| 85 T T Bernadette Cooney Spaces that speak to the landscape The cabin exterior is clad in a mix of Colorsteel and LMA engineered timbers, which originate from reclaimed Australian hardwoods. Alki Design ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Alki Design Architecture Studio of Wanaka has been recognised for the first time in the regionals of the ADNZ awards 2024 for a thoughtfully considered and environmentally responsible, one-bedroom cabin in the heart of Glenorchy Valley. Named The Rātā, the 34sqm home connected to piles, and set amidst the natural beauty of its Otago location, won the category of Homes under 150sqm. It also received the Kaitiakitanga Award, recognising the project’s emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship. Established in 2020 by NZ architectural designer Charlotte Muschamp, Alki Design Architecture Studio is a sole practice, with Charlotte’s keen design sensibility drawn from her years of honing her skills working in the United States. Charlotte hails from an Edendale sheep farm, where she grew up with an appreciation of nature and a love for design. She left home to study architecture at Victoria University in Wellington and Washington State University, where she graduated with honours in 2015. Following several years’ experience as a registered architect in the US, working within the sustainable, residential design sector, Charlotte brought her international design standards home to Central Otago. “My journey in architecture started with a sense of curiosity and a love for beautiful, functional spaces,” says Charlotte. “I believe art and architecture are not far away from nature, and I have a passion and respect for deeply understanding a client’s brief that leads me to designing spaces that don’t just fit into the landscape, but speak to it.” Charlotte’s award-winning project, The Rātā, exemplifies her sustainable-design philosophy, integrating passive home principles and using sustainable building materials and woolbased insulation throughout. Prefabricated by Arbol Eco Homes of Cromwell, The Rātā is built primarily from timber, avoiding high-impact materials like concrete and steel, relying instead on timber frames, timber flooring and timber ply-lined interior. “The ply lining brings the warmth of the nearby forest into the indoors, and the negative detail ply, provides a beautiful shadow line where its seams meet.” The Rātā offers the comforts of a full kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor courtyard with central macrocarpa bench and fire pit and a hot tub and nearby pond to kayak on. “It’s like glamping – being close to nature, but with all the amenities of a sophisticated home.” The cabin’s compact design and prefabrication helped minimise environmental impact whilst also considering the full lifecycle of the building. The cabin exterior is clad in a mix of Colorsteel and LMA engineered timbers, which originate from reclaimed Australian hardwoods. Alki (Al-Kai) Architecture Design Studio derives its name from a Chinook word from North America that connects us to our future, says Charlotte. “Building something that will outlast ourselves and leave resources behind to service future generations to come.” In addition to her New Zealand-based work, Charlotte is a registered architect in the United States, with ongoing projects in Washington State and Hawaii. Alki Design offers a full spectrum of services, from concept and preliminary design through to contract administration and interior and landscape consultancy. “My journey in architecture started with a sense of curiosity and a love for beautiful, functional spaces.” 021 946 110 matt@lmatimber.co.nz www.lmatimber.co.nz Cladding | Decking | Flooring | Structural Beams & Posts | Joinery V I S I T O U R N E W S H OW R O O M AT: 50 Anderson Road, Wanaka Australian Hardwood by:
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