Nestled in the Southern Lakes alpine region of New Zealand, Alpine Terrace House was designed, first and foremost, to capture the incredible views of the mountain ranges that surround the site. To do so, Fearon Hay Architects arranged four simple, rectangular boxes sheathed in glass around an enclosed interior courtyard, all atop a concrete plinth.

“The initial brief for this project required a sanctuary from which to take in the alpine landscape, one that could engage with views of mountain ranges to all sides,” say the architects.

If the weather is bad, the owners can close the exterior walls and open up the interior courtyard, so there is easy circulation between the different volumes of the house. In better weather, “the external perimeter can also be opened, transforming the house into a series of covered spaces open to the mountain vistas,” say the architects.

Project Credits:

Architect: Fearon Hay Architects (@fearonhay)

Builder: John Gavin Construction

Structural Engineer: Lewis Bradford

Lighting and Interior Design: Dean Sharpe

Cabinetry Design: Dean Sharpe and Tony Emanuel

Photography: Simon Wilson (@simon.c.wilson)