Nature inspired architectural design

The Rutherford House is located in Taupo Tauranga/Oruatua, NZ and was created by Dorrington Architects & Associates. The brief was to create a modern holiday house tailored to both hot summers and cold winters. The result is this elegantly designed home sitting beautifully amongst its natural environment. The open floor plan and huge windows effectively blurs inside and out in this light, artfully detailed home. Fine natural grain stairs, oak cabinets, elevated decks and floors complement the park-like views outside. The sunken living room surrounds a cozy fireplace.

Sustainable features: polished concrete floors and bagged block walls for thermal mass, passive ventilation to most building faces, heating inside and out is provided with open fires.

Awarded the NZIA 2009 residential architecture prize, the home’s photographer is Emma-Jane Hetherington.