New Zealand is a country where the landscape around the house steals the show more often than not. But the Wanaka House designed by Three Sixty Architectu manages to holds its own with a design that includes a couple of gable roofs and an interior that puts the focus firmly on the view outside. The house is draped in smoked carbon stained timber with corten steel panels making it a unique and elegant structure with durability. Thermomass panels around the house improve insulation and ensure that the interior remains warm even during winter months that are rough in this region of the world.
Living and dining areas of the house share a double-sided fireplace while the open plan living area flows into the landscape outside. Décor inside the house is simple and minimal with gray, white and wood shaping almost the entire house. A glass link connects one wing of the house with the other and transition between different spaces is all too seamless. Photovoltaic panels, geothermal energy and other sustainable sources power a home that feels organic, smart and inviting across all seasons. [Photography: Simon Devitt]
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A combined inslab heating and hot water heat pump system are powered by 5kWh of discretely placed photovoltaic panels. Appropriate use and positioning of Thermomass concrete, and large glazed openings allow for natural heating and cooling as much as possible, allowing the house to run at a very low cost.
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