03 Magazine: August 04, 2023

Home | Magazine 49
F
rom the street, a wall of concrete bricks skirts the perimeter, allowing a glimpse of
two gently-sloping buildings – one a garage and office, the other, the main house.
Clad in concrete block veneer and dark-stained cedar, both buildings are set around
a courtyard garden and decking.
Architect Rafe Maclean planned an “elegant fortress” that used minimal materials
and fine-lined detail for a strong-yet-subtle presence. The emphasis was on “crispedge
detailing” with nothing extraneous.
Owners David and Bridget Owens, of Owens Building, say the courtyard, garden
walls and block veneer are all a nod to mid-century design.
“We like the honest materials of that era and the on-display construction – that it’s
not all covered with architraves and trim, so must be well executed.”
The couple bought their section before moving to Wānaka more than six years
ago. Located off Aubrey Road, it offers glimpses of the lake and expansive mountain
views toward Treble Cone.