Kinloch Retreat

The site is located on a flat elevated building platform surrounded by steep berms, the Otaketake Stream Scenic Reserve, and Lake Taupō. The project respects its lakeside location, integrating the built form into a unique ecosystem and topography.

The main house is made up of two forms, a two-storey box housing the living, bedroom and bathroom spaces and a one-storey kitchen / dining pavilion which angles to celebrate Lake Taupō views. Materials have been selected for durability in a lakeside and volcanic environment, while materials for the interior create a sense of refuge from the sometimes harsh, climatic conditions.

The plan is organised around a central outdoor courtyard space, which acts as the social hub of the retreat. Living spaces, with views to the lake beyond, radiate around this courtyard.