longevity in mind, anticipating that the house will weather gracefully and settle into its landscape over time. The result is a retreat that holds strong against the elements, while offering its family a warm, enduring home — deeply grounded in one of Aotearoa’s most dramatic environments.
On a 40-acre site above the Ōhau Canal, this home creates space for a family of four to hunker down together and tune out from the demands of everyday life. With vast skies and the Ben Ōhau mountains as a backdrop, it offers both refuge and connection — a place to slow down and share time as a family.
The design embraces simplicity of form, fostering relaxed living and easy-going functionality. Behind this calm, however, lies a carefully engineered response to the Mackenzie Basin’s extremes: winds exceeding 200km/h, heavy snowfall, and scorching summer heat.
Durability, resilience, and comfort were at the heart of every decision. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) provide both rigidity and thermal performance, paired with airtight detailing to maintain a healthy and comfortable interior throughout the seasons. Collaborating closely with engineers and suppliers, the structure, cladding, and glazing were all finely tuned to withstand the harsh conditions.
A bold yet simple material palette was chosen with longevity in mind, anticipating that the house will weather gracefully and settle into its landscape over time. The result is a retreat that holds strong against the elements, while offering its family a warm, enduring home — deeply grounded in one of Aotearoa’s most dramatic environments.
