Orchard House, New Zealand
Inspired by traditional farm sheds
Tucked within an orchard and framed by the towering mountains of Queenstown, Orchard House by Fearon Hay Architects is a tribute to New Zealand’s rich agricultural heritage. Rooted in the rugged landscape of Otago, the home strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and refined luxury, integrating harmoniously with its surroundings.
Founding architects Jeff Fearon and Tim Hay embraced a robust and rural character while infusing the design with understated elegance. Working within planning constraints that required a 22-degree pitched roof, the architects crafted an agrarian-inspired roofline that draws inspiration from traditional farm sheds. The house unfolds in a series of interconnected volumes, each wrapping around a central courtyard and inviting the breathtaking landscape into everyday life.
Materiality plays a crucial role in the design, ensuring the home’s seamless integration with its natural environment. The zinc-clad exterior quietly sits within the orchard, while the warm, tactile textures of oak and limestone provide a welcoming interior. Katie Lockhart Studios further realised the design vision, creating serene and balanced interiors enriched with earthy tones and natural textures that reflect the surrounding landscape.
Carefully chosen furnishings, such as Børge Mogensen’s J39 chairs, add a layer of comfort and quiet luxury. The selected pieces soften the raw architecture, grounding the space in its rural context while offering a subtle elegance that complements the overall design.
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Bringing a place to life
Harmonious interior design caters to a spectrum of human needs — from physical comfort to emotional and social fulfilment — creating environments that respect the varied ways people live, work, and connect. A balanced approach, integrating well-crafted furniture, transforms a space into an energising sanctuary, blending connection and solitude.
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