valley vista house

Sited just outside of Cambridge, on a hilltop in Te Miro, this ‘country classic' home was designed to take advantage of the breathtaking views and blend seamlessly into the rolling farmland setting. 

The home owners, a farming couple experienced in both dairy and dry stock farming, wanted a timeless, comfortable and functional home that captured the expansive views. So the team at Turner Road Architecture set to work designing a home with context and traditional roots but formed in a contemporary manner.

The site and surroundings inspired the selection of a natural material palette which included bandsawn cedar shiplap weatherboards and schist stone with cedar shingle detailing to the gable end walls. Substantial stone chimneys to the front and back of the home, multi-pitched shingle roofs and timber cladding are reminiscent of traditional pastoral buildings, albeit with a more modern profile. 

The internal layout features high sloping ceilings and a neutral interior provide a light and uplifting, spacious feel to the main living spaces. The western end of the home houses the bedroom wing and a highly functional full-sized laundry/ ironing room with tiled wet room that leads to the back entrance of the home – perfect to wash off after a hard day on the land.

The glazing throughout the building is extensive to capture the sun and light and frame those impressive 360-degree views. However, the best vistas of the valley are enjoyed from the sheltered outdoor courtyard and make this space an entertainer’s haven. 

The homeowners, Geoff and Carol, were very trusting when it came to allowing Turner Road creative license with the design direction and they found the overall experience very easy. They love the general flow of the home, its functionality and that it’s a very relaxing home to live in. They also never tire or take for granted the impressive silhouette the house creates perched on top of their hillside as they round the final bend to their new home.